The reception of 300 asylum seekers in a Van der Valk hotel in Uden is not yet allowed to open. The court in Den Bosch decided this on Monday. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) wants to accommodate asylum seekers in the hotel for three years. A group of local residents went to court at the beginning of December because they disagree with the permit procedure. The judge agreed with her. The municipality of Maashorst had acted carelessly. The municipality appealed against this. But the court also agreed with the residents.
However, it is expected that the shelter will be able to open soon. “We have received all the documents to make a decision about the permit. We will do that on Tuesday,” says acting mayor Rianne Donders after the ruling. “It is then up to COA how quickly they can get started.”
The mayor of the municipality of Maashorst reacts emotionally in the courtroom. “If you see the call in the country for municipalities to help with the reception of asylum seekers, there can be no question of malicious intent. This also affects me as a person. This really goes too far.”
The mayor continues: “We have no commercial interest. The government and COA offer this reception option. Today I would like to say that the image is emerging that we have done something terrible. That we have left things behind. That is not true.”
“We have spoken to local residents. We have answered every question. All concerns have been included in the safety plan. I understand very well that people see images of Budel and Ter Apel. But now there are people lying in tents because they have nowhere to go. Maashorst offers bed, bath and bread.”
Information evenings
Lawyer Danny Snijders is assisting the local residents. He totally disagrees with the mayor. “Local residents were not allowed to attend information evenings. They were not allowed to bring a lawyer.” He greatly blames the municipality for this.
“The municipality says that it has a great interest in providing shelter for asylum seekers. My clients are not against asylum seekers. But if you look at the problems around Budel and Ter Apel you have to be very careful. That prevent problems with you. The municipality must take the impact on the living environment into account.”
HERE YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE ASYLUM RECEPTION IN THE HOTEL:
No asylum seekers in Uden hotel for the time being, judge agrees with local residents
Local residents want asylum reception in the Van der Valk hotel to be stopped
For example, 300 asylum seekers will soon be accommodated in a Van der Valk Hotel