Anno Wietze Hiemstra, mayor of Aa en Hunze, looks back on a ‘good visit’. “It was a great conversation, nice that he was finally here. We were able to make an appointment to look at solutions,” says Hiemstra. “For us it is very important that the reversed burden of proof is looked at, that is being challenged. I have the impression that this is recognized and that he shares our view. I am confident that something will be done with it.”
Mayor Marcel Thijsen of Tynaarlo also thought it was a good conversation. “We have been able to say everything that we consider unjust.” He says much has improved in recent years. “But it was always two steps forward and one step back. And that one step back always caused an incredible amount of commotion.” And Vijlbrief now knows that too. Thijsen: “We want a counter, residents are sent from pillar to post too much.”
According to Hiemstra, today’s visit was a positive first step, as a result of which the contact between the State Secretary and the area is intensified. Thijsen: “We have agreed on a kind of hotline, so that we can get in touch with each other much faster. There is a mutual need for that.”