– We have many people who come to us and are positive. Many locals and many from the surrounding area, says Rune Kilebu. He walks along a dirt road with the remains of a historic quarry in the forest landscape. There are hiking trails in several directions and some smaller cabins on Sand på Hvaler. Investor Rune Kilebu and chairman Kenneth Haraldsen of the Hvaler business association have faith that the hotel will be realised. Photo: Caroline Bergli Tolfsen / news On a low elevation overlooking the Skjergard in one of the most popular cottage municipalities in the country, two investors want to build a large hotel. Rune Kilebu is one of the people behind the project. They collaborate with the international company Intercontinental Hotels Group. – When the plans are now there and you can look at them and see what kind of positive things a hotel on Hvaler will lead to both for people and businesses, I think this is something people want. Has caused many reactions – I almost simply think that it is an attack on our nature. And then there is also an attack on the cultural and historical values in the area of Sand, says former mayor of the municipality Paul Henriksen. The debate has raged in the tiny cottage municipality in Viken. Both among politicians, residents and cabin owners. A group with almost 2,000 members has been started on Facebook to stop the project. Henriksen completely agrees that Hvaler needs a hotel, but he does not want this hotel. – I have long encouraged the Hvaler Labor Party to be completely clear in its opposition to that project. Local newspaper Fredriksstad Blad has written several articles about the debate surrounding the hotel plans. On top of the hotel on Sand, the developers will have a room that is accessible to everyone, with a view of the reef. This is how the view can be from a height of 45 metres. Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / news Great commitment – This is something completely different from what we are used to seeing on Hvaler, so I understand very well that it is engaging and that some are thinking about how this is going to look, says mayoral candidate Anne May S. Olsen for Høgre. It is not the first time that hotel plans have caused great debate. In Svolvær, Sogn and Ljøen in Geiranger there have been reactions in recent years. Støtvig Hotell in Larkollen in Moss municipality was the subject of great debate just over a decade ago. But the hotel has been successful over the years, in 2016 the hotel was Norway’s best, according to Tripadvisor. The developer believes the hotel will lead to more tourism and more activity for the business world. Illustration: GRIFF Arkitektur The hotel plans at Sand currently only exist on paper. Whether it will become a fact will probably be decided during the spring. The developers have submitted proposals for a zoning plan, which will be considered in the planning election in the municipality in a few weeks. It will then be decided whether the plans will be put out for consultation. – Høgre has not taken a position on that project quite yet, we will look at the matter when we get it for political consideration. But the site is regulated for a hotel and Høgre is for a hotel on Sand, says Olsen. – We don’t need a high-rise building – We are not going to say yes to realizing something like that, says mayor Mona Vauger (Ap) in Hvaler municipality. She believes the hotel breaks with nature and the cultural history of the area. Vauger is not in agreement with the developers, and believes that this project will not come to fruition. Mona Vauger (Ap) says the tall hotel is in conflict with the municipal plan. Photo: Caroline Bergli Tolfsen / news – But isn’t it good to get a big hotel in Hvaler then? – Jau, we need a hotel and it will be a hotel at Hvaler. But we don’t need a high-rise building, where you have to take the lift up to the 16th floor and get the only view over Hvaler where you don’t have a view of a tall hotel, says Vauger. Despite many negative signals, Kilebu has faith that the hotel will be built. – Our development takes up less than 10 per cent of the plot area and is close to beautiful outdoor areas in Hvaler. So if this is not a good place, I don’t know. Hello! Hello! Thanks for reading all the way down here. Did you think of anything when you read the case? Or do you have tips for what my next article should be about? Feel free to send me an email! I treat all inquiries confidentially.
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Will build a 50 meter high hotel on Hvaler – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
