Post by tango7 on Oct 23, 2016 15:35:56 GMT
www.skynews.com.au/ Published: 8:33 pm, Sunday, 23 October 2016
The city of Ulm in southern Germany is trying to save the world's highest cathedral from being worn away - by urine.
For years it has been popular to take a leak off the top of Ulm Cathedral, but city officials now say the acids and salts in the urine are wearing away the building's sandstone.
Heavy fines are being enforced for those who cannot wait to relieve themselves, but it has proved ineffective, with city officials worried current repairs will all be for nothing if the damage continues unabated.
Even doubling the fine from 50 euros to 100 euros ( $A71.50 to $A143) has had little effect.
However, although the urinating continues, not a single fine has been handed out.
'I've been keeping an eye on it for half a year now and, once again, it's coated with urine and vomit,' said Michael Hilbert, head of the Muensterbau, the agency tasked with preserving the 161.53-metre tall place of worship.
The problem, Hilbert says, is that there are too many festivals on the square surrounding the cathedral where organisers fail to provide enough free toilets.
The city of Ulm in southern Germany is trying to save the world's highest cathedral from being worn away - by urine.
For years it has been popular to take a leak off the top of Ulm Cathedral, but city officials now say the acids and salts in the urine are wearing away the building's sandstone.
Heavy fines are being enforced for those who cannot wait to relieve themselves, but it has proved ineffective, with city officials worried current repairs will all be for nothing if the damage continues unabated.
Even doubling the fine from 50 euros to 100 euros ( $A71.50 to $A143) has had little effect.
However, although the urinating continues, not a single fine has been handed out.
'I've been keeping an eye on it for half a year now and, once again, it's coated with urine and vomit,' said Michael Hilbert, head of the Muensterbau, the agency tasked with preserving the 161.53-metre tall place of worship.
The problem, Hilbert says, is that there are too many festivals on the square surrounding the cathedral where organisers fail to provide enough free toilets.
