The case surrounding the destroyed mineral resources in Oranjedorp leads to new questions among various Emmer council factions. In the second part of the podcast of research program Zembla the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) contradicts the council’s story on points.
This morning it appeared in the Dagblad van het Noorden the report that Emmen had already been reprimanded by the province in December for missteps at Oranjedorp. Reason for Hart voor Emmen and the CDA, among others, to sound the alarm again at the council.
Brought two weeks ago Zembla in a podcast that the municipality of Emmen has committed missteps in the construction of a distribution center near Oranjedorp. Archaeological mineral resources would have been lost as a result. The municipal council was not informed about this in advance. During an emergency debate held last Thursday, the council apologized.
On Tuesday, an angry RCE responded to statements by councilor René van der Weide. According to him, the RCE could have played a significant role in preventing the loss of archaeological finds. A spokesperson for the RCE contradicted this and called Van der Weide’s story ‘incomplete or even wrong.’ According to the RCE, the municipality largely kept aloof and the RCE mainly tried to turn the tide on its own initiative.
The developments raise new questions among council factions that believed they had heard all the answers last week. “It is the gift that keeps on giving“, sighs Robart de Jong from Hart voor Emmen. He is curious about the differences between the stories of the RCE and those the alderman gave during the emergency debate. And especially on what basis the council has drawn their conclusions about the role of the RCE. “One thing doesn’t match the other.”
“First there was the podcast, that’s right,” said CDA faction leader Rene Wittendorp. “We will then hold an emergency debate, which will be a mutual hearing.” Normally you will be there, but the podcast and the provincial letter raise new questions, according to the CDA leader. The Christian Democrats clearly do not want more surprises. “We want to ask the council how we can break the cycle, how do we solve this.” He also believes that the council should have informed the council about the letter much earlier.
Joey Koops (D66) agrees with the latter. “We asked the councilor if we could go without Zembla ever heard this story. The answer you get is that he doesn’t know that. We really blame him for this. In his answer he also pointed out his previously announced departure. I’ll be gone in two months, he said. Apparently he thinks he is inviolable.”
Van der Weide responded to the follow-up questions from the opposition parties during tonight’s council meeting. “The media gives the impression that we are giving the RCE the blame. That is not the case. We mainly looked at ourselves and what did not go well there. I explained the timeline and also talked about the RCE.”
According to the councilor of Wakker Emmen, the municipality played no role in informing the RCE. The municipality has asked project developer Solidiam to conduct additional research. Research agency EARTH was approached by Solidiam for this purpose. Van der Weide: “EARTH acted on behalf of Solidiam and EARTH subsequently informed the RCE.”
He says he regrets the discussion with the RCE. “Last week I actually stated that at a certain point only the RCE and therefore the government still had the option to hinder the construction of the distribution center. It is up to them that this is interpreted differently by the RCE and I do not recognize that If other parties interpret certain words differently, that may be part of the discussion. I regret that, but that is beyond my control,” he concludes.
Tags: Zembla revelations Oranjedorp raise council questions Gift giving
