Sørlandsbadet sale sparks political debate

The Sørlandet / Agder news of the past 48 hours: in Lyngdal, the proposed sale of Sørlandsbadet is fueling political debate ahead of a formannskapet meeting on Thursday. On the new E39 between Mandal and Kristiansand, toll revenues remain too low and the county could face a bill in the billions. In Kristiansand, one of Norway's largest roundabouts opened to traffic on Monday, while the apple harvest is shaping up better than feared in Agder county.

Lyngdal: Sørlandsbadet at the heart of the Sørlandet / Agder news

Lyngdal's kommunedirektør, Kjell Olav Hæåk, is proposing that Sørlandsbadet, owned by Lyngdal municipality, be put up for sale. The matter is to be reviewed by the formannskapet (municipal executive committee) on Thursday this week (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Hans Fredrik Grøvan, KrF mayor of Lyngdal from 1995 to 2007, reacts strongly to the proposal. "I think this is shooting yourself in the foot, and it shows little forward thinking," he tells NRK. He puts forward two arguments: tourism and swimming lessons. "The municipality has offered children extremely affordable swimming instruction for many years," he points out.

Grøvan fears the offer will be weakened if the facility is sold. "It would be a shame if the offer were qualitatively svekket, and in the worst case if the facility disappeared," he adds (NRK Sørlandet / Agder). No decision has been made at this stage: the matter goes before the formannskapet on Thursday 8 October.

New E39: too few motorists, a bill in the billions

On the new E39 between Mandal and Kristiansand, the 25-kilometre trip costs 110 kroner. Adding Kristiansand city tolls, the bill comes to 130 kroner for a petrol or diesel car fitted with an AutoPASS (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

As a result, many drivers continue to use the old, toll-free E39. Revenues from motorists are therefore too low, and the county could receive a bill in the billions. The shift in traffic also moves vehicles from a safe road onto a dangerous one (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

The government has promised measures. The Vegdirektoratet (road directorate) presented its proposals on Monday. One of them is to install a toll on stretches of the old E39. "This is one of several measures we are proposing," says Kari Johanne Hjeltnes, department director at the Vegdirektoratet (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Kristiansand: one of Norway's largest roundabouts opens

The new temporary roundabout at Gartnerløkka in Kristiansand opened to traffic at 03:00 on Sunday night into Monday, according to project manager Jan Helge Egeland at Statens vegvesen (NRK Sørlandet / Agder). Vestre Strandgate had been closed since 25 September for the works; the barriers were removed on Monday morning and traffic returned to normal (Fædrelandsvennen).

The structure is part of the construction of a new road and a new port area in Kristiansand. It is one of the largest roundabouts of its kind in Norway (NRK Sørlandet / Agder). In the same area, a new E18 is planned and is expected to save road users time (Fædrelandsvennen).

Economy: apple harvest better than feared

At KG Puntervold in Grimstad, which takes in apples from private growers and presses them into juice among other things, the worry of the summer has given way to relief. "It went a lot better than we feared, quite simply," says sales manager Richard Nordahl (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Agder is among the counties that experienced high temperatures and little rainfall this summer. The collection point has been open for four weeks and the apple truck has picked up red and yellow apples in several places. "We think the old trees with deep roots managed to find enough water," Nordahl explains.

In Lyngdal, the truck's stop produced "almost a new record": more than eight tonnes were dropped off (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Health: RS-virus vaccine still awaited

Mathea fell seriously ill with RS-virus. The illness can be prevented, but on Monday it became clear that the offer will not arrive until next winter. Many families with young children must therefore prepare for a difficult season (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

📌 Local briefs

In the rest of the Sørlandet / Agder news: Inger Brokka de Ruiter, varaordfører (deputy mayor) of Arendal, says she is available to the party after being approached for senior positions; she has criticised her own party on several occasions, most recently last week (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Forbudte bøker-uka (Banned Books Week) highlights censorship: books can upset individuals or frighten regimes to the point of being pulled or banned (NRK Sørlandet / Agder).

Sources: NRK Sørlandet / Agder, Fædrelandsvennen, The Local Norway — Period: 05 October 2026 and 06 October 2026