The province of North Brabant cannot yet make a final decision on Monday about the possible closure of the village of Moerdijk. The deputy believes that new research should first be conducted into the consequences of this, she said during a meeting in the provincial government building on Friday. Alderman Dingemans van Moerdijk and some residents also spoke out, they want clarity about the future of the village quickly.
On Friday, the future of the village of Moerdijk was discussed in the provincial government building in Den Bosch. According to the municipal council, that village must eventually disappear to make way for new energy stations. The municipality, the government and the province of North Brabant will discuss this on Monday, December 1. But the hope that a decision will actually be made that day seems to have disappeared.
Referendum and village ‘lifting’
A majority of the parties argued on Friday that there should first be more investigation into the situation. Jente van Eck of the SP believes that the council has very easily decided to close the village. “It seems like a race is over. Terms such as ‘inevitable’ are used very easily.” The SP would like a referendum on the future of the village, although such a decision is up to the municipality.
The VVD would also like more research into an alternative location. Carola Meuwissen advocates examining whether the village can be ‘lifted’ and rebuilt elsewhere. Daan van den Broek (GroenLinks) is concerned about the type of industry that should be built on the site of the village. “We should not let a village disappear for an unnecessary box of blocks.” He also wants to put the decision about Moerdijk ‘on hold’.
‘Not sustainable’
PVV, JA21 and the Party for the Animals (PvdD) are even more adamant: they want the energy plans completely off the table. PvdD criticizes the focus on ‘economic growth’ and states that many companies in Moerdijk are not sustainable. “Why is the disappearance of Moerdijk being investigated, but the refusal of more industry not?”, says Nikky Hamerslag.
JA21 raises the question of whether ‘green growth’, as the energy transition is called, is still green if so much space is taken up. Willem Rutjens would rather focus on nuclear energy. Alexander van Hattem of the PVV calls the closure of Moerdijk ‘unacceptable’, partly because the municipality only spoke to ‘a handful of residents’ about the decision. The latter is contradicted by deputy Wilma Dirken.
Deputy: too early
Dirken (VVD) responded to all questions. She indicates that the new plans must in any case be realized in the Moerdijk region, as the region is located in an ideal location, on the water and with good infrastructure. So there is no discussion about that.
But it is still too early to choose a final preferred location (at the village site or elsewhere) on Monday, according to Dirken. “As a province, we do not yet have enough insight to indicate what our preferred direction is.” The deputy also wants more research first. She wants to take a few months to do this.
‘No delay but clarity’
It is in stark contrast to the vision of Alderman Dingemans van Moerdijk, also present on Friday. “We believe: we must be ready by December 1, that is why we are here,” he said. Some residents of Moerdijk who spoke are also in favor of making the decision quickly so that people in the village finally know where they stand.
Dingemans finds D66 and BBB, among others, on his side. The parties indicate that they have enough information to make a choice. Marco Havermans (BBB): “Everyone wants a postponement, but the Moerdijkers want clarity.” He calls on the province: “Is the Provincial Executive as brave as the council and council of Moerdijk?”
On Monday afternoon, the national government, the province, the municipality and the Brabantse Delta water board will present the outcome of their consultation.
Here you can read all the stories about the disappearance of the village of Moerdijk.