ABOUT LIVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES 

With construction of the Sound Bridge connecting Zealand with Sweden in the east and the Great Belt Bridge connecting Zealand with Funen in the west, the premises for development and renewal in northwest Zealand were changed markedly. The central and southern part of West Zealand County saw the future in interaction with the Sound region and with Funen and Jutland. The northwestern part of the county had to help itself, much more than before, as best it could. 

During the summer and autumn of 2000, it was clear that the LEADER+ program, in contrast to earlier, was not only calculated for the so-called goal 2 areas. The entire country now had the chance to take part in the LEADER+ program. An objective, socio-economic survey was to map out where the need was greatest. 

The survey showed, among other things, that 7 of West Zealand’s municipalities – Bjergsted, Dragsholm, Goerlev, Hvidebaek, Nykoebing-Roervig, Tornved and Trundholm – fell in under the established criteria. For the first time, West Zealand had the chance to become a LEADER+ area. The chance for getting an effective development tool to the area was now present.

The development plan.

It was on the background of this, that a work group in the winter of 2000/2001 started working on a comprehensive job, the goal of which was to bring the LEADER+ program to Northwest Zealand. 

The first stage of the job was the surveying of the area’s possibilities and limitations. The second stage was the formulation of a vision for the area’s future. And the third stage was establishment of a plan of action, which, with the help of the LEADER+ program, could realize the vision. 

The work resulted in the development plan “Living Local Community”, which at the end of April 2001 was sent to the Directory for Food, Fisheries and Agri Business for evaluation in relation to the program.

A vision for an area.

With this plan, the work group had chosen to go actively in for a development process, which had its starting point in the existing and new possibilities reality could offer. It is an area of scenic beauty with a tradition-bound culture, with a quality of life and with possibilities for a different product development and production. Without it being necessary to convert the area into a tourist reservation, a residence for the wealthy or a factory park. 

The work group wanted to start a different development process, a process that should begin with strengthening the area’s inner cohesion and, afterwards, should continue with establishing new activities and jobs. 

The goal was, first and foremost, that a well-integrated local cooperation was to be established up and down the area. This was a necessary pre-requisite for the maintenance of the area’s as living communities.

The four themes.

It was essential for the work group that the region’s social and cultural assets should be strengthened. The work group saw this as a necessary pre-requisite, if new sustainable activities and projects were to be created. 

As a result of this, the work group selected the following four themes: 

  • making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including enhancing the value of sites. 
  • improving the quality of life in rural areas. 
  • adding value to local products, in particular by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions. 
  • the use of know-how and new technologies to make products and services in rural areas more competitive.

Designation as a LEADER+ area.

At the end of November 2001, the announcement came of the official designation as a LEADER+ area. The announcement was accompanied by a commitment of economic support from the LEADER+ program for the amount of 11,4 million kroner. 

The designation was also accompanied by “Government Regulation (DK) no. 951/2001 on LEADER+”. This regulation along with the Council Regulations (EC) no. 1260/1999, 1159/2000 and 1685/2000 regulate the administration of the LEADER+ program in Denmark.

Establishment of the LAG-group (Local Action Group).

After the arrival of the announcement of designation of the seven municipalities in West Zealand as a LEADER+ area, work with formalization of the organization could start. 

At a meeting 19 December 2001, the work group approved a set of rules that turned the group into the legal unit Local Action Group (the LAG-group). Subsequently, the LAG-group, which consists of 12 members, constituted itself with a chairman and two vice-chairmen. The last three mentioned make up the LAG-group’s executive committee. 

The LAG-group is the program’s highest authority. It is to meet four times a year to handle the received applications and to make decisions about the leading strategical factors in connection with the program’s management.

The LEADER+ secretariatet.

The LAG-group’s secretariat resides at Svanestraede 9 in Nykoebing Zealand. The secretariat is available with information about the program and with guidelines in project development and applying to the program.

You can contact:
Karsten Laegdsmand by telephone +0045 59 93 10 65 and by e-mail karsten@odsherred.dk