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The West Link Project: a key issue for Gothenburg

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By Akla Elhillo, Moa Persson and Giulia Zala

With the Swedish national elections just around the corner, one of the main issues  being discussed across the city of Gothenburg is the West Link project. Initially proposed over 20 years ago, the West Link project continues to divide the city’s public opinion.

The project aims to facilitate mobility and improve the transportation network along the western region of the country. In 2014, a referendum concluded that the majority of the the people in Gothenburg were against the construction of this project.

Nevertheless, the council led by the Social Democrats intends to proceed with the construction of the multi-billion dollar project as planned. They argue that the project will bring about many economic and social benefits to the city and the surrounding regions.

Erik Solfors, a young representative of the Social Democrats said,

– There was no real discussion about this project. However, it is too late to stop it now. We will make it work!

Solfors is also concerned about the safety issues regarding the construction of the project but also added that it was legally agreed on by the majority.

On the other hand, the Democrats refuse this narrative. They claim that the safety, economic and environmental risks overweigh the benefits. Engineer Mats Jakobsson, a representative of the Democratic Party, thinks that the government should listen to the people’s decision. Jakobsson argued that the West Link project might result in the bankruptcy of the City of Gothenburg. He is especially concerned about the risks related to building an underground tunnel without carefully considering the city’s geological conditions.As a matter of fact, the tunnel should run for 2 km trough clay and fill and this could make the building and the maintenance process quite complicated.  This would not only not bring any benefits to Gothenburg and the surrounding areas, but would translate into a waste of public funds and resources.

Anna-Karin Hammarstrand, a local entrepreneur and representative of the Democrats, is also fearful of the safety and environmental risks that the project might have. Hammarstrand said,

– Like other projects implemented in the past, the West Link project will cost twice as much and take twice the time to build. The project will have dire environmental effects as the rate of air pollution will increase due to trucks accessing the city.

When asked about the investment that was already spent to initiate the construction of the project, Hammarstrand said

– The bad decisions of the government is not our problem. There are many other alternatives such as the Gårda Central Station that can cost less to construct and have fewer impacts on the environment and safety of the city.

The West Link project seems to be the deal breaker in the coming election. We will have to wait until Sunday to  see if this controversial project will come to life in the next decade or the voice of the majority will put an end to it.

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Lack of belief in the political promises

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When groups of masked youths burnt down about 80 vehicles around Gothenburg about three weeks ago, the major politicians of Sweden came running. After the politicians have left the parking lot in Västra Frölunda people still have questions.

Lidija Stefanovska and her sister Elizabeta Ivanovska in Frölunda

The fires in Gothenburg casted light on the area’s social problems: segregation, unemployment and drugs. Politicians reacted strongly, demanding actions. The biggest car fire was at Frölunda torg where more than 30 cars were set on fire. One of the cars belonged to Elizabeta Ivanovska:

“Do you think Stefan Löfven would come here, if there wasn’t an election?” she asks and laughs at her own question.

”It was a nice car. I had it for twelve years, but I took good care of it. Finally, I only got 30.000 crowns from the insurance. But what car can you buy for that?” she says.

The days following the fires the political parties showed up in Frölunda and held press conferences at the parking lot.

Robin Synnergren also lives in the area: “When I was looking for a parking space at that time, I couldn’t find one because Jimmie Åkesson (the leader of the Sweden Democrats) was here. The day before it was Stefan Löfven. My point of view is that they only come here for the votes,” he says.

A parking space in Västra Frölunda in Gothenburg where numerous cars were set on fire in August

This behavior of the politicians was a typical ritual in times of elections, says Peter Esaiasson, professor in Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. According to his opinion the political parties which went to Frölunda benefitted.

”They want to create a gathering under the flag-effect,” he adds.

According to Esaiasson, the major consequence of the fires was a change in the political agenda. The whole summer global warming was in the center of attention but now questions on criminality, segregation and more police power took over the debate.

People in Frölunda have different answers on the question why the incidents happened – drugs, segregation and unemployment. But, all agree in one point: they want more police and tougher punishments.

“Crime rates are growing, but the number of people in prison is not growing,” says Robin Synnergren.

The owner of a local falafel restaurant nearby shares a similar opinion: ”Sweden is a paradise for criminals!”

He prefers to be anonymous and he is not comfortable to voice his political opinion in the street:

”The politicians came, but only because there is an election, they didn’t come for us.”

Has this affected your vote?

”Sometimes I vote for Socialdemokraterna sometimes for Moderaterna, it really doesn’t matter,” concludes the restaurant owner.

Elias Arvidsson
Nina Mueller
Jan Lamhauge

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”It is sympathetic and darn cheap” – Local cafe becomes a conscientious hub for the seniors

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Skafferi Oliven. Image: Amy Renyu Jin

With a façade decorated with plaques of affordable deals, rattan chairs and an integrated grocery store, Olivens Skafferi might not spell the recipe for a trendy café. Situated in Linnéstaden, the café has attracted numerous customers with its coffee and bun at 15kr, but more importantly, it has become a conscientious community hub for the locals to meet, socialize and take care of each other.

Katarina Nilsson, the owner of Olivens Skatteri since 1990, decided to include a café in the store around eight years ago. From the simple two sets of tables and chairs at the time, today’s cafe has expanded with an outdoor seating area, providing a genuine homely atmosphere for the customers.

“I have seen kids grow up here and now they have gotten kids of their own. That is pretty fun to see”, says Nilsson.

So what is so special about Olivens Skafferi? According to Nilsson, the friendly staff and humble prices combined are certainly a reason for the customers to return constantly.

”It is sympathetic and darn cheap”, says regular customer Magnus Lindström. 

Nilsson adds, “ It is especially the older pensioners that come here for a fika. They get to know each other and arrange time to meet up”. The place seem to bring people together, and it has become part of the daily life for the senior regulars.

According to Nilsson, the regulars keep track of each other. If someone did not show up one

Christer Öberg, one of the regular costumers. Image: Amy Renyu Jin

day, they would go and visit his/her house to check that everything is fine. When a elderly regular needed help taking care of himself, others even helped with getting him into a nursing home.

Christer Öberg lives in the neighborhood and has been visiting Olivens Skafferi since the 80s. According to Öberg, he often comes over to buy the Newspaper and take a fika. Over the years he has acquainted himself with many other locals who visit the cafe regularly. One of them is Karin Makar, who comes here almost everyday.

“I think it is social with good prices. It is a very pleasant place”, says Makar.

Over the years, Olivens Skafferi has gone through rough patches as well as good. The cafe managed to get through the setbacks but it would not have survived without the regulars, says Nilsson.

By: Charlotta Lindblom, Emma Bratt and Amy Renyu Jin.

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Gothenburg’s housing crisis: just the tip of the iceberg?

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Gothenburg’s housing crisis, a house of cards Sadettin Demirel, Chloé Berogin and Freyan Bosma 

The very practical housing issue in the area may well be one of the reasons for rising social tensions, especially in a context of electoral turmoil.

Newcomers to Gothenburg usually have one thing in common: to some extent they all struggled to get accommodation. Whether students or families, foreigners or Swedes, finding a place to live can turn out to be an incredible nightmare. The most significant example is probably the one of so-called first-hand contracts, these contracts you get when you are the official renter of an apartment. Those who want to move to Gothenburg and who hope to easily rent a place are warned early in the process. Rental queue time in Gothenburg has gotten worse in last ten years. “One could get a housing with one year queue time in 2010 and now ideal time to secure first hand contract is 8 years”, Rainer, a landlord said. Continue reading