Recovery companies also refuse to participate in farmer actions: ‘Threatened and intimidated’ | Inland

“It is getting from bad to worse and we have now called on our members not to show up to tow tractors or other vehicles that block roads,” says chairman Rob de Jong of the trade association for recovery and mobility specialists (VBM). . “Until now, we obediently came to the scene to offer help if the police or Rijkswaterstaat asked us for assistance, but that time has passed, for our own safety.”

“It is really too dangerous to try to tow a vehicle as a salvor, because before you know it, all of the farmers’ aggression is suddenly aimed at an employee who is only carrying out an order from his boss. And realize that we are not equipped to act in these kinds of ‘violent situations’. Our people just come in their shirts to do a job, very different from the police and Mobile Unit, which are well protected,” says De Jong.

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‘Size is full’

“Yes, unfortunately we have had enough. With pain in our hearts we have decided to do this, because we are care providers in heart and soul. It is precisely our task and our aim to remove a calamity from the road as quickly as possible, so that traffic can continue safely. But if even we now become the target of the farmers’ actions, then it will just stop. Leave that task to the army or Marechaussee, who do have the opportunity to act.”

Van der Goor from Doornspijk has also stopped after threats. “We ensure that cleaners can work safely and that car traffic is warned about the mess on the road in good time. But that was not accepted by the activists. Our people were intimidated and threatened. So much so that we turned around and no longer want to be used for this kind of work,” says Klaas van der Goor, who prefers to remain silent.

Asbestos

Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) says it can still find contractors who are willing to remove dumped waste, tires, hay bales and even asbestos sheets from the highways. “So far, we’re just getting there. We have now had to perform at about 25 locations. And that is sometimes not easy, because you have to find specialists to clean up asbestos, for example, and then the road also has to be cleaned. That takes a long time and costs a lot of money. In some places the damage is even so great that asphalt has to be re-paved”, says Diederik Fleuren.

RWS cannot yet say how extensive the damage is. “But we will do everything we can to hold the people responsible for this accountable. Protesting is fine, but this is pure destruction and you just have to pay for it,” continues Fleuren.

“And you also realize what extra effort is needed from people to lead all this in a safe way. Road diversions, deposits, et cetera. No, this has to stop quickly, because it creates life-threatening situations and has to stop before really serious accidents happen.”

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