Bjärby camping must have its application for a beach protection exemption approved by the County Administrative Board in Kalmar in order to continue operating.
Borgholm municipality has given the green light for the exemption, but the county administrative board has found shortcomings in the application.
If the municipality does not find evidence that the campsite can be exempted from beach protection, the campsite will be forced to close, and thus the access to the popular swimming pool will also disappear.
But that the beach in Bjärby is popular is not something that the County Administrative Board takes into account in its assessment.
- The legislation is for all of us.
We must follow case law, we can not make an "we think assessment", says Pär Hansson who is a county architect at the county administrative board in Kalmar.
No exemption for camping activities
Bjärbybadet has been frequently visited since the 60s.
Gradually, camping on the site has also become increasingly popular.
The camping business was initially managed by the landowners.
In 1985, the operation was handed over to the local sports association in Runsten, and since 1994, Runsten's rural association runs the campsite non-profit.
No application for a beach protection exemption for running a camping business has ever been submitted until now.
The lack of an exemption was discovered by Borgholm municipality by chance.
However, the municipality thinks that the business is important for eastern Öland, and it wants the business to be able to continue.
Old receipts can be crucial
But then proof is required that the campsite was active before the Beach Protection Act came into force in 1975.
- There may be some old receipts or a newspaper article that shows that there has been activity since the early 70s.
Then I think there are very good opportunities, says the county architect Pär Hansson.
In mid-June, the county administrative board will decide on the future of the campsite.