Fees Rise in Sarpsborg

The latest Østfold news from the past 48 hours has been dominated by increases in municipal fees in Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad, a direct consequence of the opening of new nitrogen treatment facilities. Østfold County is also following the restoration of Swedish border controls announced for 12 November, while icy weather kept emergency services busy on the roads.

Østfold news: municipal fees rise on 1 January

In Sarpsborg, municipal fees will rise by 30 % from 1 January due to the opening of the city’s new nitrogen treatment plant. The facility cost more than 1.7 billion kroner, a bill borne by residents (NRK Østfold).

Jessica Benjaminsen Gresholdt, 21 years old, and her partner Robin Langsholt Olseng, 20 years old, own a small detached house of 120 m² in Klavestadhaugen (Sarpsborg), in Sarpsborg. For them, the increase means about 7,000 kroner more, or 30,000 kroner per year. “It’s sad and far too much”, says Robin (NRK Østfold).

In the neighbouring city of Fredrikstad, fees are rising by 3,000 kroner for an average home, also due to a new treatment plant opened this summer, which cost 2.3 billion kroner (NRK Østfold). NRK Østfold reports that the new Minister of Climate and the Environment, Sigrun Gjerløw Aasland, who was appointed in September, says she understands the situation of the affected residents.

Swedish border control: what changes for Østfold residents

Sweden is reintroducing border controls from 12 November for people entering its territory. The Swedish government justifies this decision by citing the existence of a serious threat to public order and internal security. “Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing aggression mean that we are in a serious security situation. This includes, among other things, an increased threat of sabotage against Sweden and other EU member states,” says Gunnar Strömmer, Sweden’s current Minister of Justice, to NRK (NRK Østfold).

The reintroduction of border control gives the Swedish police the mandate to decide on practical arrangements. For Østfold, the implications are direct: the Svinesund border crossing is the main passage between the region and Sweden, used daily for work and shopping.

Culture and urban planning: art centre in Moss, cinema restructuring in Fredrikstad

In Moss, the decision has been made: an art centre will be established at Galleri F15. “We have great ambitions,” says the proposal being followed by Moss Avis (Moss Avis). In the same town, a developer is withdrawing his building permit application in Sterudgården, explaining that he cannot sell apartments in the middle of a permanent construction site (Moss Avis).

In Fredrikstad, the cinema, which reduced its staff a month ago, must recruit again. The establishment received 499 applications for the open positions (Fredriksstad Blad).

Weather warning: freezing fog and slippery roads

The combination of cold and fog is causing difficulties for road users in Østlandet over the coming days. The phenomenon has a name: « frysetåke », or freezing fog. « It is no more mysterious than that: fog forms at sub-zero temperatures. The water droplets remain liquid and, when they touch the ground, they freeze. This forms a very thin layer of ice, and it becomes very slippery », explains meteorologist Rune Skoglund (NRK Østfold).

His colleague Petter Ekrem points out that roads will pose the most problems, even though frost also settles on other surfaces. Meteorologist Marek Ratajak explains that the frost almost gives the impression of sand on the ground and provides some grip, but it is when this layer begins to melt, often in the morning, that the road surface can become really slippery (NRK Østfold). On Thursday, several motorists encountered difficulties on slippery roads in Østlandet, including in Østfold.

📌 Local Briefs

Moss: on the E6, a fuel tanker that broke down was hit from behind by a small truck on Wednesday afternoon. The driver, who was seriously injured, was airlifted; the road was reopened (NRK Østfold).

Mosseporten: a woman in her fifties was seriously injured in a collision. Police favour the hypothesis of an inattentive driver; both lanes were closed and traffic was diverted (NRK Østfold).

Trøgstad (Indre Østfold municipality): part of the secondary school building was evacuated before 08:00 after chlorine granules were released into the pool water. No injuries were reported, and firefighters ventilated the premises (NRK Østfold).

Fredrikstad: a car equipped with winter tyres left the road due to black ice; the driver was sent to the medical centre and the passenger to the hospital (NRK Østfold).

Rakkestad (municipality in Østfold): the court has been examining the knife assault case since this week, concerning the night of 23 July 2025, during which two people were stabbed. The prosecution is seeking seven years in prison for attempted murder, with psychiatric experts estimating that the defendant’s psychosis stems from his own drug use (NRK Østfold).

Sources: NRK Østfold, Fredriksstad Blad, Moss Avis — Period: 05 November 2026 and 06 November 2026