Bergen council is mobilising local people who petitioned against the plan to store natural gas underground in the Bergermeer region to lodge an appeal with the supreme court Raad van State. The plan was approved by the government in May.

Bergen council is still strongly opposed to the plan and local people argue it is not safe and will increase the risk of earthquakes. But the council is worried its opposition will not be considered by the Raad van State.
Legal adviser Dick Minkman says the law does not allow a local government to appeal against a national government decision. The council has therefore set up a foundation to approach the Raad van State and wants local people to make their own case.
‘We are trying to use the loopholes in the law,’ Minkman told Trouw.
Storing natural gas in Bergen is part of efforts to turn the Netherlands into an international gas storage and distribution centre. It will cost €800m and is due for completion in 2013.