From the bottom of the valley in the industrial town of Høyanger and up into the mountainside are some of the steepest stairs in Norway. Built in 1916 in connection with the power development, and used year after year in what was referred to as the country’s steepest downhill race. But like the well-known Fykantrappa in Glomfjord, Statkraft has for several years claimed that safety is too poor. In 2021, the company stated that it is no longer willing to take responsibility for or spend money on them. – We no longer have a use for these stairs and the plan is to demolish them, said power plant manager for Statkraft in Sogn, Inge Hass, to news. The stairs in Høyanger were built in 1916. Photo: Privat It was the start of a powerful local and national mobilization, where Labor leader Jonas Gahr Støre also asked Statkraft to take responsibility. On several occasions, the state-owned electricity giant said that the stairs were not their responsibility. But now it can still move towards a solution. Want to preserve In recent years, local forces have worked to save the stairs. Høyanger Næringsutvikling will turn the power plant into a “spectacular attraction that provides value creation around business development and urban development.” The concrete plans now are to create a new stairwell, of course in aluminium, as the village is known for housing the aluminum producer Hydro. Last month they applied to Statkraft to take over the stairs, rørgata and the trolley line. The plan is to equip the stairs using aluminium. Photo: Illustration: Xform And now the rescue may have come. Statkraft has put NOK 20 million on the table to transfer the plant to the foundation and the municipality. It was Ytre Sogn that reported this first. The new facility is estimated to cost NOK 28 million. The plan is for the rest of the sum to be financed by bank funds and the county council. This is how the stairs can look after they have been equipped. Photo: Illustration: Xform This is why Statkraft turned around Formally, there is an application from Statkraft to NVE for the demolition of the stairs. The hope of Statkraft and the local initiative is that the new plans will be included in the consultation round, where an application is made for a plan change. Statkraft goes to great lengths to suggest that there would be significant costs for the company, including demolition. – We see this as a win-win situation, says Inge Hass today. Two years ago, Statkraft wanted to demolish the stairs. Today, the company gives money to a foundation and Høyanger municipality for conservation, says Inge Hass. Photo: Privat Then the question is whether NVE will accept the new plans. – We have not been allowed to process the case. It is important that there is control over the area, for environmental reasons, among other things. Further ownership must follow up the use in a good way, says section manager Carsten Jensen Engaged enthusiasts After Statkraft announced in 2021 that they would close the stairs and had the goal of demolishing them, the local reactions did not wait. The 107-year-old stairs were highlighted as important for public health and outdoor activities in the municipality, and not least as a living image of industrial history and cultural heritage. Malin Frøyen Bergset was among those who used the stairs for training, and went up them now and then. She wanted so badly to save the stairs that she was willing to chain herself to them. Today she says this: – I miss the stairs every single day. If they get them going again I will be so happy! Malin Bergset Frøyen was willing to chain herself to prevent the stairs in Høyanger being removed. Photo: Oddmund Haugen / news
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Flipping up millions to save more than 100-year-old stairs – news Vestland
