Edes Reaction to Defense Expansion

On Friday, December 19, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Program Space for Defense (NPRD). The municipal executive of Ede is not surprised by the choices made. These largely correspond with the draft that was available for inspection last summer. The executive also understands very well that, given developments in the world, there is a great need for defense to expand. “We appreciate the process followed and the information provided by the ministry,” said alderman Peter de Pater.

However, there are also concerns regarding noise and nature for people and living environment, the cumulative nuisance from multiple activities on land and in the air, and limitations for other social tasks such as housing, nature restoration, and energy. Therefore, before summer, Ede and in coordination with the province of Gelderland submitted a viewpoint. Alderman de Pater: “Ede has a long history and pleasant cooperation with defense. At the same time, we of course stand for a good living environment for our residents. Although we understand them, we want to keep the impact of the choices made as small as possible and would like to be closely involved in further elaborations.”
In the coming years, the final choices will be worked out into projects. The municipality and the province will remain closely involved. Then it will also become clear how the choices made now will exactly turn out. Defense can inform the residents near its activity clusters about these projects and permit applications.

Regarding the Infantry Shooting Range (ISK) at the Harskamp Military Camp, the cabinets decision is still a draft decision. We will also assess these plans and, if necessary, submit a viewpoint so that our input can be taken into account in the final decision.

Todays decision has not yet clarified what Defenses preference for stationing fighter jets (F35) at Lelystad Airport means for possible opening for civil aviation. From Flevoland and Lelystad, it has been indicated that use by Defense must go together with opening Lelystad Airport for commercial use. In the House of Representatives, it has been expressly stated that holiday flights are undesirable. This was confirmed again this week (December 16) by the adoption of the Kröger Motion. The cabinet now leaves this unclear for longer. A possible link between defense use and civil aviation brings negative and partly still unforeseen effects for Gelderland. Alderman De Pater: ‘This maintains uncertainty about the effects of (low-flying) routes over the Veluwe and our municipality. The executive is concerned about the extra noise nuisance for residents, the nitrogen load on the Veluwe, and the way the cabinet, contrary to the House of Representatives, still allows this development. For the executive, the choice for use by Defense takes priority over civil aviation from Lelystad.