Parking, Cream and Hockey Derby

Parking fees may become more expensive in Skellefteå – both the municipality’s fines and staff parking at the hospital. At the same time, Norrmejerier is investing millions in cream, a bridge construction in Skellefteå is nearing completion, and the hockey derby attracted a packed arena.

Parking fees may be increased in Skellefteå

Parking fines in Skellefteå may be increased – and in some cases doubled – for the first time since 2010. It is the head of parking operations at Skellefteå Municipality who believes the amounts should be increased to maintain a good traffic and parking situation. The increase is met with strong criticism: “It will be a catastrophe,” says a resident of Skellefteå to SVT Nyheter Västerbotten.

Staff parking at Skellefteå Hospital may also become more than twice as expensive per month at the turn of the year, according to a proposal from Region Västerbotten. A region is responsible for healthcare in the county. The background is a review by the Swedish Tax Agency of various regions in the country, in which prices for staff parking at Norrlands universitetssjukhus in Umeå and Skellefteå Hospital are considered too low compared with market value. The proposal was presented at the healthcare committee’s meeting recently. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten Norran

Norrmejerier makes million-kronor investments as the quark boom continues

Quark shelves have long been empty in stores. Now Norrmejerier in Umeå has completed a new facility costing 50 million SEK, and Arla has invested around 380 million SEK (34.5 million euros) in quark production. “Demand has gone from strong to almost chaotic,” says Norrmejerier’s chief strategy and development officer.

According to the analysis company NielsenIQ, quark sales in Sweden increased by 28 percent in 2026. A university adjunct who teaches nutrition at Umeå University says it is about strength training increasing the need for protein, but that the most important thing is to eat a varied diet. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten

Eight V-shaped trestles lifted onto Karlgårdsbron

Karlgårdsbron in Skellefteå is now getting its final silhouette as the eight V-shaped trestles are put into place – the ones that will support the bridge in the future. Assembly began in September, and during Norran’s visit, the fifth pair of eight was lifted into place. The glulam legs were made at Holmen in Bygdsiljum and have been painted and given their final finish at the company’s factory in Kroksjön. The legs are approximately 24 metres long and weigh up to 14 tonnes each.

The project manager and project manager at Skellefteå kommun are satisfied with the work. Since the schedule is being met, the project manager can now reveal when traffic will be allowed onto the bridge. Norran

Norrbotnia Railway: Umeå–Skellefteå to be completed in ten years

The Norrbotnia Railway is one of Sweden's largest infrastructure projects. While parts of the future railway are still at the planning stage, work is under way at several sites along the stretch between Umeå and Skellefteå, and the railway is being built in many different subprojects. According to Trafikverket's latest estimate, the Umeå–Skellefteå stretch will be completed in exactly ten years.

Trafikverket is the state agency responsible for roads and railways. No definite date has been set for the line to Luleå, but around 2042-2044 has been mentioned. Norran

Sold-out folk festival at the hockey derby in Skellefteå

On Saturday, it was time for the second derby in a short space of time between Skellefteå AIK and Björklöven, this time in Skellefteå. Skellefteå Kraft Arena was sold out and the atmosphere was great. “It is so wonderful to see how the city comes together,” a supporter tells SVT Nyheter Västerbotten.

Last weekend, Skellefteå beat Björklöven 8-1 in Umeå. Saturday’s derby was a much more even contest and the match ended 5-3 to Skellefteå. Norran has published lively pictures from the folk festival. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten Norran

1 751 candles lit remotely in Västerbotten

During All Saints' Day weekend, the funeral home Fonus lights 1 751 candles remotely for people in Västerbotten. This is an increase from 1 638 the year before, and the company is present at 43 different cemeteries. The orders have come in via the web, and the person lighting the candles makes sure that the correct grave number and the correct person have their candle lit.

To manage, the funeral office empties out essentially the entire office – even those working in the legal department help out. This year, no more orders are accepted for lighting candles at graves or in columbarium cemeteries. Another initiative for relatives at a distance is the Church of Sweden's prayer website, where you can light a candle digitally online. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten

In brief

• A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Umeå during the night to Sunday; the crime is said to have occurred indoors and in a “public environment”, and after interviews during the night, the prosecutor decided to detain the man. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten
• A fire alarm in a building was reported on Sunday, and according to initial information, the fire was said to have occurred at Skellefteå Hospital, but according to the rescue services, there was no fire, only someone who had smelled smoke from outside. Norran
• 7 people were taken into custody in Skellefteå on the night of Sunday according to LOB, the law on the care of intoxicated persons, and 2 of them were taken to hospital; shortly before 2 o'clock, a man in his 20s was assaulted and received medical care. Norran
• 2 people were removed by police from the match between Skellefteå AIK and Björklöven on Saturday due to some kind of disorderly conduct, and 1 person was taken into custody according to LOB. Norran
• Thieves first raided a yard in Medle outside Skellefteå and 2 days later stole bicycles, tools and sports equipment worth over 100 000 kr; police warn of a wave of tool thefts targeting both private individuals and construction companies. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten
• A resident in elder care in Skellefteå municipality is said to have been threatened with a knife by an employee, but when the municipality 2 years later initiated a Lex Sarah investigation, it was no longer possible to establish what had happened. Norran
• A boy is said to have been sexually assaulted by a foster parent, and the municipality has reported the incident as a serious misconduct under Lex Sarah to the Inspektionen för vård och omsorg (IVO), which scrutinizes care and services; the municipality has changed its routines after the incident. Norran
• SVT will broadcast slow TV from the ice-stool sitting at Wilhelmina Winter Weekend for 51 hours in February next year, and participants can sign up until 30 November. SVT Nyheter Västerbotten