Debate, Free ferry | Better everyday life with a free ferry to Hvaler’s eastern islands!

In the municipal council on 4 May, a large majority of the politicians on Hvaler agreed on the establishment of a free ferry from 16 August 2023 on Hvaler. From the podium, the red-greens received criticism from Hvaler Høyre’s mayoral candidate Anne-May Sandvik Olsen, because she believed that this was the wrong use of money, that those who live on the eastern islands should not get a free ferry.

Despite this input, Hvaler Høyre voted in favor of the red-green party’s proposal on the arrangement of ticket prices for the new ferry.

It is good to have good and broad grounding in the municipal council on such an important matter. We must have a device on the ticket price that prevents an explosive development of driving on the islands. We believe that our proposal will take care of this.

Now we hope that Viken County Council will follow our suggestion: Hvaler Municipality supports Viken County Council’s proposed arrangement of free ferry services from 16 August 2023 for all passengers. Hvaler municipality is very satisfied with the offer and believes this will contribute to more settlement and living islands.

It is nevertheless important to regulate car use, out of consideration for the cultural environment and natural areas. Hvaler municipality wants driving on the islands to be regulated, so that it will be free for vehicles by ferry in the period from 1 October to 1 March, and that the current level of tickets for vehicles be continued in the period from 1 March to 1 October. Tractors and implements necessary for agricultural operations must be free. Permanent residents with a residential address on the eastern islands must have a free ferry for one car per household throughout the year.

The proposal also contains an item that the municipal council asks the councilor to work on – better parking solutions at Skjærhalden.