How should Groningen recover in the next thirty years? Dagblad van het Noorden asked readers to share their thoughts with quartermaster Henk Nijboer on this question. These ideas came in.
Quartermaster Henk Nijboer can come up with ideas to help Groningen get back on its feet. 100 million euros is available annually for this purpose for thirty years. He focuses on boosting prosperity, education level, mental health and quality of life. About fifty readers would like to convey this to Nijboer.
Welfare
Focus on the manufacturing industry, according to several readers. And provide a basic income for the poorest residents of the province. This offers them peace of mind, frees them from bureaucratic wrangling and allows them to receive training or start their own business. “All Groningen residents have the right to a roof over their heads without financial worries,” someone writes.
Another reader would invest in limiting household energy use. After all, energy poverty leads to poorer health and study results. And by investing in revaluing work in, for example, the agricultural sector, young people will regain prospects for the future and continue to live here, is one of the ideas.
Course
Invest in the basis of education, someone else advocates. This includes general skills such as reading and writing, but also manual skills. Let children work together more at school and see what the possibilities are for smaller classes. Invest in exercise between classes. Make sports affordable.
And provide a mobile library, a so-called ‘bibliobus’, as well as swimming lessons, it is suggested. The money must be further spent to train professionals or offer second training or retraining. ‘Ultimately, this also provides job opportunities and better mental health, because people can do something new that suits them better.’
Mental health
Improving the psychological health of Groningen residents is possible thanks to neighborhood teams and care teams, according to one of the responses. People should be able to see for themselves what they need. This could be a walk with an experienced expert, or a course on how to deal with a small wallet.
In summary: make mental help accessible, fast and cheap or even free. Especially in a province where there is so much earthquake damage, resulting in all kinds of suffering, care should not be stripped down any further and move to the city of Groningen. There must be extra money for healthcare staff, so that psychological care can return to the countryside – without long waiting lists.
What also helps to improve health? More greenery in and around the villages and more culture. Nature reserves and museums contribute to well-being, social cohesion and the economy through tourism. “Culture makes people happy and forgets their daily problems,” says one of the responses.
Livability
Readers came up with countless ideas, especially in the area of quality of life. Invest in the attractiveness of village centers, for example, was mentioned. Support initiatives by residents and local associations, give them a role in how they can improve their environment together. How should that be done? For example, provide villages with a village shed where residents can borrow tools and garden supplies. Such a shed is already being built in the village of Garrelsweer in Eemsdelta.
Readers also argue for maintaining or reducing village facilities. This includes a GP, drugstore, primary school, village shop or community centre, but also a sports hall or gymnasium, for example. Residents should not have to stumble over everyday problems such as paying high rent.
What also helps to improve the quality of life: public toilets and picnic tables and waste bins along cycle routes. You should combat the vacancy of buildings, and renovate the cityscapes of cities such as Winschoten and Delfzijl.
Public transport in rural areas needs to be much improved according to a large number of readers. Nijboer already indicated that it will be difficult to include this in his plans because of the high price tag. He would rather spend the 100 million on other things. But it doesn’t have to be expensive, someone thinks: a call bus or regional taxi makes some places a lot more accessible.
