Dozens of residents are in ‘their’ parking lot just before 11.30 am. A little later, council members Rob Docter (Democraten Hilversum) and Joop Lahaise (OpStand) remove the black cloth from their parking sign. The text reads: ‘Erasmuslaan 243 – 351, for residents and visitors senior flat’.
Battle has been going on for five years
The arrival of such a real sign or another suitable solution is warmly welcomed by the residents. They have been working hard for this for at least five years. So far, this has mainly led to a lot of frustration.
Practical objections
“In addition, there are practical objections about, for example, the maintenance of the greenery and the road, and the ownership of the underlying cables, pipes and sewers. We have also rejected the construction of additional parking spaces, as requested at an earlier stage. This would be at the expense of public greenery, which we consider undesirable,” the municipality announced earlier this year.
With this morning’s symbolic unveiling, these elderly and often less mobile residents of Hilversum hope to create a new opening to have ‘a serious conversation’ with the mayor and aldermen. A solution must be possible, but please think along with us, is the call.
Bird droppings
Residents complain that the parking lot in front of their apartments is always full, forcing many to swerve and walk far. Their neighbors from the flat next door seem to like to park their cars here. There are too many trees in ‘their’ parking lot, in which there are many crows and jackdaws, with the risk that the car will be covered in bird droppings.