Enschede countryside: the enigma of development, space and preservation of the beautiful

The pressure on the relatively small and beautiful suburbs of Enschede has been great for years. In addition to the long-standing wishes in the field of activity and methods, new challenges have been added in recent years. at a fast pace. Solar fields and/or wind turbines must be installed. Agriculture must be renewed. Dehydration must be controlled. But there is also life, living and entertainment.

Finger in porridge

The puzzle gets a little more complicated because the city doesn’t revolve around that same remote area. For the national and provincial government a big finger in the development process. The agreements are concluded at the European, national and regional level. The city government can’t just ignore it.

Enschede wants to bring together all of those needs – development and quality of life – and harmonize them. Not just behind the drawing boards of policymakers, but with residents. In the village of Broekheurne, the “zone operation” was completed last year. The results will soon be presented to the City Council.

Pride

“If you do this, do it together and don’t just force it.” District Administrator Eric Buck, the initiator of this process, speaks in Brockern. Back proud. “The district has been able to talk to each other, based on the interests of what’s out there, but also to take each other into account.”

That conversation led to a set of plans for Broekheuren. This “Region Agenda” will be presented to the Municipal Council soon.

Boulder Broekheurne

One of the hard points – traditionally – in the village was the arrival of a large solar field. “We looked at that again. Does it fit the region, the environment? Is that the perfect solution?” A conversation with the farmer who provided the land for the original garden and the residents led to a new plan. Adapted solar garden, nicer, better equipped and bigger.

The windmill discussion, which had been raging in the area for a long time, was brought up again. Farmers preferred to keep windmills and land for livestock and arable farming. Residents think otherwise. “During the conversation on this subject, the farmers said: ‘We don’t live near us. Let the inhabitants decide about those windmills.”

It’s not all in cans and jugs

However that is easier said than done. Because farmers who stop or surrender must be compensated. “We’re working hard to get the bags of money needed for this,” Buck says.

Something similar happens with the construction of solar fields. Commercial parties are being sought for this purpose. It sounds good, but there is now a broad consensus that it is best to ensure that this field ends up in the hands of the local public. Then the proceeds don’t disappear into foreign, often foreign, pockets, but can be used for things that benefit the population around them. Even survivability.

It starts at the kitchen table

Eric Buck, Broekheurne District Manager for 1Twente Today

Enschede is not far away yet. But with this “integrated district approach,” as it’s called in official language, and the district agenda that results from it, the city has taken an important step in terms of supporting development.

And this, Buck says, could be the first place in the Netherlands where this has happened in this way. However, there is a caveat on earnings: “Don’t hear me say there won’t be any more bumps. These are complex operations.”