Residents of the streets around Meppel station are bothered by motorists who are keen on the free parking spaces.
“Sometimes they park the car here in the street,” says Jolt Zijlstra, “and then they take a suitcase out of the back of the car and walk to the station.” Jolt lives on Stationsweg in Meppel. At one end of the Ogterop street, at the other end the station. In between, on both sides of Stationsweg, dozens of spacious parking spaces where you can park (for free) for as long as you want.
Titia Hoitsma is not the complaining type. “But I kind of hate the fact that people park here and stay away for three days,” she admits. She now has the car in front of the front door. “If I leave by car during the day, I know that spot is gone when I return.”
‘During the day it’s a drama’
That’s not very strange, she thinks. “There are a few businesses down the street here. The orthodontist has visitors all day.” A neighbor is certain that visitors from outside are the cause of the parking nuisance. “It’s a drama during the day, but there is room in the evenings and on weekends. Except sometimes, when there is a performance in Ogterop.” As far as she is concerned, paid parking on Stationsweg would not be a bad idea at all. “Or a blue parking card.”
Around the corner, on Leonard Springerlaan, residents have a similar experience. “I have had a car parked in front of our door for three weeks,” says Jan van Dijk.
New parking policy this year
The municipal spokesperson said that the municipality of Meppel is aware of several reports of parking nuisance around Leonard Springerlaan and Stationsweg. In 2021, research was conducted into support among residents for parking permits in the neighborhood. There was no such support at the time.
A study conducted in 2023 shows that traffic pressure is high on Stationsweg, near Ogterop.
At the beginning of October 2023, parking for permit holders was introduced on part of the Zuideinde from the Schouwburg to the Irenelaan. This year, the municipality of Meppel is developing a new parking policy. ,, This includes parking on Springerlaan and Stationsweg,” said the spokesperson.
Note under the windshield wiper
“And what if there was no alternative,” says his neighbor with a broad gesture towards the (free) parking lot next to the station. He is moderately annoyed by the long-term parkers. “Then we come back on Friday with the groceries and then we can’t leave the car. That is annoying.”
He once put a note under the windshield wiper, he admits. A neat note that started with ‘please’. “Never heard of it again. But I didn’t put my name on it either.”
He doesn’t think paid parking or a blue card is a good idea. “Car drivers can go next to the station and in the Wilhelmina Park. Paid parking should not be necessary here at all.”
Weerdstraat
Last spring, residents of Weerdstraat (located a little further away) raised the alarm with similar complaints. Paid parking has now been introduced here. During an information meeting about the renovation of Ogterop last spring, local residents were almost more concerned about parking than about the renovated theater. The parking lot with more than a hundred parking spaces behind the Ogterop theater would also be used for parking campers, work vans and taxis.