Politicians in Opmeer are urging the municipal executive to replace the noise barrier along AC de Graafweg. Several groups will table a motion during tonight’s council meeting. “The province must come across the bridge with a subsidy,” says the Village Council.
The factions of Municipal Interests (GB), the Local Party Opmeer (LPO) and Door Cooperation Vooruit (DSV) want to set aside extra money for a new noise barrier. The old is in urgent need of renewal. There are holes in it, the corrugated iron has been destroyed and there are trees on both sides that have to keep things upright.
Enough reason for the factions to sound the alarm. In a motion, the opposition parties ask the college to investigate this. Also whether this can possibly be combined with solar panels.
Sensitive file
The sound barrier at the Bloemenbuurt has now become a sensitive dossier. The piece of land where the noise barrier is located is now owned by the municipality, but the province is responsible for the AC de Graafweg. He is focusing on a different solution: quieter asphalt. “It cannot be the case that our community money is used and that the province comes off well. They have to come over with a subsidy,” says Keesjan Stapel, chairman of the Village Council.
He is happy with the political support. Since the province has set its sights on quieter asphalt to reduce noise nuisance for local residents, things have more or less come to a standstill. “They think they are done with it. But several reports show that quieter asphalt was also discussed in 2018. Although we are of course very happy with that, I still get the idea that it is a clincher.”
Peace has (for the time being) returned, because the AC de Graafweg now being addressed. But once the work is completed, traffic on the road will increase again. And therefore also the sound of cars and motorcycles. “It’s only getting busier here,” he says. “Something really needs to change.”
All eyes are on tonight when the motion is heard. “Hopefully the opposition will get the coalition on board,” says Stapel. He hopes that the municipality will approach the province to resolve this. “There is a lot of noise. Local residents can no longer sit in their backyard or they sleep badly because of it. It reduces the pleasant living.”