The entire venture could fall to the ground “- Swedish Dagbladet

An earlier exercise on Tofta firing range on the island. Photo: Tobias Wallström / TT

– Full focus on Gotland can fall to the ground, it is entirely to the forest, says Mikael Oscarsson, Member Committee on Defence to SvD. – Everything that we agreed in bets on Gotland is based on units can use the entire firing range.

The problems with environmental permits was discussed during Thursday of the Defence Committee of the Supreme Commander Sverker Goranson present. According to information provided to the Svenska Dagbladet expressed the Commander concern over the situation on Gotland, and urged, almost pleadingly, politicians help to find a solution.

Should bet Gotland completed have permits secured and this government has an enormous responsibility.

Gotland once again have a permanent military presence – a mechanized battle group and a tank company with a total of 230 soldiers from 2018 – was described as a very important initiative when the defense agreement between S MP Government and the Alliance’s M, C and KD was presented in April.

– We see Gotland military strategic importance, explained Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist when the agreement was announced .

Currently underway , the NATO and US-led naval exercise BALTOPS giant in the Baltic Sea.

While talking, the Svenska Dagbladet reported on earlier, leading NATO representatives openly about the risk of a Russian attack and subsequent occupation of the Baltic states. The military control of Gotland could then be a decisive factor “for the control of sea and air routes to and from the Baltic States”, as it says in the defense bill.

The problems with environmental permits Gotland goes back to all units on the island dismantled. Earlier there were several regiments of air defense, infantry and armor. Today the defense of about 400 National Guard members.

Head of the Home Guard is Colonel Hans Håkansson.

– 2005, the Swedish Fortifications Agency, which owns the land, out of an environmental assessment of Tofta firing range and then proceeded from the Home Guard then necessary after dressing closures and sought to postpone the northern half of the field, he says to SvD.

Five years later granted state of the Land and Environmental Court at Nacka District Court. – Of course, you had to what we had been looking for, and no more, says Hans Håkansson.

The decision has been appealed of Gotland Municipality after the disagreement about the location of shooting ranges and noise levels and situated on government tables for judgment. Meanwhile, there is an enforcement clause that allows the portion of the firing range may be used.

Mikael Oscarsson (Christian Democrats), Member of the Defence Committee is concerned about the issue of the environmental permit. Photo: Henrik Montgomery / TT

But it is not enough for the new units that according to the defense be placed on Gotland. – The whole field is left as the training ground, but you can only shoot with live ammunition in the northern half. Now with the development of connections to be made on Gotland, one must of course have access to the entire field.

** Northern part – how great is that? – Approximately 50 percent.

For the defense to get access to the southern half of the firing range required to the landowner, the Swedish Fortifications Agency, submit an additional application for environmental assessment. It would give the defense the opportunity to use the entire firing range while increasing the number of shooting days from the current 125. But the process will take time and can threaten the defense of Gotland.

– The last time took environmental assessment five years. To have these units in place by 2018 that politicians have said with regard to the environmental assessment is difficult for me to believe, says Hans Håkansson.

How did it come to be in here? – What is regrettable is that the fact that we have had this limitation has not been known on the political side and the bad spread in the Armed Forces as well. It has not had this clear to him.

Mikael Oscarsson, a member of the Defence Committee (KD), says to SvD – This shows that the government must quickly that decisions on one half of Tofta and quickly provide instructions to the defense on the other half. Should focus on Gotland completed permits must be secured and this government has an enormous responsibility.