A procession of ten fire engines drives Tuesday evening with sirens blaring towards the town hall in Anna Pavlovna. The security region recently announced that it wanted to close the fire station in Slootdorp, which the firefighters think is a bad idea. That is why the post commander made use of his right to speak during the consultation hour on Tuesday evening.
Just before 8 o’clock in the evening, 50 firefighters gather at Anna Pavlovna’s town hall. The councilors see and hear the fire trucks approaching from afar. With this, the fire service wants to make a clear statement that the plans of the Safety Region cannot simply be approved.
There is no empty seat in the council chamber. Everyone listens carefully to Arjen Bil, post commander of the barracks in Slootdorp. “We believe that the possible closure of the post is based on untruths,” says Bil. According to Bil, this choice is partly based on a failed recruitment campaign for new members and cutbacks.
No outcome yet
For the time being, the city council will continue to discuss the future of the barracks in Slootdorp. A decision on this will not be made in the short term. This is expected to last until December. Bil hopes for the support of the municipality, because according to him closing the barracks will cause many problems. “The plans that are now in place are going to cost lives.”