VENLO - The history of the Geloërveld and De Pannenberg industrial estates goes back several decades. The need for entrepreneurs to cooperate with each other has increased over this period. Indeed, there is also intensive cooperation with parties such as Ondernemend Venlo, the police and other bodies.
A recent development is renewed focus on preventing vandalism, burglaries and theft. Initiator is Nicole Wulms of Kelvion PHE BV. The company is based at Geloërveld in Belfeld. "When I was confronted with vandalism to our fencing for the fourth time in a short time last spring, I was fed up. Last year we were also broken into and they broke open a bus on our premises. Nothing has ever been taken, but we have damage all the time." After talking to park manager Lidy Rutten and neighbourhood police officer Frank Hardy, Nicole contacted fellow entrepreneurs. Rob Langen of Elmec Heftechniek: "I am the back neighbour. We too have had unwanted visitors from time to time. The industrial estate is public area and accessible to everyone. It is precisely by working together as entrepreneurs, informing each other, taking measures around the company and also making reports to the police that we help each other."
Nicole also interacted with Gerard op het Veld. He runs a technical installation company at Trade Port South. "One of the measures we have taken is to install lighting around the company. I notice in daily practice that entrepreneurs pay little attention to this issue. Only when something has happened are measures taken, but by then it is often too late," Gerard says. It didn't just stop at lighting. Kelvion PHE BV has also had new fencing installed. There will also be planting against the fencing and plans to hang cameras. District agent Frank Hardy: "We are very pleased with this initiative and hope it will be widely followed. The better your business is secured, the harder it becomes for criminals to get in. In that case, they unfortunately seek out a business that is less well secured. So it is important for everyone to take measures. It is also important for entrepreneurs to report or report abuses. I visit the companies to make it as accessible as possible. It also helps the police to get a real picture of the industrial area."
Park manager Lidy Rutten is also pleased. "It is great to see that entrepreneurs know how to find each other and that there is cooperation with us and the police. We have had the Quality Mark for Safe Entrepreneurship for several years now. You don't get that for nothing. The camera project at Trade Port Zuid is gaining more and more participants and Nicole's initiative is also ensuring that it is increasingly difficult for criminals to make their move on our industrial estates. I can therefore only urge entrepreneurs to also take measures to better secure their businesses."
Nicole has one additional question. "In winter, it can be slippery here on the industrial estate. Many cyclists use the site as a route between Belfeld and Tegelen. That in combination with the large lorries that drive here sometimes creates dangerous situations. It would be nice if the municipality could salt the industrial sites when it is slippery. That way, our sites will become safer and safer."
Text and photo: Sander Mattheijssen, BLAUW communications
