The general practice on the Zwarte Dijkje in Noordscheschut is bothered by the noise nuisance caused by the tram monument next to their door. The object is a replica of a historic tram car. The construction acts as a sound box that considerably amplifies the sound of jumping children and loitering youths. Their objection was rejected by the municipality of Hoogeveen. The practitioners then went to court.
The nostalgic tram wagon has been standing at the intersection of the Zwarte Dijkje and the Tramwerk since the end of November 2019. A reference to the tram that ran through the village until shortly after the Second World War and stopped there. Only after the artwork had been placed did the municipality come up with the permit. Meanwhile, the noise from the wagon drowned out the work in the practice. “Difficult and emotional conversations are drowned out,” practice employee Benny IJntema told the judge.
Never tested
The space between the practice and the artwork is more than nine meters. The colossus stands on a stone surface. The material of the wagon and the surface amplify the sound. IJntema showed and heard videos and sound fragments at the hearing. Also of screaming and singing youth in the carriage, in the middle of the night.
The residents above the practice are awake as a result, said the practice employee. According to him, the permit should never have been issued, because noise transmission has never been tested by the municipality. According to a spokeswoman for the municipality of Hoogeveen, there were no reports of noise pollution.
Other location?
The practice owners have had discussions with Local Interest Noordscheschut from the start that the tram was there. They were one of the initiators of this project. “Then we were told that in case of nuisance we would look for another place,” said IJntema.
The board members who were present at the meeting were not in favor of this. “The whole village has been involved in this project and the place where the tram was supposed to be. It is sour to have to do this whole process again.”
The judge will decide in six weeks whether the current location of the tram has been correctly licensed or whether a different location should be considered.