– We live out in the countryside, that’s the way it is, says mayor of Øvre Eiker municipality Knut Kvale from the Center Party. For almost two years, the local community in Skotselv and the politicians in Øvre Eiker municipality have been looking for a new solution for Solbakken kindergarten. Now they thought they had found it, but the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken does not agree. Better cars and tractors than quick clay The indoor climate in Solbakken kindergarten is bad, and the children have to be divided into groups so that they are not allowed to be in the same place. Mikal Lorentzen in FAU and mayor Knut Kvale (Sp) agree on the new building. Photo: Eirik Thormodsrud Koren / news To improve the indoor climate, the municipality must bring in large machines and drains. But the kindergarten is located in a quick clay area. The mayor therefore does not want digging around the nursery. – This is in a confirmed quick clay area, so we refuse to do anything there, says Kvale. – Should be a local decision The municipality has thus looked for another suitable location. The choice fell on a former Bible school, which is located one kilometer away from today’s kindergarten. The municipality has entered into a purchase agreement for over NOK 20 million. Provided that there will be daycare operations. In order to be able to use the building as a nursery school, the planning committee had to grant a dispensation from the municipal plan for a change of use of the new building. This is the former Bible school to which the municipality wants to move the kindergarten. Photo: Eirik Thormodsrud Koren / news When such a dispensation is granted, the State Administrator can appeal the decision. And that is what the State Administrator has now done. – A little pissed off It doesn’t go down well with mayor Kvale. He believes the complaint is interference in purely local matters. – I get a little pissed off when other people get involved in this. It is untimely, says Kvale. – This must be a local decision. All point to the same place. It is an administrative practice that is not good, says Kvale. The parents agree The parents’ committee at the Solbakken kindergarten in Skotselv also wants the new location. Away from bad indoor climate and quick clay. – That has been the problem. The parents become worried and nervous and are excited about a new location. We and the municipality are in agreement, says leader of the parents’ committee (FAU) at Solbakken kindergarten in Skotselv, Mikal Lorentzen. Mikal Lorentzen leads FAU in Solbakken kindergarten. He agrees with Mayor Kvale that the kindergarten must be moved. Photo: Eirik Thormodsrud Koren / news Gives no special treatment The state administrator in Oslo and Viken acknowledges that the kindergarten should be moved, but says no to the building the municipality has chosen. In a letter to Øvre Eiker municipality, the State Administrator complains about the dispensation from the municipality to use the new building. – We have the national guidelines that we must comply with. They are the same throughout the country, but we have made a concrete assessment in this case as well, says Gunhild Dalaker Tuseth. She is department director in the climate and environmental protection department at the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken. Department director for the climate and environmental protection department at the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken, Gunhild Dalaker Tuseth. Photo: Hege Heløe Risk of tractor noise, smell and car use – We have emphasized the interest of children and young people. There are problems related to traffic safety and noise which is unfortunate for children and young people, and it will be car-based to have a nursery school at this location, says Dalaker Tuseth. In the letter of complaint, the State Administrator writes that the dispensation decision does not satisfy the interests of children and young people. And points out: That it is contrary to national and Buskerud’s guidelines for reducing car use. Risk for noise, traffic, odors and dust from agriculture – It just shows that they haven’t looked into the matter. They complain about noise, but there will be less noise where we propose, and it is a fact that most people deliver by car today. Agricultural machines are just fun for children, says Lorentzen at FAU. No inspection There are no trains in Skotselv, and compared to Drammen, Moss or Oslo there is a long way between bus departures. The building, which the municipality has granted a dispensation for, is located without a pedestrian or cycle path, about one kilometer away from the current nursery. – We decide on the location. It is the location we have been concerned with in this case, says Dalaker Tuseth. – What did you find on the inspection of the new building? – We probably haven’t been on an inspection. We review the documents we have received and make an assessment of it. – Why haven’t you been on an inspection? – There are resource considerations, says Dalaker Tuseth. Mayor: – The alternative is to drive on Earlier in the week, Kvale sent an e-mail directly to the State Administrator in Oslo and Akershus, Valgerd Svarstad Haugland. He asks that the complaint be withdrawn. The State Administrator does not do that. Now the mayor is considering defying the State Administrator and starting up in the new building in the autumn. – The alternative is to drive on as before and not comply with this. I am most inclined to do that, but we have to discuss that politically, says Kvale. Gunhild Dalaker Tuseth at the Statsforvalteren reacts in this way: – We will have to decide on that if it happens. Hi! Thanks for reading this far! Do you have any thoughts about the case you have read, or input on other cases we at news Buskerud should check out? Feel free to send me an e-mail!
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Can’t move the nursery where they want: – Get pissed off
