Hoogeveen council deadlocked over Bentinckspark housing and sports hall

The Hoogeveen municipal council has reached a deadlock regarding the future use of Bentinckspark Noord. A proposal to prioritize housing development over the construction of a 3,000-square-meter commercial indoor sports hall resulted in an equal number of votes for and against, forcing a re-vote scheduled for November 12.

The municipal executive's original plan includes space for at least eight caravan sites and the indoor sports facility. Several political parties, including PRO Hoogeveen, ChristenUnie, SGP, SP, D66, and CDA, submitted the ‘Ruimte voor Wonen’ amendment to prioritize housing due to high local demand. The SP noted they do not oppose commercial sports halls but believe municipal land should not be reserved exclusively for them.

Alderman Ronald Klok defended the executive's plan, arguing that housing and sports facilities are not mutually exclusive. He noted that while Hoogeveen aims for 2,000 homes by 2030, current plans target 2,600, and highlighted that environmental factors may prevent 20 to 25 percent of the specific location from being suitable for residential construction. Meanwhile, the VVD and Gemeentebelangen support the sports hall, viewing it as a natural fit for the Bentinckspark sports area.