Questions and answers

This route was not included in the scope of the options study. Prior to the study, all conceivable options were examined, including the option involving the use of the former bus lane.

The route along the eastern side of the Canal used to be a standard tarmac road. In 2022, following an intensive consultation process with local residents, the road was converted into an urban park. As part of the ‘Experience the Canal’ programme, the provincial authorities provided a grant for the construction of the park.

During the political forum on 6 October 2022, the municipal council discussed the development of the fire station. The plan to opt for the route via the bridge was also discussed. The executive committee subsequently confirmed this approach. This was the deciding factor in further investigating the route through a residential area, rather than sacrificing a city park.

A route via the eastern side of the Channel would mean that:

  • We need to make the park suitable for fire engines, and a 4.5-metre-wide tarmac track needs to be laid between the rows of trees.
  • The semi-paved surface on the existing foundation must be removed and a new layer of asphalt laid.
  • The estimated cost of this is 1.6 million euros – based on a redevelopment from the Matenpoort to the Laan van Kuipershof, including the junctions. These costs are lower than the estimated costs of the current preferred route on the west side of Kanaal Zuid.
  • A bridge halfway through the park, near Savornin Lohmanstraat, is encountering technical difficulties. A large overflow structure belonging to the Water Board is in the way, and the existing cycle bridge is situated further away than Savornin Lohmanstraat. Furthermore, we would also need to construct a bridge for fire engines there and modify a level crossing. This would result in higher costs.
  • The route will run through a park rather than along a residential street. A fire engine looks out of place in a park, whereas on a residential street there is other (motor) traffic as well.
  • Residents on the west side of the canal have objections to a route running along the west side of the canal; residents on the east side of the canal may have similar objections to the route on the east side of the canal. However, the houses on Kanaal Zuid are closer to the road than those in De Maten. Moreover, these are the rear sections of the houses.
  • The journey time for the route along the east side is 24 seconds longer than that for the preferred route along the west side of the canal.

One of the comments on the options study – and the preceding documents – concerned the decision to locate a central post on the site. It was argued that this was based on a 2011 study, which was no longer up to date. However, the study was updated in 2020, and this showed that the conclusions of the 2011 study still apply.

A local resident informed us that several junctions had apparently not been included in the options study when assessing the route along Kanaal Zuid. We have therefore reviewed the report and reassessed the route.

This revealed that one junction had indeed been omitted from the assessment: Broedplaats. A new assessment was subsequently carried out, which did include this junction. As a result, one sub-aspect of the assessment has shifted from green to yellow. The report’s conclusion – recommending a route from the fire station at Matenpoort heading south-west via Kanaal Zuid – remains unchanged.

Aangepaste tabel in de variantenstudie van Movares
Adjusted table in the Movares variant study.

In a response to the variant study, the submitter assessed a number of criteria differently from Movares. The submitter takes a more negative view of the Kanaal Zuid road section than is set out in the Movares report. Movares is an independent consultancy with many years’ experience in the fields of spatial planning, rail and road design. We therefore stand by this assessment.

The fire service uses this route in the event of a so-called priority 1 call-out. This is a call-out where every second counts. A priority 1 call-out sometimes involves several vehicles, which may arrive at different times. In such cases, only the first fire engine uses the bridge over the canal. On the return journey to the station, the vehicles simply drive along the road and do not use the bridge.