The airport came up with the money-spinning idea last week
Translated by Thomas Ansell
Both Drents nature organisations and local residents in Eelde and its surroundings have come together to oppose plans for military flights at Groningen Airport Eelde (GAE), reports the Asser Courant.
The two groups have jointly penned a letter to Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen for Infrastructure and Water Management (VVD), asking that she not grant the necessary permits for military traffic at the airport.
“The introduction of military aircraft moments- as GAE wants- will bring untenable pressures upon the liveability of the top of Drenthe”, says the group in its letter. “It will cause significant damage to the surrounding natural areas, the green-land zone, and the three large Natura 2000 areas”. The groups also suggest that the tourism industry in the ‘top of Drenthe’ would also suffer from military flights.
The letter is co-signed by the Vereniging Omwonenden Luchthaven Eelde, the Stichting het Drentse Landscap, and IVN Eelde/Paterswolde.
It was confirmed last week that GAE is seeking meetings with the Dutch military in order to see if the airport could play a ‘greater role’ in military air traffic. At the moment, the airport only has a permit for military flights that carry passengers.
A press spokesperson for the Dutch military confirmed that there have not been any concrete plans made. “Defensie has been invited by representatives from GAE to talk about these plans. There are, at the moment, no plans for military use of the airfield. Therefore it is too early to give concrete answers to questions.”
Image via Groningen Airport Eelde
