To protect local residents of the De Zulthe/Maatlanden area against possible construction damage, Lijst Groen Noordenveld and Lokaal Noordenveld want to introduce ‘reverse burden of proof’ for projects on sensitive soil. Neighbors do not get that protection.
The municipality of Noordenveld wants to build on the north side of Roden, but is encountering a lot of resistance. Local residents are concerned about nature and water management, but also about the sensitive soil in the area. There is a fear that when building on the area, local residents will suffer damage to their homes.
Last week, Christine Stille (Lokaal Noordenveld) and Tineke Nieboer (Lijst Groen Noordenveld) argued for ‘a kind of reversed burden of proof’ for the project in Roden-Noord. With the motion they wanted to broaden this: all residents of construction projects on sensitive soil must be given this reversed burden of proof.
This means that in the event of damage, the builder must prove that it did not come from the construction projects, instead of the claim reporter having to indicate that the damage was caused by the construction project.
The motion failed. Rikus Koopman (Municipal Interests) calls it financially unfeasible and Bertus Jan Epema (PvdA/GroenLinks) thinks the motion is not defined well enough. Alderman Robert Meijer (VVD) thinks the motion ‘appears sympathetic’, but says that this will have major financial consequences.
The entire proposal to enter into dialogue with the owner of the land as a municipality was accepted. Only the two parties that also filed the motion on reversed burden of proof voted against.
Noordenveld is going to talk to the owner of the land, hoping that a new residential area of about 100 houses can be built.