Earlier this week could Today’s ETC reveal how rich homeowners in Täby outside Stockholm occupied public land – with patios, shrubs, fences and boat docks.
On Sunday afternoon, about 30 people bathed from the piers in protest.
– We want to show that we have the right to be on public land, says Joel Ekström Svensson, 29.
It is a beach for everyone in Täby. Then a bunch of rich homeowners rebuilt it into private beach plots with bushes, fences and boat docks.
While the municipality turned its gaze away, writes Today’s ETC.
On one of the plots there is a Cubist boast building. The villa became nationally known when it appeared on Hemnet for 150 million. According to the ad text, a “unique villa on a lake plot” with its own helicopter pad on the pier.
But part of the land does not belong to the homeowner, but to the municipality. Only ten meters from the water’s edge does the residential plot begin. There is also no exception to beach protection.
Suspected of violating beach protection
Along the beach there are more black buildings, writes Dagens ETC. When the villa at Hemnet went viral, a person called the municipality and reported several homeowners along the beach.
Supervisory cases were initiated and now seven bridges are suspected of violating beach protection.
One of the homeowners that Dagens ETC meets, an elderly gentleman, states that the bridge on his plot was there when he bought the house.
– Someone who is jealous has contacted the municipality, he says to the newspaper.
Badar in protest
On Sunday afternoon, about 30 people gathered along the beach strip in Täby. Behind the initiative was “Folkets bad” – a Twitter account that was started in protest against the occupied land.
“On Sunday, June 26, we inaugurate Folkets bad Täby!” it says in a tweet. “Bring swimwear, your biggest beach balls and the most beautiful sunbeds and see you on our common beach!”
– We want to show that we have the right to be on public land according to the right of public access and beach protection, says Joel Ekström Svensson, 29, who went there to swim.
– I hope it will be calm. We are not going to mess with anything, just swim and have fun.
Equipped with inflatable boats, bathing rings and inflatable flamingos, the group went out to sea. A moment later, they had taken the helicopter plate. Curious neighbors stopped by the shore.
– It was amazing. It was really nice. We had a regular beach hangout. People just hung out and took it easy. Sunbathed and slid around in the water, says Joel Ekström Svensson.
– It exceeded expectations.
Did anyone react?
– I do not know if anyone told us, no one told me anyway. But I stepped in from the sea to municipal land, so there should be no problems really.
Will you do it again?
– Good question. But it indicates that it will be something similar again in any case.
Aftonbladet spoke to several homeowners in the area who declined to appear for an interview.