It was determined by drawing lots on Thursday that a coffee shop may be built at the Koningsoord in Berkel-Enschot, but 3700 signatures have already been collected against the arrival. The new village center and the Verdiplein in Tilburg came out of the ‘top hat’ by drawing lots. On Tuesday, residents will receive a letter from the municipality, but CasparNaijkens (32) has already started a petition: “It is right opposite a candy store.”
Caspar himself lives diagonally above the empty shop building where the coffee shop may be located. “It really is in the middle of a shopping area. Everything here is new construction. It is a neighborhood for young families and the elderly. There is also a care home here. I hear from many elderly people that they feel unsafe.”
“The municipality has not said anything at all.”
According to Caspar, the location leaves much to be desired. “Children are walking and cycling all day long or they are just playing there. The building is also right opposite a sweet shop. The Koningsoord is one of the few places where you can still park for free, which is already busy. The constant supply and delivery at the coffee shop would only exacerbate this.”
According to Caspar, the local residents are most surprised that the decision is so unexpected. “The neighborhood knew nothing. The municipality has not said anything at all.”
It’s all still in the early stages, but that didn’t stop Caspar from getting one online petition which has already been signed 3700 times in a few days. “In this way we want to make a counter sound heard.”
“At the edge of the village you are less bothered by the cars.”
The municipality will send residents a letter to residents on Tuesday. “That is also the start of the consultation with the neighborhood. I can imagine that it will lead to the necessary discussion,” said Mayor Weterings on Thursday.
He also said that the local residents cannot do much against the arrival of the coffee shop. “According to the zoning plan it is allowed, so there is not much that can be done about it. That applies to a new supermarket, but also to this coffee shop.”
That does not immediately mean that the shop will actually be there. The entrepreneur is still under investigation. If it turns out that it does not meet all the requirements, the next candidate on the lottery list will be chosen and that also means a different place.
If, according to Caspar, a coffee shop really has to be built in Berkel-Enschot, he would not choose the Koningsoord. “I would choose the Bosscheweg myself. That is a through road on the edge of the village. Then it is not in the center and you are less bothered by the cars.”
“We want a safe and healthy environment for our children.”
The other new coffee shop in the municipality will probably be located on Verdiplein in Tilburg-Noord. A online petition of local residents there now has 1900 signatures.
“It is a neighborhood where we are already fighting social challenges such as poverty, unemployment, low levels of education and crime. We want a safe and healthy environment for our children. A place where they can grow up and learn without the temptation and risk of drug use” , the initiators write in their petition.
Read also: Places for two new coffee shops conjured up from the hat
Waiting for privacy settings…
