An uncomfortable feeling. That is what the Tynaarlo city council is left with after a discussion about extra money for Groningen Airport Eelde (GAE). The fact that money does have to go to the airport, but there is no concrete plan to do so, is quite a nuisance.
The municipality of Tynaarlo is asked to give 75,000 euros to the airport for increased costs for safety and personnel. In addition, a bridging loan of 86,500 euros must be transferred. This will cover the increased construction costs of the fire station at the airport.
GAE would not have a balanced budget if Tynaarlo did not come up with the extra 160,000 euros. In that case, the airport would have to knock on the door of the other partners.
Alderman Jurryt Vellinga (Leefbaar Tynaarlo) thinks that is not fair towards the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe involved. Those parties would then have to pull the stock market. In the meantime, he says he understands that the Tynaarlo city council feels put in front of the block. “That’s how I feel, because there is no plan or vision for the future.”
That plan is in the works, by the way. The management of the airport wants to present a plan before 1 May. Meanwhile, money is needed now to keep the airport running.
A number of council factions are deeply concerned about the contribution of the municipality of Groningen. It has promised to make 12 million euros available to the airport, but only half of that has been transferred. “Are they going to pay the rest?” Anneke Lubbers (PvdA) wonders. “Because they have not done this so far, the contribution of our municipality is increasing.”
Annemarie Machielsen (Leefbaar Tynaarlo) finds it strange that the municipality of Groningen seems to be getting away with not honoring agreements. “Will shareholders do anything about it?”
Alderman Vellinga says he wants to force the municipality of Groningen to discuss their payment obligation. “That obligation is not gone by saying: we will not pay it.”
The municipality of Tynaarlo is a shareholder in the airport, but that shareholding is not undisputed. “We own 14 percent of the shares, but that is nothing,” says council member Jan Smits (VVD). “We have nothing to say and are only allowed to pull out the wallet. The position as a shareholder is not comfortable for us.”
If it is up to the VVD, the municipality of Tynaarlo should consider withdrawing as a shareholder. “Make sure the airport performs its function for the region. And let us as a municipality remain involved in the spatial planning of the airport,” says Smits.
Vellinga finds the discussion whether Tynaarlo should remain a shareholder ‘interesting’. “But that discussion should not be held tonight. I advocate doing that when there is a concrete plan for the future of the airport.”
Shortly after the meeting, alderman Vellinga said that the airport was ‘part of the municipality’. “You can only stop it once and then it will never come back. On the other hand, I understand the frustration very well. We are talking about public money here.”
The second term of the debate on extra money for Groningen Airport Eelde will follow in three weeks. The council then has two weeks to make a decision. There must therefore be clarity about the 160,000 euros by 14 March at the latest.