Kaukab Tahir Shairani
August 25th, 2020

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‘Thomas På Bjerget’ was in dire need of some repairs (photo: thomasdambo.com)

Over the weekend, Albertslund mayor Steen Christiansen underlined that repair and maintenance tasks of statues are the job of the municipality.

The statement came after someone has repaired the popular ‘Thomas På Bjerget’ troll, one of the ‘Six Forgotten Giants’ trolls built by artist Thomas Dambo.

Christiansen said that the municipality owns the giants; the copyrights of which rest with the artist. In addition, he said that it was necessary to ensure safety while carrying out repair work as children use it for playing and climbing.

The sculptures were first built for the 2016 Vestegnen’s Culture Week. Later, they became popular for locals and tourists alike.

The mayor, however, acknowledged, that offering to repair the artwork voluntarily is an “expression of colossal interest”.

READ ALSO: New Thomas Dambo troll in Nordhavn just the beginning of a brand new adventure

Long-term maintenance plans
Christiansen said that the municipality had refrained from initiating any repair work as the artist wanted an organised plan for its maintenance.

“Thomas Dambo made it clear that repair and maintenance was the job of his crew and must happen under his guidance,” the mayor asserted, adding that he owns the copyrights.

However, Dambo said this weekend that citizens were welcome to repair without his consent. It is a temporary solution until municipalities chalk out a future strategy, he said.

Body of missing man found
On August 22, authorities discovered the body of a man in harbour of the Nordhavn district of the city, reported TV2. According to the capital emergency response unit, Hovedstadens Beredskab, the 37-year-old man was found floating in the water after going missing on August 18.

It’s a washout for north Zealand 
On August 19, north Zealand experienced a potent cloudburst with over 15mm of rain being dumped in just 30 minutes. In total, cloudbursts were experienced in 12 places and in two areas, over 40mm of rain fell in around half an hour. Mikael Scharling, a climatologist with DMI, said that it was the heaviest cloudburst in four years in Denmark.

Lynetteholm could alleviate congestion
The Transport Ministry has published a study that further underscores the likelihood that the planned Lynetteholm district would alleviate congestion in Copenhagen. According to the study, the district’s location is expected to safeguard the city against floods and storms as well. Lynetteholm also paves potential for urban development projects including housing.

Commute across Øresund on the rise
New figures have revealed that the number of people commuting across the Øresund Strait, is on the rise following a steep drop during the COVID-19 lockdown. According to ticket sales, journeys between Denmark and Sweden had reduced by 44 percent in July compared to the summer of 2019. But numbers were even lower in April when commuter trips experienced a 77 percent drop off compared to last year.

Invasive tree from Asia found
An invasive tree of Asian origin has been found growing at the foot of a staircase in Copenhagen’s Fiolstræde. The plant, known as the Tree of Heaven, is on the EU’s list of invasive species. Originally planted in the Botanical Gardens, it has also been found in Ørstedsparken.