The tour of a thousand dirt bikes may not be ridden on Sunday 20 March over the territory of the municipality of De Wolden. The judge has decided that. Because of that statement, motorcycle club De Antrappers from De Wijk is adjusting the event.
–
The Meppel Nature Conservation Watch Foundation objected to this tour, because a large part is driven through the Het Reestdal nature reserve. That part is mainly located in the municipality of De Wolden. Birds are currently building nests en masse, breeding or already have young.
–
The engines will cause disruption, says ecologist Henk Baptist, who reported on this for the Nature Conservancy. Because it is not known how great the possible damage is caused in this nature reserve, the environmental group went to court.
–
No permission
The route of 45 kilometers goes next to De Wolden, also through the municipality of Meppel. The objection that the environmental organization has against the permit issued by the municipality of Meppel has been rejected. This is different with the objection to the action of the municipality of De Wolden. That municipality should have given formal permission for the ride in their area, through the mayor. But that permission is missing. On that basis, the tour cannot pass through the territory of De Wolden.
–
It is not known whether the judge has decided whether sufficient consideration has been given to the consequences for nature. The Nature Conservancy had an ecological report drawn up for this. It can be concluded from this that the breeding area is not only disturbed by the raging engines, but also by the many cars with trailers that bring the engines. And also the construction and dismantling of the route by shovels and tractors.
–
Soil procedure
Shortly before the hearing, the motorcycle association also had an ecological report drawn up, which concluded that the disturbances are negligible. There is a good chance that the judge has not reached a verdict on these reports, because the case already failed due to the lack of formal permission.
–
According to Geert Starre of Nature Conservation Watch Meppel, a substantive procedure will follow later, in which dealing with nature is discussed in more detail. “We are not against tours. We are against damaging and overburdening nature. The government is not dealing with this in a clean manner and that has to stop.”
–
Alternative for own members
Chairman Arend Klomp of De Antrappers thinks it is a shame that the tour cannot be held. Only the part by Meppel is allowed and that is not enough, says Klomp. “There is now only fifteen kilometers left,” he explains. “That is not enough for so many participants. We are looking for an alternative for our own members.”
–
Perspective
According to Klomp, the off-road ride has been organized without any problems for years. “There was never any objection from the municipality or province and we never heard whether we had to provide additional documents,” he says. “We therefore did not know that they were required.”
–
That is why he had a conversation with the municipality of De Wolden this afternoon. “In it they more or less made an excuse about the course of events,” he says. “They said they were working with outdated procedures that they need to look into. As for the expenses we incurred, we’ll hear more later.”
–
Klomp hopes that this ruling has created more clarity regarding the granting of permits. “I hope this offers perspective for the future and that we can organize the tour next year without any problems.”
—
