Haugesund, Forest | Has razed a forest in a residential area: Demands 12.4 million in compensation

HAUGESUND: In total, 183 trees were felled illegally.

The condominium Vassbrekke 10 is behind it.

– We did not apply for a logging permit. We haven’t thought about that, or knew we would have to do it, said chairman Bente Dahl in the condominium in January.

Haugesund municipality owns the area in question.

Vassbrekke is located close to Raglamyr, by Lake Vassbrekkevatnet.

– It is laid flat. Much has been destroyed, and then we are talking about damage that cannot be repaired, said park manager Svein Aase in Haugesund when the matter became known.

Was shocked and contacted a lawyer

The felling was reported by a resident.

– I was shocked when I heard what was going on, was the reaction of the park manager.

A complete halt in work was ordered.

Municipal attorney Gisle Stødle was then contacted.

Now the matter has had consequences.

– We were a little surprised

The condominium has received compensation claims from the municipality.

So has the local contractor who carried out the work.

– One has given us an estimate of the damage, says park manager Svein Aase in Haugesund.

The amount required in compensation is a staggering NOK 12.4 million.

– When we got the rate, we were a little surprised. The scope is considerably larger than we imagined, says municipal attorney Gisle Stødle.

The 183 trees have received an average value of NOK 67,939.

– Why were you surprised?

– We realized that the damage was of a certain extent, but are surprised that so many trees were taken. Then the matter is more serious. There is a difference between removing 2–3 trees and 183, which is significantly more than we imagined, says Stødle.

The municipality wants the razed forest to be replaced by those who destroyed it.

Little is heard from the perpetrators

– We do not get back the individual tree, which takes 60 years to grow back. Can’t plant a tree like that directly in the ground, says Stødle.

Haugesunds Avis has contacted chairman Bente Dahl in the condominium Vassbrekke 10 for statements about the claim.

– I do not wish to comment on the matter as it stands now, says Bente Dahl.

Haugesunds Avis knows that the contractor is Anleggsgartner Håkon Bjørndal AS.

General manager Håkon Bjørndal did not answer the questions Haugesund’s Avis asked about the felling, when the matter became known in January.

Bjørndal has also not given an answer to new questions about the claim for compensation and how he views this.

– If someone commits damage to your property, the principle is that you should have full compensation for the damage done, says municipal attorney Stødle.

– Not just to fill a big hole

He reckons that many people agree that major damage to other people’s property must be compensated.

– I think that the vast majority of residents would react to someone entering their property and cutting down trees. It is no longer appropriate to do this on the municipality’s property, says Gisle Stødle.

– Over NOK 12 million. Almost NOK 68,000 per three. How on earth can a tree in a forest become so valuable?

– The amount is large, but large because you have caused great damage, says the municipal attorney.

The park manager states that trees are expensive.

– If you buy a large tree, it quickly costs NOK 5,000. And then it’s not very big, says Aase.

Full-grown trees in a forest that are not to be touched have a higher value.

– The problem here is not what you pay for timber. Here it is the value of the tree that stood in the ground. It is not just filling up a large hole in the ground with new fully grown trees, says the municipal attorney.

I would never say yes to something like that

Those who want trees removed in municipal forests must apply for a felling application.

– I would never approve clearcutting in the area of ​​Vassbrekke. I would never say yes to something like that. The forest there is not cultivated for felling, but to be preserved.

Many endangered species, both trees and plants, insects and birds have been registered in the area.

– The municipality has itself removed sitka spruce on its own properties, but this is an unwanted type of tree. Then it’s about cleaning up. At Vassbrekke, the wish is to keep the forest, in a valuable hiking and wetland area, says municipal attorney Stødle.

When Haugesund’s Avis discussed the case in January, chairman of the board Bente Dahl in the condominium Vassbrekke 10 stated that:

– We have a good dialogue with park manager Aase and the landscape gardener. We will have a meeting to find good solutions

Dahl also said that:

– We know there will be a financial consequence. But we don’t know how much. The municipality decides that, says chairman Bente Dahl of the Vassbrekke 10 condominium.

The municipality has addressed the requirements for the condominium’s and the contractor’s insurance companies.

Will not see through the fingers

– Because the damage is so great, we think it is natural that the solution lies with the insurance companies, says the municipal attorney.

– Has there been dialogue between the municipality, the condominium and the contractor?

– We initially had a dialogue with the parties, where we said that we want what we describe as an amicable solution. It may be that a layman thinks an amicable solution is something different from what the municipality thinks is an amicable solution. An amicable solution is a solution without a conflict ending up in the courts, says Stødle.

And adds:

– Some may have the impression that the municipality should see more through the fingers of sins committed against it than others in society. But we have a responsibility to run the municipality as efficiently as possible, and to take care of the community’s values.

It is emphasized that what has happened is not a desired situation.

Asking for firewood

– Hopefully the matter will be resolved. If not, the municipality can assess what to do next, for example if the claim is disputed. But it cannot be disputed that there has been damage, says the municipal attorney.

He believes the perpetrators are lucky to deal with Haugesund municipality.

– A professional counterpart, which the municipality is. We want to resolve the matter with as little noise as possible. But at the same time sees that the easiest solution lies with the insurance companies. It is hardly possible for the two parties to cash out such a large sum, says Stødle.

A response from the insurance companies is now awaited.

– If the municipality receives this money. Do you go out to buy trees?

– We will have to make an assessment of what will happen next. Right now the clearing is there. Many people want the wood, but no one is allowed to pick it, says park manager Svein Aase.