The annual Mother’s Day fair in Blerick was canceled at the last minute on Sunday morning. The reason: dozens of parked cars ensure that the market stalls cannot be set up.
On Sunday morning, the organization found out that no fewer than 35 cars were parked on the spot where the fair would take place. Coen Ottenheijm of the organization found out around 4 a.m. that dozens of cars were still parked. “We had already posted notes in advance that they had to leave. I have never experienced this,” says Ottenheijm. He decided to call the police. “But he couldn’t do anything for us and referred us to the municipality.” But he couldn’t get hold of anyone at the municipality at that time.
Letters
Ottenheijm was therefore forced to pull the plug three hours before the start of the fair. “Exhibitors came from all over the world,” says the organizer. “This is going to cost money. All the investments we have made have been for nothing.” The parked vehicles probably belong to migrant workers who have not seen or understood the notes. “It is very annoying for all visitors. Visitors come from far and wide to the fair.”
Unavoidable
In previous editions there were also sometimes cars on the site where the fair was to be. “But then there were usually only three or four. The police then called those people to ask them if the car could still leave. Now there was no start, so we had no choice but to cancel.”
According to Ottenheijm, the municipality has let it be known that they want to sit down with him to prevent this inconvenience from happening again.