The case in summary The Free Traffic project in Færder municipality aims to map and remove illegal traffic obstructions in the beach zone. So far, the municipality has mapped 5 different stretches totaling around 1.5 miles. 49 illegal roadblocks were found on the first mile. In 40 cases, private individuals have voluntarily removed obstacles in the beach zone following instructions from the municipality. Labor Party is positive about the project, while both the Conservative Party and the FRP have voted against the project twice. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content has been reviewed by news’s journalists before publication. The free traffic project is referred to as a success by the left in the island municipality of Færder. Høyre and Frp, however, are far more lukewarm to the project, which aims to map and remove illegal traffic obstacles in the beach zone. According to a poll in Tønsbergs Blad, there is likely to be a blue majority in the island municipality, which consists of the old Tjøme and Nøtterøy municipalities. – The project is extremely important. It has been a successful project, says mayor Jon Sanness Andersen (Ap). Mayor Jon Sanness Andersen (Ap) and mayoral candidate Tom Mellom (H) disagree on whether the beach zone project should continue. Photo: news.NO – On the first mile that was mapped through this project, 49 illegalities were found. On average, there is one illegality for every 200 metres. That says something about the scope. Since the project was started in August two years ago, 90 potentially illegal traffic obstructions have been registered over a stretch of just under two miles in the beach zone. Measures that may prevent the general public from legally traveling in the Stengsler beach zone are assessed both in accordance with the Open Air Act and the Planning and Building Act. The Open Air Act: Illegal fences, physical and psychological. Examples: Fences, garden furniture, lights/lanterns, flagpoles, hedges, signs, rubbish. The Planning and Building Act: Illegal measures that can be characterized as obstructing traffic. Examples: Home, holiday home, outbuilding, boathouse, wharf, paving, driveway, wall, retaining wall, stairs, fence, terrain interventions, walkways. – We have also mapped access roads to the beach areas, says project manager Anna Margaretha Mikkola Muhrman in Færder municipality. Project manager Anna MM Muhrman Photo: Fredrik Hansen / news Færder is among the municipalities in the country with the most built-up beach zone, according to figures from Statistics Norway (SSB). Many remove fences voluntarily In 40 cases, private individuals have themselves removed obstacles in the beach zone when the municipality has pointed out that these are in breach of the legislation. – As of today, the project has around 30 ongoing cases where the outcome may be an order for removal, says Muhrman. She adds that decisions are expected in the near future in several injunction cases that fall under the Open Air Act and the Planning and Building Act. The red line shows the stretch that Færder municipality will map for free traffic from Øra to Holme by Brøtsø. So far, 5 different stretches totaling around 1.5 miles have been mapped by the municipality. According to the adopted plan, two stretches of around eight kilometers remain. The red line shows the stretch Færder municipality will map for free traffic from Dunholmen to Kalvetangen near Føynland. Two different versions from the Conservative Party In December 2021, the Conservative Party and the Progress Party voted against allocating money to the project in connection with the budget processing in the municipality. The following year, the two parties voted against extending the project by at least three years. – We will probably vote against it further, said mayoral candidate Tom Mello (H) to news on 17 August this year. – We have a limited budget. If we spend one man-year on that, we have to spend correspondingly less on something else. We think that would be wrong. 11 days later, Mello is far less robust. – We may well complete the project. It will be part of the budget process. We don’t want fences in the beach zone either, are the tones from Mello now. – Putting the public before property rights FRP veteran Unni Hanson advocates putting the project on hold. – This project puts the public before property rights, says Hanson, who has his own shoreline by his house on Nøtterøy. Together with her late husband, she bought the magnificent property from the daughter of former prime minister Christian Michelsen in 1974. FRP politician Unni Hanson feels that people do not respect property rights. Photo: Fredrik Hansen / news Hanson believes the beach zone project has gone too far. – I have heard that there is now talk of removing flagpoles on private properties because they seem privatizing and appear provocative to the public. – 2 million will live around the Oslofjord General Secretary Dag Terje Klarp Solvang of the Norwegian Tourist Association (DNT) says they receive many inquiries from people who encounter obstacles when they are out in nature. – We support everything that can ensure the general public access to important outdoor recreation areas. General Secretary Dag Terje Klarp Solvang in DNT. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news Solvang believes several municipalities are doing a very good job in this area, but points out that there are some who have a slightly longer way to go. – It is important that the municipalities have a comprehensive plan for how they want to secure the values of outdoor life for the citizens, says Solvang. A recent survey Opinion has carried out for DNT shows that two out of three voters will be concerned about nature policy at this autumn’s municipal and county council elections. – By 2050, around 2 million people will live around the Oslofjord. This means that we have a big task ahead of us to ensure that these will have access to beautiful and free nature, says Solvang.
ttn-69
Beach zone project in Færder may be discontinued – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
