Helsinki City Council endorses proposal for changing eastern city line

Prime Minister Vanhanen supports planned expansion

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The Helsinki City Council gave its approval on Wednesday to a proposal to apply to the national government for a change in the municipal with Sipoo and Vantaa.
      Two votes were held during the three-hour debate. Both times the proposal put forward by the City Board got overwhelming support.
      Opposing the proposal both times were council members of the Swedish People's Party, the Communists, and one member of the Green group.
     
There was much criticism of the perceived haste and secrecy surrounding the initiative.
      "For years, the City of Helsinki has openly expressed its view that the western parts of Sipoo should be made a part of Helsinki", countered Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen (Nat. Coalition Party), adding that in order to develop, Helsinki and the whole Greater Helsinki area need land for more construction.
     
The City Board held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday morning, in which a proposal was made to change the municipal border in the east. Helsinki wants 5,000 hectares of land in the west of Sipoo, and 200 hectares from Vantaa. The matter will be brought before the government in the winter.
      Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) gave his "very strong support" to the project. In a telephone interview with Helsingin Sanomat, he added that the Centre Party's Parliamentary group is also behind it.
      Vanhanen said that Helsinki had actually been encouraged to make the proposal.
      Of the government parties, only the Swedish People's Party is opposed to the move. "There have been discussions with the Swedish People's Party. They have taken a very constructive attitude", Vanhanen said. "I hope that agreement will be reached."
      According to Vanhanen, the government may have to vote on the issue.
      Swedish People's Party chairman Stefan Wallin wondered if there have been any real negotiations, or if it is just dictation.
      "Does Helsinki have a subjective right to expand?" he asked.
     
Minister of Municipal Affairs Hannes Manninen (Centre) said that he takes a positive view of the project.
      "As I have evaluated cooperation among municipalities, I have come to the conclusion that development of the Helsinki region is important for the whole country."
      Finance Minister Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) expects the project to slow down the rising prices of housing in Helsinki. "This thinking fits the government's overall line."
      He also hopes that the project will not raise bad blood among the municipalities. "I hope that Helsinki, Sipoo, and Vantaa will seek to make contact for a negotiated settlement."
     
Some residents of Sipoo are annoyed at the plans, and at what they see as the indecent haste with which they have been pushed through, and a small demonstration was held in Helsinki's Senate Square before Wednesday's council meeting.
      Placards urged Helsinki to keep its hands off Sipoo and complained that the capital was a greedy land-robber.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki wants to expand to western parts of Sipoo (20.6.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat