There will be no helipad at Hvide Sande harbour, the Port Authority has announced in a statement: "Based on the debate, the Board has decided to shelve the plans for a helipad near Hvide Sande. The Board believes that the debate makes it likely that there will be negative consequences for many people from a heliport in Hvide Sande. At its upcoming board meeting, the board will therefore instead discuss whether there are suitable alternatives elsewhere than in Hvide Sande, for example by utilising Stauning Airport." The board is of the opinion that there is a good chance of establishing Hvide Sande as a service harbour even without a helipad.
"A great day for Hvide Sande!" said the initiators of the signature campaign on Facebook. "Nordstrand will continue to be an open recreational area that benefits both residents and visitors to Hvide Sande. A big thank you to the management and board of the harbour for the opportunity for dialogue with a public meeting and not least for being responsive and willing to respond to the widespread concerns in the town.
Original message from 17 June:
In order to supply the offshore wind farms off the Danish west coast, the port of Hvide Sande is planning to set up a heliport in the immediate vicinity of the harbour entrance. Up to 10,000 helicopter arrivals and departures per year are to be requested, which means around 28 aircraft movements per day. This means that between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., a helicopter could rattle over the town between the North Sea and Ringkøbing Fjord every 27 minutes. The approach routes could run over both the north and south beaches. This was first reported by Daily Dose in Germany.
A local group has come together to protest against the plans and has launched a petition.
Residents and locals fear that the quality of life in Hvide Sande will decline as a result of the heliport and that health problems will increase. Noise pollution, falling property prices, dangers for wildlife and a decline in tourism are cited by opponents as effects. The harbour and heliport are located in the immediate vicinity of the town centre, where tourists flock in season.
The extremely popular surf spots in Hvide Sande could also suffer from the heliport. There is a risk that massive wind turbulence could make windsurfing, kitesurfing and other sports impossible, especially on the south jetty.
"For the reasons mentioned above, we fear that Hvide Sande will go from being a town in development to a town in decline," the group writes in the petition. "We will do everything we can to convince the harbour authority and the municipality that a helipad is bad for the future of Hvide Sande and the municipality!"
