The Oldambt municipal council must also be able to give its opinion when it comes to a permit for an exploratory drilling for salt near Winschoten.
That is what the mayor and aldermen of that municipality think. They informed the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) of this in an official letter.
Declaration of no reservation
“The ministry states that we can only have our say once a permit has been granted for real salt extraction drilling,” says councilor Ger Klein. “But test drilling is also contrary to the zoning plan. In our opinion, a permit for this can only be granted if our municipal council issues a so-called declaration of no objections.”
Klein said this on Tuesday during an information meeting of the Nobian company about his intention to extract salt in the Lanen area and on the Zuiderveen near Winschoten. It has applied for a permit for exploratory drilling from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which has not yet been issued.
Accurate and frequent measurements
Nobian was therefore unable to offer a concrete plan to residents of the proposed extraction locations on Tuesday. However, it did say, among other things, that if salt is to be extracted, accurate and frequent measurements will be taken and the consequences for the soil will be announced.
This certainly did not reassure all visitors to the meeting. Including Cor and Romy Steding, residents of Zuiderveen. “We fear subsidence and disruption of the peace and quiet and that fear is still there after tonight.”