The State Governor of Troms and Finnmark has overturned the Nordkapp Municipality’s decision to allow Scandic Hotels to charge parking fees at the Nordkapp Plateau. The permit was declared invalid, and the case has been sent back to the municipality for reconsideration.
In May last year, Nordkapp Municipality granted Scandic Hotels a license under the Outdoor Recreation Act to collect access fees for visitors to the Nordkapp Plateau. This decision was challenged by the Forum for Nature and Outdoor Life Finnmark (FNF Finnmark). After the municipality chose not to pursue the appeal, the case was escalated to the State Administrator for a final ruling.
FNF Finnmark argued that outdoor recreation organizations were not given the opportunity to provide input before the political decision was made. Additionally, they criticized the municipal director’s recommendation for failing to meet the legal requirements for a proper case investigation. The organization also claimed that the fee was intended to cover expenses beyond the scope of the Outdoor Recreation Act.
Following its review, the State Administrator concluded that Nordkapp Municipality failed to conduct an independent assessment, did not sufficiently investigate the case, and did not provide adequate justification for its decision.
The State Governor’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed. The municipality of Nordkapp must now re-evaluate the case and issue a revised decision.
The Nordkapp Plateau is a 307-meter-high cliff on the island of Magerøya in Nordkapp Municipality. It is one of Norway’s most famous landmarks and is often referred to as the northernmost point of Europe. This decision could have significant implications for tourism, as visitors may no longer be required to pay for access through parking fees.
More on the Nordkapp plateau and Scandic Hotels (in Norwegian).
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