Rotvoll controversy

The Rotvoll controversy refers to a political controversy in Norway in 1991 concerning the construction of a research and development (R&D) facility for Statoil at Rotvoll outside Trondheim.

Key events

The background for the controversy was that Statoil wanted to establish a new R&D centre in Trondheim, and had acquired land at the recreational area Rotvoll to the east of Trondheim. This area was one of few green areas in Trondheim, and was connected to Leangenbukta, an important bird life area. There were also some old farms in the area that were considered to be worth protecting.

There was a lot of secrecy around the formal approval of the construction at Rotvoll, and the approval process did not, like the law required, undertake a study of the consequences for the environment. Both the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management, County Governor and city antiquarian opposed the construction. But the city council said yes, and Statoil got permission.

The controversy became national on June 30 when the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation made a large story on the national news, followd up by a number of national newspapers. The strategy had been chosen to remind Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland of the Alta controversy that had been a large political burden on the government while she had been Minister of the Environment in the early 1980s. The main content of the news was the tent camp that had been established at Rotvoll, to prohibit the construction. The tent camp consisted among others of members of Natur og Ungdom and the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature. The first week of the tent camp there was sunshine, but since then it was continually rain. Each weekend there was a family day at Rotvoll, including appearances of Hans Rotmo. Statoil refused to accept any of the alternative locations provided by the environmentalists, despite meetings between the CEO Harald Norvik and environmentalists. Statoil also had multiple full page advertisement in the Trondheim newspapers Arbeider-Avisa and Adresseavisen.

After school start in August there were few activists left at the camp, and in early October Statoil sent a letter to them informing them that they would start construction soon. On October 10 1991 the police woke the activists and informed them that Statoil was to start construction. This resulted in quick mobilisation and 75 activists denied to move, resulting in civil disobedience. They were removed by the police, and that day the construction workers did as much damage as possible to hinder more actions, but the next day 65 people let themselves be arrested again to hinder the building. The following day a legal demonstration was held by 500 people outside the construction area. [cite web |url=http://www.nu.no/30ar/index44.htm |title=Strid om Rotvoll-utbygging |language=Norwegian |date=1997 |author=Natur og Ungdom]

Legacy

The controversy was quite noticeable in Trondheim, and though Statoil Rotvoll was built, it resulted in other environmental victories later
* A few years later a green area at Fagerheim in Trondheim was not demolished, partially to avoid a new Rotvoll incident.
* Area planning in Trondheim has since shifted, and instead of building large work places outside the town, they are being moved into town. Examples of this include Fokus Bank, the city administration, the county administration and Adresseavisen (announced) in addition to the planned centralising of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Sør-Trøndelag University College, totaling many thousands of jobs.
* Environmental groups threatened with new demonstrations and actions when Statoil announced plans for expansions of Statoil Rotvoll in 2004. [cite web |url=http://www.adressa.no/okonomi/article.jhtml?articleID=494435 |title=Lover krig mot Rotvoll-utbygging |author=Adresseavisen |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2007-01-25]

References