Flakstad, Vestvågøy, and Moskenes have agreed on the way forward for a possible municipal merger, according to major media reports. The mayors of the three municipalities presented an intention agreement today on how to become a new Vest-Lofoten municipality. Vågan, with its nearly 10,000 inhabitants, is left out of the agreement, though the specific terms of the intention agreement and the reasons for Vågan's exclusion have not been detailed.
On June 8, residents of Flakstad will have a new referendum on the issue, while Vestvågøy and Moskenes have already said yes to the large municipality. The expected timeline for forming the new municipality and the main arguments for and against the merger among residents remain unclear. Vågan mayor Vidar Thom Benjaminsen is very glad that something is happening and that the process can move forward.
We are very glad that something is happening and that they manage to move forward in the process. Moskenes has needed this help for a long time.
According to NRK Nordland, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen described being pleased that progress is being made. Benjaminsen believes larger municipalities manage better and he thinks this is the right choice for those municipalities. According to NRK Nordland, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen described his personal view that municipalities with under 3,000 inhabitants probably do not have the right to exist, unless they are far out in the ocean, like Værøy and Røst.
How the merger will affect local services and governance in the involved municipalities is not yet known.
Personally, I believe that municipalities with under 3,000 inhabitants probably do not have the right to exist, unless they lie far out in the ocean, like Værøy and Røst.