It is mayor Trudy Engen in Nordkapp municipality who announces the victory. – This means that the mountain is open land, and then the common law applies. Anyone can travel in our nature and enjoy the natural surroundings, says Engen to news. Scandic can therefore no longer charge extra for parking at the popular destination. They can only charge for self-catering, and not add a separate fee, which is the practice today. The municipality has thus won against the hotel chain in two courts. – Nordkapp municipality is satisfied and relieved by the verdict, says Engen. However, it is uncertain whether the last word in the year-long dispute has been said. Scandic can choose to appeal to the Supreme Court. Their lawyer Ole Christian Borge says he has not yet been able to speak to his client, and that Scandic currently has no comment on the matter. The judgment states that Scandic must pay Nordkapp municipality’s legal costs of close to one million kroner. In addition, they must pay more than NOK 260,000 for the expenses of the government attorney, who assisted the municipality. Disagreement on legislation The court that has now delivered its verdict has decided on two points: Can tourists be refused access to the Nordkapplatået without paying a fee for which Scandic decides the price. And can tourists be refused parking at the plateau, without paying a fee to Scandic. The parties have disagreed about which legislation applies to the site. Nordkapp municipality has referred to the Outdoor Activities Act. Scandic believes that other laws apply. They have shown that the area is regulated and is run in line with the zoning plan and the parking regulations. The price tourists have to pay has received strong criticism from, among others, Norwegian Outdoor Activities. They are satisfied that Nordkapp municipality has won again. – This is a fundamentally important judgment, and a victory for outdoor life and the common law. Nobody should be able to make money from people’s access to our nature, says Knut J. Herland, chairman of Norsk Friluftsliv. These ticket booths on the Nordkapplatået have caused controversy for many years. Photo: Stian Strøm / news Billionaires against the municipality In court, Nordkapp municipality has received the help of government lawyer Henrik Vaaler. The verdict may have consequences for other popular nature destinations in Norway. Scandic has been supported by Rica Eiendom. They lease the Nordkapphallen to Scandic, which then operates the venue. Rica Eiendom is owned by the billionaire siblings Jan Erik Rivelsrud and Kristin Rivelsrud Møller. – They have ownership interests in the facility which is leased to Scandic. They are interested in Scandic’s interests winning out, Rica Eiendom’s lawyer Sam E. Harris has told newspaper itromsø. Many lined up when a torchlight train was organized in the municipal center Honningsvåg. Photo: Raymond Elde / Raymond Elde The case has divided society The dispute has for a number of years divided people in the Nordkapp. Before the municipal elections in 2019, the disagreement sharpened. Many in the Nordkapp were fed up with Scandic being left with the kroner left by the tourists visiting the plateau. Politically, the case led to the Labor Party being overthrown by the people, in favor of SV and Sp. The Labor Party wanted Scandic to continue to be allowed to charge tolls on the Nordkapplatå, while SV and SP were against it. Tor Mikkola (Sp) and Jan Olsen (SV) after the election victory in Nordkapp municipality. Photo: Tor-Emil Isaksen The atmosphere has been so bad in the Nordkapp that resident Lena Ingebrigtsen chose to organize a torchlight procession in the autumn of 2020. Several hundred participated in an attempt to calm down the debate climate, which for many took a toll on their health. But this probably didn’t help. As recently as June this year, SV mayor Jan Olsen chose to resign. He justified this by saying that it was “difficult to defend oneself against “repeated improprieties, untruths and suspicion, as well as to deal with provocations.” Nordkapp won the first round For several decades, tourists have had to pay to go out to what is called Europe’s northernmost point – Knivskjelodden, which is close by, is further north. The background to the trials themselves began in the summer of 2020. The politicians in the Nordkapp chose to reject an application from Scandic to charge a fee for the tourists. Scandic then chose to take legal action. One year later, the parties met in the district court. Vestre Finnmark district court concluded that Scandic was not allowed to charge parking fees. The hotel chain appealed the verdict to the Court of Appeal. Nordkapphallen is owned by Rica Eiendom and operated by Scandic. The hotel chain has many employees in the Nordkapp, and Finnmark in general. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news
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Scandic lost in the Court of Appeal regarding parking fees on Nordkapplatået – news Troms and Finnmark
