Times are tough for the country’s municipalities – many are struggling to keep the wheels going, financially speaking. Last week the news came that Norwegian municipalities have a total deficit of NOK 15 billion this year, according to the municipalities’ interest organization KS. In Vågan municipality in Lofoten municipality, there have long been hard times. The municipality is on the Robek list, and is now taking several measures which they hope will get the economy back on track. One of the measures is to switch off all the street lights in the municipality. As a result, this winter it can be completely dark in the “city of light”, Svolvær. They will save around NOK 1 million on this. That’s according to group leader for the Conservative Party in Vågan, Roar Syltebø, who is behind the proposal. – The municipality is likely to run a deficit of 55 million this year, and we must find cover, says Syltebø. – Is such a measure acceptable? It is about one million. Shouldn’t one look at other types of measures? – Yes, we are now looking at all the measures we can come up with. – We depend on light The Lofotenians news has spoken to in Svolvær themselves think little of the proposal. – You can use the word tragedy. It is completely behind the goal, says Gunnar Lauritz Nilsen. Gunnar Lauritz Nilsen thinks it is completely behind the mark that the municipality will turn off the street lights in Svolvær. Photo: Trude Furuly / news And Nora Borchgrevink agrees. – I think it sounds a bit silly. At least considering that it is dark here for large parts of the year. We have hours of darkness where we barely have light, so we depend on having lights in the streets, she says. Nora Borchgrevink says it would have been hard to get to a darkened Svolvær in the winter. Photo: Trude Furuly / news The neighboring municipality of Vestvågøy is also considering the same measure. They have estimated that they will save NOK 1.4 million in one year, if they cut the support for private street lighting. Vestvågøy will also cut reasphalting or improvement measures on municipal roads, and expects to save 900,000 on that item. Both municipalities have been inspired by Narvik municipality, which previously cut the lights and saved the necessary sums for it. – Unwise The proposals have caused Trygg Trafikk to stand up. – It is an unwise measure, says Kari Vassbotn in Trygg Trafikk. She adds: – We know that street lighting is important for the safety of the population. Having street lights greatly reduces damage. DISAGREE: Regional manager of Trygg Trafikk, Kari Vassbotn, thinks it is an unwise measure if the Lofoten municipalities cut the street lights. Photo: Trygg Trafikk According to the Institute of Transport Economics (TØI), personal injury accidents in the dark are reduced by 21 per cent, and the number of accidents with fatalities and serious injuries by 49 per cent when street lights or road lights are used. Vassbotn emphasizes that a possible traffic accident will cost the municipality dearly. – Taking care of people who are seriously injured in traffic, or who lose their lives in traffic, costs the municipality a lot of money. The basic line is clear, according to Vassbotn and Trygg Trafikk: – Taking care of the residents of the municipality is a plus project for every municipality. Svolvær, also known as the “city of light”, can become completely dark this winter. Photo: Katrine Olsen Sørgård / news – Getting darker in the “city of light” The group leader for the Conservative Party in Vågan agrees with Trygg Trafikk that a darkened municipality affects traffic safety. – So people have to be clever and use reflectors and preferably a headlamp. And take care of yourself and each other in traffic, says Syltebø. – Do you understand that the proposal meets some resistance? – Yes, absolutely. But we politicians are affected by the proposals, which come in line with all other cities. We are affected by the high tax burden, we are affected by the fact that it becomes dark and unpleasant. We don’t think it’s funny. Group leader for the Conservative Party in Vågan, Roar Syltebø, says they save around NOK 1 million by turning off the street lights for a whole year. Photo: Trude Furuly/news Syltebø admits that it sounds bad to market Svolvær as the “city of light” if they turn off the street lights. – But now it is not the municipality itself that has marketed itself as the “city of light”, it is after all a private initiative, he says and adds: – If this is adopted, it will clearly be darker in the “city of light”. The matter will be discussed in the municipal council on 9 December, and the bourgeois parties will secure a majority for the proposal. Published 22.10.2024, at 23.04
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