GO for Enschede Airport Twente

On Wednesday June 17th five members of the Provincial Parliament of Overijssel, Netherlands, changed course and voted for the latest plan for Enschede Airport Twente, resulting in a majority.

By Jan Gerrits

Despite the warnings of economists, researchers and other independent authorities in the travel- and aerospace industry five members of the Partij van de Arbeid (social democrats) believed the adjusted and extra information about the amount of passengers and net employment the Province fed the Provincial Parliament just a week ago. The four other members of the PvdA were still not convinced that 1,2 million passengers and 2150 new jobs in 2030 are realistic and voted against the airport plan, just like they did half a year ago.

Soap Opera
A journalist and a camera team from ZEMBLA, a Dutch current affairs documentary programme, were present to capture the climax of this governmental disaster. This controversial airport plan is yet another example of vulgar abuse of public means.

Wet dream
Now the tax payer will suffer so the politicians who are in favour of the airport can realize their wet dreams. After all one of them stated last year: “It is very sexy to have your own airport as a region.”

Violation
The Dutch and German opponents against Enschede Airport Twente were shocked. On this memorable evening the consequences for the neighbours of the airport were totally ignored. The last moths we did all we could to convince the PvdA not to vote for the airport plan.
But who doesn’t want to listen will not hear…

To be continued…
After a big party to celebrate our small winnings (for example no big attraction parks but leisure on a small scale instead) and our commitment to the good cause and to each other new strategies will be built and new actions will be prepared.