The wait for summer, for a bit more warmth and light, is drawing to a close. The days are starting to get longer, and every day in March has brought us closer to summer in many respects. Residents are starting to get their bikes out, and a great deal of life is beginning to return to the town as a whole. On fine days, many residents and an increasing number of tourists make their way to the centre of Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur to experience and enjoy themselves; swimming pools and museums are well-attended, and shopping in the town centre is booming. Several new venues, including restaurants, have opened across the town and have immediately become popular. A new venue is about to open in Hafnarborg. All of this bodes well for the future.<\/p>\n
Cleaning up and environmental issues are very much on my mind these days. The snow is about to disappear from the town's streets, and the coming days and weeks will be dedicated, among other things, to a major clean-up after a heavy and rather difficult winter. A great deal of grit remains on both the pavements and the town's roads, and the coming days and weeks will be dedicated, among other things, to cleaning all the relevant areas. At the same time, vegetation, railings and kerbs that have been damaged this winter need to be inspected. All these pending tasks will be best accomplished through a joint effort by all parties involved. I hope that residents, pupils in schools of all levels, and staff of the municipality, its institutions and local businesses will get to work and clean their local areas thoroughly over the coming days and weeks. Together, we can make Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur cleaner in a very short space of time and create the appearance we want for our beautiful Fjord. At the beginning of May, the council will be launching a clean-up week, specifically from the 2nd to the 12th of May, and planning for this week is now underway. I am pleased to say that a number of residents have already approached us with ideas for a community clean-up initiative. I know that throughout the town there are socially responsible and proactive residents, and I am confident that a united effort will make our town clean.<\/p>\n
Proposed amendments to the detailed and master plans of the Borough of Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur are always advertised, and those who believe they have an interest are asked to submit written comments on the amendment within a specified time frame. In March, changes to the detailed and master plans in Skar\u00f0shl\u00ed\u00f0 were advertised, and in April, changes to Hno\u00f0ravellir, Kvistavellir and Einivellir have been advertised. Regarding Skar\u00f0shl\u00ed\u00f0, it is planned that the area intended for a care home, health centre, school and nursery will now become a school and nursery, and that the residential area will be extended into the area designated for community services. Around the April-May transition, we expect to advertise plots for blocks of flats in Skar\u00f0shl\u00ed\u00f0. It is anticipated that around 215 flats will be built in the area over the next year, including small and convenient flats for families with children. Regarding industrial plots, demand has increased significantly and there is great interest among companies in locating their operations in V\u00f6llum and Hellum. It is highly likely that work on the flyover will begin in autumn 2016, or at least be put out to tender with a completion date in 2017, which will greatly improve access to and safety in the area.<\/p>\n
At present, a number of varied jobs within the City of Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur are advertised. This is a busy time for us in terms of recruitment, with the summer ahead and a new school year. There are a number of varied jobs available for application within Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur's primary and nursery schools, and the application deadline for creative summer jobs and jobs for young people over the age of 16 is about to expire. Registration for the work school will open at the end of the month.<\/p>\n
As in February, I have put together an overview of some of the projects we have been working on this month.<\/p>\n
I hope this writing is informative and sheds light on some of the diverse projects we are currently working on. I would like to remind residents and businesses of my weekly surgery hours on Tuesday mornings, where I am happy to meet with anyone who wishes to have a chat with me. Appointments can be booked by calling 585-5506.<\/p>\n