The security situation in Ter Apel caused emotions to run high in the Westerwolde city council on Wednesday evening.
During that meeting, coalition party Gemeentebelangen and several other parties, through Bas Peters (Gemeentebelangen), wanted to instruct the mayor and aldermen to make a case for financial compensation for residents of Ter Apel. A compensation of 2500 euros with which residents can secure their homes, for example with cameras or fencing, against nuisance by residents of the asylum center. The order was in a motion.
Negotiations with the COA
This was met with resistance from other council members. CDA member Seine Lok, for example, stated that mayor Jaap Velema is currently talking to the COA on behalf of the city council about, among other things, improving the security situation and that such a motion would cycle in between. He also said he feared that Ter Apel’s image would be damaged even further and that the village would be filled with ‘secure castles’.
Expectations
Other politicians also questioned the feasibility of that motion. They wondered which Ter Apelers should be eligible for the compensation and how to act if the government refused to pay. ,,We must not raise false expectations”, said PvdA member Wim Eilert.
After a suspension, Bas Peters withdrew the motion. He stated that he first wanted to investigate how this could best be implemented and asked other council members to think along. What followed was a discussion full of emotions that made it clear that all politicians want to improve safety in Ter Apel, but that they want to take different paths.