– We feel ostracized from society. This is completely on the nose, says Daniel Nedrebø. He is the former owner of Helgøysund marina. On Helgøysund, both the local population and the business community depend on ferries. After a massive ferry settlement in 2019, which protested against high ferry prices, it was decided last year that motorists would be allowed to travel on the ferries for free. This applied to routes with less than 100,000 passengers a year. But now Rogaland county council has decided that motorists will again have to pay to travel on the ferries in the county from next year. – It is the state that has decided that we will have a free ferry. Then our own from the county council come and stab us in the back, says Nedrebø. Helgøysund is a non-landlocked island in Ryfylke in Rogaland. Will resort to civil disobedience In about a day, over 500 residents from most of the affected areas have signed an online petition. Nedrebø says that more people will now refuse to pay for the ferries. – This is a blow below the belt. Now we are talking about resorting to civil disobedience, and refusing to pay the bill. Former owner of Helgøysund marina, Daniel Nedrebø, feels stabbed in the back by the measure from the county council. The picture was taken on another occasion. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Several counties are turning around – Rogaland is standing by The government set aside 59 million in the revised state budget for 2022 for the measure. However, it was up to the county councils to distribute the use of funds between their own ferry connections. In November, it became clear that the country’s largest ferry county, Møre og Romsdal, refuses to increase ferry prices, after this was proposed by the county director. In Vestland, the case will be heard on Wednesday 13 December. The county municipality there has already proposed to close down the ferry connection Kinsarvik – Utne, but has reversed that position. But Rogaland county council is introducing payment on the ferries again. – This is a political priority. It is more important to us that boats run than that they have to be completely free. It is not an optimal solution, but it is the best solution we have managed to find, says county mayor Ole Ueland (H). He emphasizes that it will still be free for passengers and travelers without a car on the ferries. With that, the county council prioritizes maintaining the fast boat service in the county. County mayor Ole Ueland (H) during the county council in Rogaland on Wednesday. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news Head of the transport committee: – A betrayal Head of the transport and communications committee at the Storting, Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp), says that he is surprised by the decision of the county council. – That instead of giving people a free ferry, for which they have received money from the state, they use the money for other things, has no place. He says that he would never have thought that a county that has received support for this purpose will nevertheless not spend the money on a free ferry. A consequence of this may be that they will now withdraw support from the rest of the ferry counties. – It is something we must consider in the future. We had assumed that when the counties get extra money calculated based on how much it costs, they would have made sure that it happened, he says and adds: – I am very surprised that the money is taken locally from the island communities, despite because they have received support from the state to give them a free ferry. It is absolutely unbelievable, and it is a betrayal of the district population in Rogaland. Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp) is chairman of the transport and communications committee at the Storting. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news – Should never have happened Jarle Bø is a representative of the Center Party in the County Council. He is reacting to the decision of the majority coalition in the county. – It’s almost impossible to believe. It’s not about money, it’s about politics. This is completely unnecessary and should never have happened. – Do you have money for that? – Yes, dear people. There is talk of NOK 15 million in a budget of NOK 8–9 billion. We have received money from the state to do it, now we play up to dance to create uncertainty in the districts. He believes the county council does not take into account the seriousness and what it means for individuals and businesses. – That the citizens consider civil disobedience shows what it means to them, says Bø. Jarle Bø is a former mayor of Randaberg municipality. He reacts to the decision of the county council. Photo: Sindre Kirkaas Normann / news Ole Olsen and his brother run the company Meling AS on Kvitsøy. – When they come up with a measure like a free ferry, and we get ready for it, it is disrespectful to take it away. We can’t just accept costs all the time, says Olsen. He says the majority in the county council has won the first blow in the matter. – But they have a lost cause. We will win the war in the end. We are not helped by such politicians who do not understand the needs of people on the islands more than they show today. Ole Olsen. Photo: Arild Eskeland / news – Little thought through The county council decides that free ferries will disappear in the hope of avoiding cuts in fast ferry routes. Kvitsøy mayor Kjell Andre Nordbø (Sp) reacts to that. – It is not well thought out in my mind. Free ferries and speedboats are discussed here. In my view, there are two different issues. Nordbø has himself been involved in fighting for fast boat routes. – But then we are met with the fact that they are introducing tariffs on the ferry. I like this very little. I am absolutely certain that there is money in the budget to prioritize this, he says. Mayor of Kvitsøy, Kjell Andre Nordbø. Photo: Åse Karin Hansen / news – Not in conflict with the Storting’s decision County Mayor Ueland explains to news that they relate to what the Storting has previously adopted, and what Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård has previously replied to the Storting. Among other things, he has pointed out that it will not be contrary to the Storting’s decision to take payment on a ferry connection. – It is an important part of local democracy that county councils and municipalities themselves can make locally adapted decisions and priorities, and dispose of their own discretionary income. The Center Party usually agrees with this. It will be a sensational intervention in local democracy if they depart from this principle, says Ueland. But in the reply to the Storting, the Minister for Transport also says that if the main intention of the scheme is not followed up, it will be relevant to assess the form of financing.
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Rogaland county council cuts free ferries – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
