The case in summary: • In Tvedestrand, a fee has been introduced for putting people ashore on a wharf, which has caused frustration among the local population.• The wharf, which was built last year, is owned by private landowners who have invested NOK 15 million in new berths.• It costs NOK 75 to put people ashore or pick someone up, and if you don’t pay, there is a fee of NOK 1,500.• The Norwegian Environment Agency has determined that the fee is not in conflict with the law, since traffic on piers is not a public right.• The municipality gave permission to build the wharf to facilitate public boat berths. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I don’t know of any other places where it costs money to disembark at a wharf, says Ulf Grøstad. He is one of around 250 permanent residents on Sandøya in Tvedestrand. Grøstad is very annoyed that people who just need to be picked up or set ashore from a boat now have to pay. Ulf Grøstad is very annoyed by the new brewing facility. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann / news Provocateur Ulf Grøstad shows us around the pier that was built last year, close to the house where he and his wife live. They love life on Sandøya, but are provoked that people now have to pay to go ashore here. – The sea is for everyone, he says and points out. – The road we are standing on is municipal, but the jetty in between costs money to disembark. Ulf and his wife Marit Aass can see the new brewing facility from their house on Sandøya. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann / news The pier payment has caused debate in the Sørland idyll, in an island community that is primarily known for its beautiful nature. But the car-free island has few boat berths, which makes it difficult for both permanent residents and summer visitors to land on the island. Gjermund Brattli owns both the house and the shoreline on Sandøya. He and other landowners joined forces to build new boat berths. – Our wish was to make it easier for more people to come ashore by boat. We have invested NOK 15 million. Then we think it’s natural that we charge, even when you’re just going ashore, or on board a boat, he says. Gjermund Bratlie is chairman of Øyatangen Brygge. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann / news Øytangen Brygge on Sandøya was completed last year with its 30 berths to be rented out to permanent residents or summer guests. NOK 1,500 fee In the middle of the facility there is a wall jetty, where people can dock for short stays. It is this pier that has been the subject of the most controversy. The new brewing facility was completed last summer. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann A large sign has been set up here, with payment information. It costs NOK 75 to put people ashore, the same price you have to pay if you want to pick someone up. If you do not pay, there will be a fee of NOK 1,500. – We are aware that we have challenged the system. Because we don’t know of any other places where you pay for something like this, says Gjermund Brattli, who is also chairman of Øytangen Brygge. Jetty payment annoys Many people have wanted to assess the legality of taking money to let people off or onto a jetty. Both the municipal council and the state administrator in Agder have had the matter on their table. But as long as the Norwegian Environment Agency has determined that the fee is not in conflict with the law. Since traffic on wharves is not a public right, the owners of Øytangen Brygge can demand payment. Many in the small island community between Arendal and Risør are annoyed by the scheme. Tove H., Aagaard runs a bakery on Sandøya. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann – It is special, and many people have an opinion about it, says Tove Hage Aagaard. She runs her own bakery on the island in the summer, and sits on the municipal council for SV. – The municipality gave permission to build a wharf because it was supposed to provide public berths. And that has been done. But nobody saw it coming – that it would cost money just to land, says Hage Aagaard. Gjermund Brattli has recorded the great commitment to the brewery payment. But he also knows of many people who appreciate that someone has created a new facility. – We may be the first in the country to charge for disembarking, but we are unlikely to be the last, he says. And assures news that he is looking forward to another summer on the island, despite the discussions around the pier. The new docks are ready to welcome summer guests. Photo: Siv Kristin Sællmann Published 05.07.2024, at 11.40
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Have to pay to go ashore at the wharf – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
