Local officials in Denmark reportedly do not exercise their authority to require developers to construct bunkers.
Danish Municipalities Neglect Bomb Shelter Requirements in New Development Plans
A survey of Danish municipalities has revealed that none of them enforce the right to include bunkers in new development plans, despite having the legal permission to do so. This revelation comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions and the need for increased civil preparedness.
According to the survey by broadcaster DR, out of 98 Danish municipalities, none of the 59 respondents have mandated the construction of bomb shelters, known as beskyttlesesrum, in new buildings over the past five years. This lack of enforcement is particularly striking in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The current state of Denmark's existing bomb shelters and bunkers is set to be reviewed as part of a budgetary deal between the government and municipalities. The review, expected to provide insights on the current state of these structures, is scheduled to take place this year. However, there is no detailed information available on any formal initiatives or plans to assess or renovate these civil defense structures or shelters.
The Minister for Civil Preparedness, Torsten Schack Pedersen, has stated that bomb shelters haven't been a focus for many, many years. Elevator functionality, addressing climate issues, and ensuring buildings aren't constructed too low are among the priorities ranked higher than bomb shelters in new construction projects.
Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen, head of Climate and Environment at Kommunernes Landsforening, noted that municipalities are currently very busy responding to cyberattacks. He suggested that bomb shelters may be something they'll have to start looking at in the future.
Last year, a review by the Danish Emergency Management Agency found that the country currently has space for around 3.6 million people or 61 percent of the population in shelters and bunkers. However, this capacity is not sufficient to accommodate the entire population in the event of a crisis.
The agreement between the government and local authorities emphasizes the importance of ensuring ongoing focus on civil defence, including in relation to defence shelters. The outcome of the review may lead to changes in the enforcement of the right to have bunkers included in new development plans.
Despite the current lack of enforcement, it is crucial for Danish municipalities to consider the potential threat and the importance of having adequate civil defense infrastructure in place.
- The disregard for bomb shelters in new Danish development plans, highlighted by the survey, could be a significant oversight amidst escalating geopolitical tensions and the need for enhanced civil preparedness, as seen in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
- The review of Denmark's existing bomb shelters and bunkers, part of a budgetary deal between the government and municipalities, may shed light on the current state of these structures and potentially lead to changes in the enforcement of bunkers in new development plans, as emphasized in the agreement.
- In light of the ongoing discussions around civil defence and the need for adequate infrastructure, the busy response to cyberattacks by municipalities might divert attention from the importance of bomb shelters, something that experts like Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen might suggest should be reconsidered in the future.
