Last week, news mentioned the popular Rambergstranda in Flakstad. Part of it has been put up for sale for NOK 9.5 million. Now Rødt believes that the government must intervene. – This is a beach that many people use. We must ensure that it remains accessible to everyone, and is not demolished with private housing, says Tobias Drevland Lund. He is a parliamentary representative for Rødt. Tobias Drevland Lund is a parliamentary representative for Rødt. Photo: Stortinget / Stortinget Lund believes that the common law court is now in the process of being reduced to a theoretical law. And that it is problematic that someone tries to limit access to beaches by erecting fences and stone steps. – Rambergstranda is a popular beach, both for locals and tourists. Here, the municipal minister must ensure that it continues to be so, says Lund. – But won’t the common law apply, regardless of who is the landowner? – Yes, but precisely to guarantee that the beach will be as accessible as possible for all time to come, it should be publicly owned. I myself am from Kragerø and see how people’s access to the beach zone becomes more and more a theoretical exercise when areas are privatised, he says. Rødt has set aside NOK 85 million to buy up beaches and areas near the sea in its alternative state budget for this year. – It should be prioritized in the government’s next national budget as well, says Lund. Photo: Benjamin Fredriksen / news – There are many other beaches that the public can use. Why is this one so important? – This is a crown jewel in Lofoten. We see a great commitment from the local population. Then we believe that it should be secured as public ownership. I think many people will agree with that. You don’t have to go to the South when you have access to this beach here. Vestland tops the statistics In recent years, many permits have been granted for construction in the beach zone. While Vestland tops the statistics, Rogaland, Agder, Møre and Romsdal and Nordland come close behind. About the statistics The statistics cover land use and construction activity in the 100-metre belt along the main country’s coastline, including islands with a connection to the mainland in the form of a bridge or car ferry. In addition, the 100-metre belt around larger rivers and lakes is included in the statistics. The source is Statistics Norway. – Sounds hopeless Trond Kroken is mayor of Flakstad municipality, and completely agrees that Rambergstranda is a jewel in Lofoten. However, he is skeptical of the proposal to set aside 90 million to preserve beach pearls. In that case, he believes that is far too little. – You won’t get anywhere with that, and 90 million to preserve all those pearls in the whole kingdom sounds hopeless. In that case, you must have much larger sums. Mayor of Flakstad, Trond Kroken (Sp). Photo: John Inge Johansen / news He would rather go “the other way”, and rather invest in maintaining the right of the public and defining the right of use that people have to their property. Flakstad is working to achieve the status of a so-called area-neutral municipality, which means that no new buildings will be built without returning areas to nature. – We want to take care of the beautiful nature in Flakstad and avoid that more and more beaches and headlands are built down with cabins and the like. I think we can become even better at seeing the value of nature, but I think we have become quite good at it in Lofoten. The tourists who come here have made us aware of the value of the landscape, against the challenges of consuming nature. – Is strict The Ministry of Climate and the Environment is clear that there are strict guidelines for construction in the beach zone. – Especially in the 100-metre belt towards the sea in areas where there is little accessible beach zone and a lot of pressure on the areas, says Jon Berg. He is head of communications at the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. Jon Berg, head of communications at the Ministry of Climate and Environment Photo: The Government According to Berg, the regulations must ensure that important areas in the beach zone are not privatized and built down. Then completely independent of who owns the area. When asked if he believes that the government should intervene in beach sales, he replies that there is a separate scheme for the purchase of outdoor areas. This scheme helps to secure around 20 to 40 outdoor areas. – I would still like to clarify that the common law applies regardless of who is the landowner, says Berg. Photo: Proaktiv Eiendomsmegling Nord – The fact that a property is sold from one private person to another does not change the public’s access to the area. Berg adds that the municipality has a big responsibility here. It is he who decides how the areas can be used. – In the beach zone, a general building ban applies, and the municipalities must take particular account of the natural and cultural environment, outdoor life, landscape and other public interests, he says.
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Rødt believes that the government must prevent the privatization of public beaches and ensure the rights of the public – news Nordland
