Residents of the Anjerstraat in Hoogeveen do not like the arrival of fourteen social rental homes in their neighborhood. They fear that the new construction will cause an increase in traffic. They also think that their living comfort will be affected because the buildings will be seven meters high. In addition, they think that the municipality does not communicate well about the plans.
Local residents have already submitted objections to the municipality, but that does not seem to be enough. The concerns were voiced again during tonight’s council meeting. “It is a very unfavorable situation,” says one of the local residents. “During several walk-in evenings we submitted objections, but then we received zero responses.”
The intention is to build the houses on the site of the former De Fontein primary school. The houses must be a maximum of about seven meters high. Local residents think that they still have a nice unobstructed view, but that this has changed with the arrival of the houses. “We lose our living comfort because of this,” says the speaker.
They also think that it will become much busier in the district, which will cause traffic and parking problems. According to the neighborhood, the parking problems have been a problem for some time. “This will only get worse. The space and capacity to cope with that is simply not there,” says another speaker.
In a few weeks, the council must make a decision about the construction of the fourteen homes. Tonight they could discuss the subject with each other. After the speakers, the parties wondered whether the municipality had communicated properly about the arrival of the homes. “We often hear that things are not going well and that is a problem,” says Brand van Rijn of the SGP. “Why does this happen every time?”
Although the majority of the council is positive about the plans, most parties are curious whether the residents of the Anjerstraat have been well informed by the municipality. “Has anything been done with the criticism of the residents after the walk-in evenings?”, was a question asked by most of the political groups.
A total of three objections were filed prior to the council meeting. The first was signed by 21 families. “That’s quite a few residents,” said alderman Roelof Bisschop.
According to him, something has indeed been done about the criticism that was voiced during the walk-in meetings. For example, about the traffic nuisance and the parking problems. “First there were plans for sixteen homes, but that was later reduced to fourteen.”
According to the alderman, there would also be 21 parking spaces. “We have expanded that with eight extra places. Precisely to deal with the problems better. The design of the street itself is already causing problems during the collection of waste. Maneuvering is difficult, that will remain difficult in the future, that will come because of the facility as it is now.”
There was also some criticism of the small green strip that is being created. Bisschop was clear about this: “We must not forget that the Zuiderpark is nearby. Enough greenery in the vicinity of the Anjerstraat.”
However, he wanted to return to the criticism about communication. After the last walk-in meeting in November, the housing associations drew up a draft letter with more information about the plans. It should be sent to the local residents. “But I’m not sure if that was done.”
This is currently still being researched. Before the council makes a decision on the plans, the council wants to come back to this and inform the residents. On April 20, the factions will determine whether the new building will be built.