The leaks in the parking garage under the Emmer Willinkplein have several causes. Some of these have already been addressed. This is reported by the responsible contractor Akor, who is taking on the repair work.
At the beginning of this year, RTV Drenthe reported that it hit the Emmer parking garage again. In recent years, after heavy rain showers, there were several puddles of water on the floor surface. The rainwater dripped from the ceiling down the walls, where it then left brown traces. According to local residents, the problems have been going on since the garage was completed in 2020. As a result, the moisture causes slippery floors.
The municipality of Emmen therefore commissioned Akor, the party that built the garage at the time, to investigate and carry out repairs. That investigation is now over. According to spokesperson Carina Kreijkes, there are four different reasons for the leak.
“Some transits were not sealed. A sewer by the tenant of a building above the basement was not installed properly. Thirdly, water remained on the basement roof and an adjustment in the drainage is necessary.” Finally, supplies arriving and departing for the supermarket above cause problems. “The trucks drive quite close to the wall, so that space is created between that wall and the floor. Water then drips down through this.”
As a contractor, Akor is responsible for two of the four causes. These have now been solved: the transits have been repaired and concrete blocks have been placed along the facade of the supermarket so that the trucks do not park too close to them. The problem with the sewer system has been reported to the relevant party and the drainage problem is the responsibility of the municipality itself. “We have a pioneering role in all these matters, but we do place the responsibility where it belongs.”
Akor cannot yet indicate when all problems will be resolved. “We are also dependent on the other parties involved in this.”
Next to Willinkplein, the parking garage on Westerstraat has also been struggling for some time with a problem: one of the two lifts is not working. This has still not been repaired, according to inquiries at the municipality. It is waiting for an ordered part from Italy. “The delivery time of the part is long,” said a spokesman. “We inform visitors about the situation when they enter the parking garage. It also states where they have to drive to in order to use a lift.” The lift on the side of the MediaMarkt works normally.