Sunday 9 August 2020, 4:15 PM
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The judge has rejected the request of Addiction Care North Netherlands (VNN) to receive more than fourteen people in the Barkmolenstraat in Groningen. The neighborhood is relieved.
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The residents of the street in the De Meeuwen district are concerned about the quality of life. The fear is that the institution for sheltered housing will attract crime. Even before the arrival of the shelter, action was taken by the Wijkbelangen Barkmolenstraat Foundation. Nevertheless, VNN received a permit for the reception.
Nuisance
There are currently fourteen ex-addicts living in the institution. VNN wants to expand this to 26, but the judge put a stop to this in December last year, after again objections from the district. The judge found that Addiction Care should first map out the risks better and come up with a plan stating what is being done to prevent nuisance.
The municipality of Groningen then commissioned a risk analysis at the beginning of this year. ‘As a neighborhood, we thought that there were still many gaps, but VNN was of the opinion that they had met all the requirements. That is why they had submitted a request to the court to lift the limit of fourteen residents, ‘explains Bé van der Heide of the Wijkbelangen Barkmolenstraat Foundation.
The court has now ruled that the interests of local residents are insufficiently safeguarded in VNN’s plans, so that the maximum of fourteen residents is being maintained for the time being.
Trust
Van der Heide is happy with that decision. ‘This shows that the judge takes our interests and fears seriously. That gives confidence towards October. ‘
A lawsuit, a so-called substantive procedure, will take place in October. It looks at the considerations made by the municipality of Groningen when issuing the permit.
Also read:
– Ex-addict lives comfortably in the Barkmolenstraat: ‘I just have a chat’
– Buurt is partly right in lawsuit about sheltering ex-addicts
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