Dirk Visser, a member of Leeuwarden’s council for the Labour Party (PvdA), has asked the council to consider the future of the slippery slate paving stones, which have caused several accidents in recent weeks
Translated by Thomas Ansell
Four weeks have passed since Visser himself came off this bicycle on the slippery Chinese slate tiles, on the Nieuwestad in Leeuwarden, as reported by Omrop Frsylan. He has asked several colleagues on the council about the situation: “I want to look at what can be done there. In 2017 we laid a base over the stones, with the intention that this would make them less slippery. But they have not become less so, most certainly.”
It is because of this that Visser himself is taking action, and asking the council for further measures to be taken against the unsafe situation. The PvdA member has researched some possible options: “I have had contact with a natural stone company, and he said that the type of stone we are using is not suitable. However, he suggested that the municipality could add stones, for more grip. That is definitely an option we could take.”
Visser is certain that something must be done, with accidents happening on the slippery stone nearly every day, and whenever it rains. “I have, myself, two weeks back helped an old lady who had fallen over. Also, on Facebook I often see ten times as many reports as that. This can’t remain the same for much longer.”
The councilor is supporting the action of Heidi Douma, who fell in the city centre recently and is taking action against the municipality. “I will certainly support the action against the council, after all, it is the municipality that has the task of ensuring everyone’s safety.”
Last year, the city of Groningen also announced a large-scale re-paving project, with the yellow stones used throughout the city having become too slipper.
Image via Weefemwe. Usage via License CC BY-SA NL 3.0.
