The government gives Rogaland until 1 May to reintroduce the free ferry – NRK Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio

– If they don’t want to give the residents a free ferry, then they can’t receive this money, says municipal and district minister, Erling Sande (Sp) to NRK.

And in mid-April, the free ferry in Rogaland came to an end. Now the government has given the county politicians one last opportunity to turn around. If not, they will cut the support.

On Friday, the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Transport sent a letter to Rogaland County Council which, among other things, states;

– Rogaland county council breaks with the government’s intention with the free ferry scheme, when they now demand payment for the ferry connections in question.

– When the county council now again receives ticket income from the ferry operation, it is not natural for the state to compensate for the loss of this income.

The county municipality has been given until 1 May to change the decision.

– If they do not change the decision by 1 May, I will withdraw money. And it will be equivalent to that sum, which we are currently compensating for lost ticket revenue, says Sande.

The municipal minister will not say how big the sum is.

But the county politicians in Rogaland have cut NOK 15 million in the budget, which was supposed to go to the free ferry.

– Challenging the rules of the game

County mayor in Rogaland, Ole Ueland (H) confirms to NRK that they have received the letter. But he believes that this is something that the government cannot do.

– We believe that they are threatening us with something they have no right to do, says the county mayor.

Now they will spend time going through the letter.

– We will make a thorough assessment and need to discuss this with KS to look at the legality of this. Because here they challenge the rules of the game that apply, says Ueland.

He has long believed that the money from the government has never been earmarked for free ferries.

Will try to turn around

On Tuesday there is a meeting in the county council in Rogaland.

Then the group leader for the Center Party, Hanne Marte Vatnaland, will put forward a proposal that the 15 million kroner that was cut should be returned to the budget. So that they can reinstate the free ferry.

– I now expect that the majority will reintroduce the measure with free ferry, and not say no thanks on behalf of the citizens to those funds, says Vatnaland.