An interview with Loreta Robežniece, Chair of the Skrunda Municipal Council

The everyday rhythm of local government was not long ago disrupted by the administrative-territorial reform, which is now relatively complete. How is the progress of the reform viewed in Skrunda? How did they talk to you, how did they listen, how…

People who were involved and interested in the reform know that the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas was passed during the so-called “first” wave of Covid-19 (in the spring). Consequently, all the restrictions that were declared and in force in Latvia also applied to the residents of Skrunda municipality. The law has been passed… The head of the ministry responsible for the reform (VARAM), Juris Pūce, had promised, and the message that “the reform will happen” reached us, and we heard it. If we talk now, after a short time has passed, there are still no clear answers as to why this reform was necessary. A sufficient number of municipalities called for the reform to be postponed and developed more carefully, so that every municipality – from the resident to the Council – could understand the new or unchanged structure they would fall into and inhabit in the future. If we know that there is a Covid-19 crisis in the world, if some municipalities here are talking about possible bankruptcy, why must we knowingly inflict harm upon ourselves? Is it necessary? It is understandable that the main reason was the belief that merging existing municipalities alongside the sharing of financial and political resources would bring some benefit, opportunity, etc. Perhaps! Perhaps… It seems to me that the situation created by Covid-19 and the traces it has left indicate something else: “It’s not good!”

Historically, Skrunda has been located in various regional formations with centres in Saldus, Aizpute and Kuldīga. Have you already started to plan and think about building things together with Kuldīga again?

Yes, of course! We have always been on good terms with our neighbours, both when part of the Kuldīga district and at other times. As you know, more than 10 years ago, when the previous reform was implemented, we were part of the Kuldīga district, and as you mentioned, we have at times been part of both the Saldus and Skrunda districts, and even earlier – in the Aizpute county. A century has not passed, and the various regional formations can already be counted on the fingers of one hand. That is not a small amount! Reforms are like the water in the Venta – they run, run, flow, flow and do not pass. The Council’s and my personal plan is to act so that when the time of the new formation (Kuldīga municipality) begins, things will be organised and done (completed), and the residents will not face any unnecessary or new problems!

Understandably, being an optimist is one thing, but I foresee that problems will arise, because every reform comes with changes that we are not used to, but which must be understood and accepted! We will spend the time until the elections working. What I would like to add, and what is humanly understandable in many places – anxiety is palpable among municipal employees, because it is not exactly clear what will happen to our people when the new municipality “starts its work”.

When meeting Kuldīga locals, it is mentioned that this year there have been a great many local tourists (from various parts of Latvia) and, unlike in Riga, cafes and small taverns in Kuldīga have not been short of work. How has tourism fared in Skrunda this summer?

At a time when tourism abroad was closed, I think every self-respecting Latgalian went to tour Kurzeme, while Courlanders set off to look towards Latgale. In Skrunda, too, the flow of tourists undoubtedly increased, because we are situated on the Riga–Liepāja motorway. In my opinion, one should not be afraid of the virus, one must live, and if you cannot do otherwise, you should travel around your native land, which was done extensively this summer and was what I observed. There are many other things one should be afraid of, but I can invite people to come, travel and certainly visit Skrunda as well.

Last year, the then-mayor of Smiltene, Gints Kukainis, in an interview emphasised that he really wanted to demolish the “ruins” of the “unbuilt swimming pool” but could not due to unresolved property rights. What has your Council convocation accomplished and what remains undone?

If we are talking about this time (October 2020), what was planned has been done. Of course, new plans arise and the work continues. A major investment in the municipality is the improvement of the A9 motorway (Liepāja–Riga): 10 years after the previous territorial reform, this road is now of a completely different quality and form. The Skrunda fire station has been renovated, and by Christmas, the petrol station that townspeople have been waiting for for decades will be ready and operational (currently, there is only one outside the Skrunda borders). The market square has been tidied up and schools have been renovated. One of the largest financial investments by the municipality is the repair of the kindergarten, because with the development of the “Mežaine” military training ground, as well as the Ministry of Defence’s planned cadet school in Rudbārži, life here will also become much more active. Thinking about the future, a kindergarten will be needed.

We recently tidied up the nature trail along the Venta and, instead of the planned 7–8 thousand visitors, we welcomed 26 thousand.

What has not been done? I would say: what still needs to be done. The streets and the bus station are definitely on the list of upcoming repair or improvement work. The aforementioned nature trail must certainly be continued further along the Venta. For a Latvian, a true Latvian, as we all are here, there will be no shortage of work! It is important to us.

Important and now once again welcoming passengers – Skrunda station, the Riga–Liepāja railway line and two trains there and two back per week.

If there are tracks, trains should be running along them. That would be clear and understandable! We see more freight trains, but getting people to Liepāja, Saldus or Riga is also important. Yes, there was a moment when they in Riga, while talking about passenger traffic, thought “everything must be closed now”! We wrote letters, we wrote a lot, but… there was a generation that did not really know what it meant to travel by train. Riga and its surroundings do not count; that is a special place in Latvia. People elsewhere in Latvia may not know the situation of Rigans and its subtleties, because there is no such need. There is no doubt – we need the train service! It is a different level. Of course, I would talk about a different train speed...

What is the most important thing in business in the municipality – the countryside, forests, the river?

It is understandable that in a rural municipality with large areas of land, agriculture is important: grain growing, beef cattle farming; the municipality has one stable dairy farm. There are two pig farms, which, unfortunately, were recently affected by African swine fever… But I can safely say: one farm has already restarted pig farming, and the other plans to do so in the spring. We also have Skrunda Fisheries, a company with an ancient past: farming began to develop in nearby ponds around 1870. Those would be the major sectors. We are paying great attention to ensuring that home producers and home-producer tourism operate and develop in the municipality. Besides everything mentioned, there is the great lure – the Venta.

For several years we have been working on a business area where we hope there will be production. These are 14 hectares of appropriately organised land.

It has happened that I have heard of municipalities that are very satisfied with the reform (which are not actually affected by the reform or which become larger as a result of it) and those that are looking for answers – who needs it…

When the reform was in its very early stages, we held various informal talks with people from Saldus, Aizpute and Kuldīga. Speaking about Skrunda’s reintegration into Kuldīga municipality – we have already managed to find each other, but… remembering our common past, we in Skrunda have managed to accomplish a lot, and I believe that Kuldīga, by merging with Skrunda, will be a big winner in terms of both people and resources.