Lund Municipality takes its last steps for the festivities of the Last of April, when the City Park will be filled with picknicking and partying people. 80 policemen, extra fences and decreased speed limits. Are we preparing for a feast or for dangerous chaos?
According to Karl-Oscar Seth, City Gardener of Lund Municipality, all the precautions are really necessary.
”Valborg is a spontaneous party, which means that the Municipality is not organising it or has the responsibility. However, we expect 25 000 people to come, which is a big challenge.”
And it seems like it’s needed.
”Historically, there have been a few accidents, of which one was very serious”, tells Karl-Oscar Seth.
Two years ago, a young girl died when she fell from a viaduct on the Ringvägen. For that reason, extra measures to improve the security have been taken, even compared to last year: there is an extra fence along the railroad and the maximum speed on the Ringvägen will be limited to 30 kilometers per hour, instead of 50.
Also, more policemen will be on duty. At four information booths, people can get in contact with them or ask for first aid.
”We want everybody to have a great day, but security goes before everything,” Karl-Oscar Seth explains.
Not only security has been taken into consideration though – also people’s private needs: 130 mobile toilets have been placed in the park, which is an increase of 30 compared to last year. Bottles of water will be handed out in the park itself, but most probably other beverages will create at least as much the need to a toilet visit.
Despite the complicated organisation, Karl-Oscar Seth still thinks Valborg can be a great feast:
”If everything goes fine, it’s a good day. Of course it creates damage to the park and we try to limit both this and the disturbance to the animals. But it is also a day that can bring 25 000 good memories.”
He gives the reminder that the party is not over at the end of the afternoon, when all picknickers go home and the cleaning starts, which is done in only a few hours.
”In the evening around 8 PM, there is a big fire in the park. This is a really nice tradition” says Karl-Oscar Seth
Will any student listen to these wise words? Tuesday brings the answer.
