Plans for an unpaved runway on the training grounds in Drenthe are as good as cancelled. State Secretary Gijs Tuinman (BBB) wrote this in a letter to the House of Representatives. Locations in Havelte-west and De Haar near Assen were considered for this.
Tuinman mentions, among other things, noise pollution, consequences for other exercises and the impact on recreation and landscape as reasons to cancel the Drenthe options for the time being. The locations in De Peel, Deelen, Gilze-Rijen and Leusderheide will be further investigated.
In order to practice evacuations off the beaten track, Defense is looking for what they call a ‘dirt strip’. That is a narrow, unpaved runway for military aircraft. Aircrew now have to go abroad for exercises, the Netherlands has no dirt strip. But Defense does want this. “To keep the units constantly trained, a total requirement of 625 aircraft movements on an annual basis is required,” Tuinman outlines.
Of the ten locations examined in total, noise pollution for residents in the area around Gilze-Rijen and Havelte-West turned out to be the greatest. The impact on nature also turned out to be high. This also applies to the location on the De Haar training ground.
The municipalities of Assen and Midden-Drenthe previously stated that this plan did not have much chance at De Haar. The Hoogersmilde TV tower, which is located on the flight path, noise pollution that must fall within standards and the presence of the TT circuit and the A28, made a dirt strip very difficult, according to the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. But Camp Westerbork and the associated quiet area were also a point of attention for flight routes, according to the municipality.
Expansion of the De Haar training area and the possible arrival of a training village are still under investigation. Defense expects to provide more clarity on this in the new year.