The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has ruled out raising the permitted noise levels in the capital and announced that the City Council will present objections to keep the authorisation of extraordinary events under the Community of Madrid.
The Madrid City Council has no intention of raising the decibel limits in the city, as confirmed this Thursday by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. The mayor has dismissed the idea that the City Council will take advantage of the reform of the Public Shows and Recreational Activities Law (Lepar) to relax the acoustic regulations, a demand raised by promoters of large events and venue owners following the suspension of concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium due to noise issues.
Almeida has assured that the municipal government does not contemplate modifying the ordinance to increase the permitted decibels, despite the fact that the regional draft law allows municipalities to establish their own conditions. “In principle, we are not considering it,” he stated, adding that any change in this area “would deserve a very broad debate” involving all municipal groups, as it is a “very sensitive” issue that affects the quality of life of residents.
The mayor's statements come a day after the Madrid Community's Governing Council approved the Bill for the Balanced Development and Promotion of the Region (Lider), which reforms the Lepar, in effect for nearly three decades. The new regional regulation proposes that municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants take on the responsibility for authorising extraordinary events within their municipal boundaries, a function that has until now been the responsibility of the regional administration.
However, the Madrid City Council does not agree with this modification. Almeida has indicated that the City Council will present objections during the processing of the text to argue that the authorisation of these events should continue to depend on the Community of Madrid. The mayor has not detailed the arguments he will present, but municipal sources suggest that the capital prefers to maintain the current model of regional control to ensure greater coordination and avoid potential conflicts of interest.
The debate over noise levels has gained particular relevance in recent months following the suspension of concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, owned by Real Madrid, due to residents' complaints about violations of acoustic regulations. Promoters of large events and venue managers have called for greater flexibility in the permitted decibels to facilitate the holding of concerts and shows, which has led the Community of Madrid to include in the reform of the Lepar the possibility for municipalities to adapt the limits to their needs.
Nevertheless, Almeida has been adamant: the Madrid City Council will not take advantage of this avenue. “If at any point we were to consider its modification, it should be a matter that sparks a broad debate,” he stated, making it clear that, for now, the municipal ordinance will remain unchanged. The decision is a relief for residents' associations that have reported the acoustic impact of large events in the capital, but also a cold shower for the leisure and culture sector, which saw the reform as an opportunity to relax restrictions.
The Lider bill is now in the parliamentary processing phase, so the Madrid City Council has time to present its objections. The mayor has not specified the content of these objections, but has insisted that the City Council's position is clear: the authorisation of extraordinary shows must remain the responsibility of the Community of Madrid. The final decision will depend on the debate in the Madrid Assembly, where the regional government led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso holds an absolute majority.
Meanwhile, residents of the capital can rest easy: the City Council does not foresee changes to the noise limits in the short term. The current ordinance establishes maximum decibel levels that, according to the mayor, ensure a balance between cultural activity and the rest of residents. “It is a very sensitive issue that affects the quality and well-being of residents,” concluded Almeida.
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