“We will only leave here if there are real concrete agreements, black-on-white.” That is what caravan dwellers say who have set up camp in a meadow on the edge of Alkmaar. It concerns some of the people who occupied chalets intended for Ukrainians last week. They have no faith in the promises of the municipality, which says it will make every effort to increase the number of pitches.
We remember the banners from last week, the location and housing are different. With caravans, a camper and tents, caravan dwellers have settled in a meadow on the Achterweg in the Alkmaar part of Sint Pancras.
Keep pressure on the boiler
Just like last week, they are protesting for more pitches for caravans. “We’ve been promised that for 35 years. So many aldermen have made promisesbut nothing always happens”, Willem Vermanen grumbles. “We want concrete agreements and will stay here to keep the pressure on, for two years if necessary”, says Bertus Schlahmilch.
They are not afraid that this protest will undermine last week’s agreements. “It is true that not everyone who was at the occupation action last week is here now. We do not think those agreements are real agreements and will stay here as long as the land owner allows.”
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They are on the plot along the track with the permission of the owner. “That’s right”, Jan Bruin confirms to NH Nieuws/Alkmaar Central. “Last week I already said to the alderman: the municipality can buy this land from me to make up pitches.”
local residents
Residents of the Achterweg are not entirely enthusiastic about their new neighbours. “We fully understand their point of view, but not here,” says one of them. “Yeah, this is a nimby attitude: not in my backyard,” it is frankly acknowledged.
“But the municipality really has to step in for them, and keep promises for years. This is not a good place so close to the railway, and of course it has consequences for our house prices. If I were them I would go to court for that standing places.”
Municipality response
According to the current zoning plan, you are not allowed to live on the meadow on the Achterweg. “We took note of the situation yesterday afternoon, we are discussing it with the police and the Public Prosecution Service and are looking at what the best steps are,” the municipality of Alkmaar responds.
“Last week Alderman Van Iterson Scholten made agreements about the effort that the council will make to find a solution for the distress experienced by caravan dwellers. We stick to that.”