The province of Drenthe would like to enter into discussions with the Ministry of Defense to ‘carefully weigh’ the interests surrounding the expansion plans of military activities. The Provincial Executive (GS) wrote this in a letter to outgoing minister Kajsa Ollongren. The provincial government sees opportunities for the expansion, but is also concerned about a few points.
The expansion of the training area for fighter jets and helicopters in particular is causing some headaches for the provincial government. “For Drenthe, this not only means an increase in noise from fighter aircraft. It also means a shift of all civil air traffic in a more southerly direction, which also means that these flight routes will be above Drenthe,” GS conclude. They want Defense to clearly identify the impact of the extra noise.
The increase in the number of helicopter flights over the province also causes some concerns for the provincial government. There is fear of more noise pollution. In addition, GS asks to take LOFAR and the space telescopes at Hooghalen, Elp and Dwingeloo into account. “These activities could have a major adverse effect on its operation.”
Defense is also looking for a new training area of at least 3 square kilometers. There is no room for that in Drenthe, write GS. They do see possibilities for a training village on the training grounds at Assen and Havelte. According to GS, this could be easily combined with the barracks in both places.
There are also opportunities for Groningen Airport Eelde, the provincial government believes. Defense could possibly become a military co-user of the airport.
In its opinion, the municipality of Westerveld states that it is ‘in principle positive’ about the expansion plans. According to the current plans, the site of the Johannes Post Barracks in Havelte will be used more intensively.
Westerveld, on the other hand, has no interest in a military training area for explosives. The municipality states that the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, which now falls within the ministry’s search area, “has a high natural value and a great tourist-recreational economic importance”.
Finally, the mayor and aldermen of Westerveld suggest linking the newly constructed railway connection of the 43rd mechanized Brigade to solving the problem of the ‘bottle neck’ on the railway near Meppel.