“If there is not sufficient support, I think we are not implementing the plan.” These are the words of alderman Jan Schipper (CDA) of the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. He thereby responds to the resistance to the hardening of the sandy path along the Oranjekanaal.
Schipper first says he wants to talk to local residents to find a solution. Residents along the canal between Smalhoorn and Zuidveld are fierce against hardening of parts of the sandy path. They fear nuisance when there is a concrete path.
During a committee meeting on Thursday evening, local residents showed up in large numbers. There they made their displeasure clear again, together with nature clubs. The latter fear that the surrounding nature will break.
Midden-Drenthe wants to harden parts of the sandy path on the south side of the Oranjekanaal. With this, the municipality hopes to make a safe bicycle connection between Hoogersmilde and Orvelte.
Cyclists are still going along the north side of the canal, where cars also drive sixty kilometers per hour. By hardening parts of the sandy path across the water, there will be a cycle path where cyclists can pass safely.
Local residents announced on Thursday evening to find that nonsense. “The north side must be refurbished. First look at it. And you can cycle well over the sandy path,” said a speaker.
Schipper says he understands the worries and stated that the plan may not take place if there were not sufficient support. “Then we have to tackle the traffic problem on the north side,” he responded.
He did a comment on that: “Then we may have to attach speed -inhibiting measures on the busy road. Not everyone in the area is served again.”
A number of speakers said they were sorry that they were not personally informed about the plans. “In 2019 this was also a sensitive subject and we were promised that it would be off the track. Why is it happening and we hear nothing?”
Jan Beugel from the PvdA also outlined his surprise about that. According to him, the then alderman announced that people would be informed of new plans. “It is then strange that these people have to read a permit application for the pavement in the newspaper.”
Schipper announced that he would first start the conversation with local residents of the Oranjekanaal. With too little support, the plan could still die. The pronunciation is not a hard promise, but the neighborhood may be somewhat hope.