The case in summary – Two campsites in Bø in Midt-Telemark municipality were badly affected by flooding after torrential rain.- Urban planner and landscape architect Bård Magnus Fauske believes that the risk of flooding is well known and that the municipality has accepted the damage or risk of damage.- A report by the municipality itself ordered in 2017 gives a detailed description of flooding along the Bø river, and shows that the campsites are partially flooded in a 20-year flood and almost completely flooded in a 200-year flood. – The Beverøya and Åsgrav campsites were reopened a day after the flood, and the drivers do not imagine that the municipality can refuse them to continue driving. – Mayor Siri Blichfeldt Dyrland in Midt-Telemark municipality believes it is difficult for a municipality to change a use they have allowed, and points in the direction of national politicians and authorities. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I wondered what it looked like. Sverre Alfred Glasø stands in the nail tent. Flood water has left a line which shows that the water stood a good half a meter up on the front door. He did not realize that there was such a great danger of flooding here. The caravan will probably have to be thrown away, but he hopes parts of the nail tent can be saved. He is not sure if they will continue to have a caravan here. – Maybe we’ll try, he says. Glasø is not alone in having been affected by the flood. Caravan owner Sverre Alfred Glasø looks at the damage the water has done. Photo: Ken Markus Christensen / news – The municipality has accepted the risk of damage Two campsites in Bø in Midt-Telemark municipality were badly hit on Monday. Close to 350 camping guests and permanent residents along the river were evacuated when the river rose well above normal. City planner and landscape architect Bård Magnus Fauske believes the risk of flooding is well known. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news But the danger of flooding here is well known, says city planner and landscape architect Bård Magnus Fauske. – The land use has actually been approved by the municipal councils. This means that the municipality has accepted the damage or risk of damage, says Fauske. It is the individual municipality that has the ultimate responsibility for the use of areas. Therefore, the flood risk is well mapped. A report commissioned by the municipality itself in 2017 provides a detailed description of flooding along the Bø river. The report shows that the campsites are partially flooded in a 20-year flood and almost completely flooded in a 200-year flood. On Monday, a 50-year flood came. – In any case, the municipality cannot say that it is surprised by floods here, says Bård Magnus Fauske. He also refers to floods which in recent years have caused great damage to Otta and Lillehammer. At the same time, the meteorologists have warned of more torrential rain and floods as a result of climate change. Fauske therefore wants the authorities to highlight relocation and change as an alternative. – Parks could have been added, or the areas returned to nature, so that it becomes a natural part of the floodplain. Beverøya three days after the flood. Photo: Beverøya camping Nice place by the river for 70 years Only a day after the flood, the Beverøya and Åsgrav campsites were reopened. Although not everything was as before. Operator of Åsgrav camping, Elisabeth Torstveit Stenstad, shows us damage to one of the cabins. The floor is covered with clay. The furniture has moved and a kitchenette has been damaged. Nine years ago there was also a flood that destroyed a lot, so the risk of flooding is known. But Stenstad does not imagine that the municipality can refuse them to continue. – Rather, measures must be initiated to prevent flooding, says Stenstad. news has also been in contact with Beverøya camping. They also do not envisage stopping, but are open to looking at further measures to prevent flooding. Operator of Åsgrav camping, Elisabeth Torstveit Stenstad, looks at the damage at the campsite. Photo: Ken Markus Christensen / news Will not risk a compensation case They are supported by mayor Siri Blichfeldt Dyrland in Midt-Telemark municipality. – It is very difficult for a municipality to change a use we have permitted. Then there may be a compensation case and so on. mayor Siri Blichfeldt Dyrland in Midt-Telemark municipality believes this could be something that should be raised to a national level. Photo: Ken Markus Christensen / news It is therefore about who will pay, if someone has to move or close down. Mayor Dyrland does not want to change anything, and points in the direction of national politicians and authorities. – As of today, I don’t think we have any reason to change the plans we have approved. This is perhaps a national debate that needs to be taken at a slightly higher level, she says. For caravan owner Sverre Alfred Glasø, the damage has already happened. He did not realize that the risk of flooding was as great as this. He believes that greater consideration should be given to the risk. – Yes, because now it was good that it didn’t work out with any people, says Glasø. Published 26/07/2024, at 11 a.m
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Flooded campsites in Bø approved by the municipality – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
