FDP is pushing for the rapid implementation of the Fiev Dörpen quality of life project

FDP is pushing for the rapid implementation of the Fiev Dörpen quality of life project

The “Fiev Dörpen” initiative is brewing in Emden, an ambitious project that aims to improve the quality of life in five villages. These are the towns of Petkum, Widdelswehr, Jarßum, Petkumer Münte and Hilmarsum. Emden citizens who have been working on the design of this major project since 2021 are now under pressure. The FDP, represented by the committed Hillgriet Eilers, is calling for the first measures to be implemented quickly so that the plans do not come to nothing. According to nwzonline, the involvement of local mayors and community nurses is planned in order to make smaller medical and nursing tasks on site more efficient.

The plans for “Fiev Dörpen” are not small frills, but rather provide for extensive infrastructural improvements. These include, among other things, renovated town houses, new playgrounds and attractively designed town entrances. A total of at least 48 projects are to be realized - the estimated total costs amount to 17 million euros, with almost two thirds being available as a subsidy from the state of Lower Saxony. But the uncertainty surrounding the funding applications is giving Eilers and her colleagues a headache. The funding must be approved through a ranking process, which turns out to be time-consuming, as ml.niedersachsen reports.

Ranking process and priority list

Eilers warns of the danger that small villages will be lost between the large urban development projects. A priority list of cost-effective measures could help achieve faster results and provide a positive outcome for both citizens and the Council. The challenges are clearly defined, because under the current conditions there is a risk that village concerns will be neglected - a circumstance that must be urgently remedied in order not to lose contact with the population.

The requirements for funding projects in the context of village development are demanding. Every village region that would like to apply for funds must be anchored in the village development program of the state of Lower Saxony and have a recognized village development plan. These are important points that projektatlas.europa-fuer-niedersachsen highlights and that do not only apply to “Fiev Dörpen”. The applications must be thoroughly prepared in order to secure the required funding amounts – up to 30,000 euros per village region – and beyond.

The way forward

Not only are measures such as improving public infrastructure on the agenda, but also the creation and maintenance of community facilities and leisure activities that underline the village charm. The aim is primarily for multi-functional buildings and co-working spaces. The aim is to counteract rural migration and offer villagers an attractive environment. The upcoming projects and the type of implementation are of overriding importance, and the next steps must now be tackled quickly.

The motto of the “Fiev Dörpen” initiative couldn’t be more appropriate – with a clear goal in mind and the conviction that smaller communities also have a right to support and development. The results that are now expected could ultimately be decisive for how life in Emden and its surrounding villages will be in the coming years.