“Cottage construction must be tightened, the government believes”. This was NTB’s comment when the government, just before Easter, presented proposals for new guidelines for “land use and mobility” under the Planning and Building Act.
The understanding of the plan, which is now out for consultation, was therefore that the Labor Party/Center Party government will tighten up the construction of cottages in Norwegian municipalities. Among other things, the wish was that it would become more difficult to develop new cabin fields. The municipalities had to pay more attention to climate and energy. Budget partner SV has even proposed a ban on new cabin fields.
Vedum used Easter to spread a completely different message
“We cannot destroy nature above the tree line, where nature is very vulnerable. In pressured areas with many cabins, we believe that you should densify”, said representative of the Storting and housing policy spokesperson for the Labor Party, Siri Gåsemyr Staalesen.
It could look as if the government wanted to deal with a cottage building that many believe has gone too far, and which imposes too much on untouched nature. And that the government was serious about following up on the international commitments Norway has made for the protection of nature.
Nevertheless, the Center Party and Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum used Easter to spread a completely different message. Quite the opposite, in fact: “Build more cabins”, he is quoted as saying in VG in a completely deliberate move during the cabin holiday. According to the newspaper, the finance minister is tired of criticism of Norwegian cottage development. While the government he sits in, and is deputy leader of, must “tighten up”.
Also read: We cannot continue feeding with wooden castleswrites Lars West Johnsen
The Center Party is wrong about the matter. But regardless of what one thinks about cabins and nature, it is startling that the government ends up in such a dilemma. It makes water for its many critics. And there is really reason to ask whether the two parties are even talking to each other when you end up with such a communication strategy.
A wildly populist move from the Center Party that builds up opposition to the government’s proposed plan does not contribute to a stronger government. It is rather ammunition for those who claim that the internal contradictions are too great and that the Labor Party in particular is burdened by its companion.
Vedum’s deliberate display of cottages perhaps strengthens the Center Party’s hold on its own base of powerful landowners in the districts and farmers with outlying fields, but does not contribute to securing the public’s perception of a government that is in control.
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