(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
- This is absurd theater, and now we have lost patience. We are not interested in meeting the Armed Forces until all 41 households that have their homes destroyed by noise from the Rødsmoen training field receive full compensation, says Einar Gjems.
He is the head of the residents' association of people living next door to the new military field of Rena military camp.
- Only eight of the households have been offered redemption of the homes, so that they can move away from the noise. Nine of the households receive no compensation, while the remaining 24 households have only received an unacceptable offer to re-insulate the houses with three layers of plaster. But how they have arrived at who gets full compensation and who is not, is absurd. All the houses are in a row at the border to Rødsmoen practice field, Gjems continues.
Requires equal treatment
The dissatisfaction with the differential treatment was already clear when Ny Tid visited Rena a month and a half ago (see Ny Tid no. 10). Now the patience has run out.
- The Armed Forces is based on noise calculations made by the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority based on the use of tanks in the training field. But since then, it has emerged that Rødsmoen will also house exercises that include aircraft and helicopters. This increases the noise level and will make it uninhabitable here, points out the residents' association's leader.
- All 41 households must be offered redemption, so that people can decide for themselves whether they want to move, Gjems demands.
On the other side of the negotiating table – or the so-called communication group – lawyer Knut-Andreas Kjelland from the Armed Forces 'Building Service (FBT) has led the Armed Forces' work on the case.
- It is a pity that the residents will not meet in the communication group anymore. I think it has worked well so far, says Kjelland.
Conditions are subject to change
- I understand that they have a hard time understanding why some are offered redemption while others have to settle for post-insulation. But this is based on noise calculations from noise professional expertise. There is still a need for explanation among many, and we are working on that, Kjelland adds.
- Why is only noise from tanks used as a basis for the calculations, when you know that Rødsmoen will also be the subject of exercises with aircraft and helicopters?
- There is no doubt that the conditions may change over time, but we relate to what has been decided as of today, FBT's lawyer answers, and points out that the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority is in the process of incorporating noise exposures from aircraft and helicopters in the discharge permit.
- Because there is a development with regard to military activity in the Rena district, the noise exposure may change, and the permit has therefore been made temporarily until the year 2005. We will then have to make new assessments, Kjelland says.
- Large load
Several of those who have only been offered post-insulation have tried in vain to sell their homes to move away from the Rødsmoen noise. But nobody wants to buy a house with tanks, helicopters and planes as their nearest neighbor.
- Could not the Armed Forces have been so generous that everyone who feels that the quality of life is being destroyed, will receive compensation that makes it possible for them to move?
- I understand their feelings, but as a public agency we have formal rules we must follow and a budget we must adhere to, says Kjelland, and adds:
- To the extent that it may be necessary to implement solutions that hurt people, it is of course very sad.
The resident association leader Einar Gjems, for his part, is not very enthusiastic about the Defense's decision:
- What I dislike most in this case is the dishonesty. Some people sit and move pieces in a large "master plan" without us knowing what is going on, he says, and says that the case has now become such a great burden for many that it gets on their nerves.
