Will farmers have to move and will there be more noise pollution? Many questions about changes at Central Zeeland Airport

Aircraft heavier than 6,000 kilos are currently not allowed to take off and land at the airport, but the airport management wants to get rid of this: “It is an outdated standard. There is now a noise certificate per aircraft that determines how much noise an aircraft produces.” These certificates added together and the number of flight movements determine when the airport exceeds the standard. Belderok: “If I land a few F-16s in January and February, so to speak, I can close for the rest of the year.”

Lifting the standard would benefit the Coast Guard’s heavy Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter, which has been stationed at the airport since December 2022 and responds to emergencies.

But the intention is not to introduce heavier, noisy aircraft to Midden-Zeeland as standard, the aircraft management assures. The relatively short runway, which is also made of grass, cannot cope with that at all. So no holiday flights from Arnemuiden to Alicante. Too bad for some, reassuring for others.

But Monique Meelmeester, a resident of Lewedorp, has her doubts. “I have a hard time and think that larger aircraft will come. I will continue to keep a close eye on it.” Dick van der Ploeg, a resident of Kleverskerke, has more confidence in the aircraft director’s explanation in this area. He is also reassured about noise: “I mainly wanted to know whether there will be more or less noise pollution. I think it will not be too bad.”

Kees Hanse, still a farmer through and through, looks worried afterwards. According to him, running the track will cost about 40 hectares of agricultural land. “I understand that farmers are first voluntarily asked to sell or exchange land. But if that is not possible, expropriation will take place. That is not acceptable to me.”

Airport director Enno Belderok says afterwards that he is ‘extremely satisfied’: “I am happy with the questions. This gives people insight into what it is about.” Belderok also has no complaints about interest from politicians, unlike previous meetings. There were four politicians in the room.

In September, the Provincial Council of Zeeland will decide whether the plans for the airport will go ahead or not.