Part of Hoogeveen politics wants trees to be cut down as quickly as possible along the Coevorderstraatweg near Noordscheschut. They provide poor view on the road and that would be dangerous for traffic. Only Kap does not seem feasible for the time being.
Alderman Ronald Klok (VVD) announced this tonight during the council meeting. The municipality does not yet have a hood policy and does not just cut healthy trees.
Work is being worked on, says Klok. “There are various studies and we want to put something on the table before the summer. We are not negative about hood, but it is not possible. As a municipality we have to adhere to the rules.”
The request for hood came from Gemeentebelangen, SGP, CDA, VVD and FVD. The petitioners packed the message in a motion towards the municipal administration.
The fractions do this in response to concerns of residents along Coevorderstraatweg. They say that there has been too fast for years. In combination with the poor visibility through a number of trees, turning the road is ‘perilous’ according to this group.
Earlier, the municipality announced that it would not just cut trees. Often only if a tree is sick or ensures a dangerous situation. In the latter case you have to think of trees hanging over the road.
Trees that obstruct the vision are not classified under this. That is not possible, says Hoogeveen either. If it is cut down, then Hoogeveen is afraid of precedent operation in other places in the municipality.
“We are already getting signals that others propose the situation along Coevorderstraatweg to also get their way in terms of hood,” said Alderman Klok. “We don’t want that, so we have to tackle the policy thoroughly. That takes time.”
Aaf-Tineke Bisschop of the CDA outlined her surprise. She cited Carstensdijk, where five trees are also felled. She wondered why it is possible there and not along Coevorderstraatweg.
According to Klok, the Carstensdijk is being redesigned. Because some trees have to give way. “A permit for that must also be applied for, so that is not yet a run,” said the alderman.
Jan de Goede of the PvdA did not see the request of the petitioners of the motion. “As the alderman says, this request is not feasible. Trees cannot suddenly be felled next week. Let the college first draw up the hood policy.”
Koen Masters from the ChristenUnie could agree with those words. “We all see the problem along Coevorderstraatweg, but we must first ensure that we do everything according to the book.”
The petitioners of the motion already had a council majority, but still decided to consult briefly. That took longer than expected and after more than ten minutes it became clear that their request remained. Even though the municipality can’t do anything yet.
“The message remains to quickly turn to hood,” said Hilma Hooijer of Gemeentebelangen. “Even if it is not yet feasible, our request cannot just end up in the trash.
The petitioners, however, agreed that the municipal administration should be given some time to work on the roof policy. More must be known about this before the summer.