Nijmegen – How should Nijmegen deal with express delivery services that want to operate in the city? The municipality does not have a policy on this as it is a new development and the city council is calling for policy frameworks. It was discussed in the town hall on Wednesday evening. The council itself only wants to allow the facilities on the main roads and thus keep them away from the city centre. Opinions of the various parties to the council are fairly divided.

“No 24-hour economy”

A number of parties are questioning whether Nijmegen should facilitate express delivery services at all. “We also realize that there is a demand for them,” says GroenLinks board member Ayse Terzi. “But we still wonder if we as a municipality should make it easier for people to consume more and more.” Jonathan Quelwin (CDA) is adamantly against express delivery services. “It’s an indication of where progress and convenience can push boundaries. Should others suffer the inconvenience because someone wants to receive their messages in 10 minutes? As far as we’re concerned, we don’t encourage that.” It is also not necessary for the service provider. “The 24-hour economy is not a necessity for us,” says party follower Noah Vetter. “Express delivery drivers quite far from Nijmegen is also an option for us.” According to alderman John Broome (City Party Nijmegen), whether there will be a 24-hour economy in the city is not up to the officials: “In the end, the citizens themselves decide whether they want a 24-hour economy.”

Not downtown

lecture Therefore, he does not see the city center as a suitable location For express delivery services. “We’re beautifying the city center, making it car-free, improving the living environment and making it a meeting place,” says Broome. “The flash plug-in drivers do not belong between them.” Sem Jetten (City Party Nijmegen): “We also don’t think it is advisable to have them in the city center, but we must also consider the consequences for express delivery services, who will then have to move in, and the possible financial consequences for the municipality.” As far as SimplyNijmegen.NU is concerned, the express delivery services are worth a chance, but outside the city center. PvdA is also pleased that the Council has chosen to exclude express delivery services from the Centre. D66 comments: “How does a company get a chance to fit into the public space if it is excluded from an important area like the city centre?”, asks consultant Sophie den Ouden. “If we provide the right frameworks and carry out bespoke work, I think there are plenty of sites within the canals and on the periphery of the center that could be well suited. Such as the current site in Karregas and in a side street of Van Welderenstraat.”

Arterial roads and residential areas

As far as college is concerned, express delivery services land on the main roads. “Or where distribution forms already exist,” says local councilor Noel Vergonst (GroenLinks). “We already have a number of them in mind.” However, these methods still provide room for debate. “I think of St. Anastrat, Graafseweg and Willemsweg,” says Charlotte Brand (PvdA). “People just live there.” Tim Grielijkhuizen (Partij voor de Dieren): “Although we do not consider express delivery services essential, there is a need and we can live in locations close to arterial roads, provided they are not near residential areas. Banning them completely seems difficult for us.” The Community Development Authority wants express delivery services entirely outside residential areas. Koelewijn: “Even if the travel time is longer as a result and delivery costs have to be increased.” PvdA wants Nijmegen to take an example of the way Amsterdam handles express delivery services. “Let’s basically allow them to be in corporate environments, where they can’t reduce the look of the neighborhood with their blocked windows and additional noise pollution,” says Brand. “In mixed areas, we can have a ‘no, unless’ policy.”

Save space

VVD wants to call express delivery services. “The hair on the back of my neck stands on end from all those who think they have to decide for someone else what is necessary and what is not,” says party chairman Martin Bakker. “We think in terms of opportunities and possibilities. Let’s give them space, make good agreements with entrepreneurs to reduce inconvenience – for example by requiring them to set up an indoor area for delivery drivers so they don’t stay outside – and enforce any inconvenience that still arises. It’s impossible to put something in place. Somewhere without a certain degree of inconvenience anyway, what is important is that we organize it so that we can coexist with each other. With good agreements, this can also be done in a residential area and in the city center. Better than a hut full of tenants.”