The meeting between the mayors not only failed to resolve the conflict but has hardened positions. Getafe claims that Leganés did not present signed reports and that the sidewalk is the exclusive responsibility of the neighbouring municipality.
The confrontation between the municipalities of Getafe and Leganés over Eduardo Torroja street has reached a new level of tension. Following the meeting between mayors Sara Hernández and Miguel Ángel Recuenco, the Getafe government has responded harshly to the statements made by Leganés' Councillor for Works, Carlos Delgado, whom they accuse of not being present at the meeting and basing his claims on decontextualised information.
According to sources from the Getafe City Council, during the meeting, Recuenco did not provide any signed legal report to support his position. Instead, he presented “unsigned notes” based on an urban planning regulation that has already been repealed. In contrast, Sara Hernández displayed signed legal reports and technical documentation of the urban planning of both cities, which would demonstrate that the obligation to build the sidewalk and improve the area lies exclusively with Leganés, as the road is within its municipal boundary.
The Getafe government describes the current situation as a “flagrant” breach of the existing accessibility regulations. The street presents serious mobility problems: non-existent sidewalks in several sections, deteriorated pavement, potholes, and pedestrian crossings that lead to inaccessible areas. This forces residents, including children attending nearby schools, to invade the roadway to continue their journey, posing a significant risk to their safety.
Leganés' position, defended by Carlos Delgado, is that the municipality is willing to cede the necessary land and sign an agreement, but demands that Getafe finance the works. “We provide the land, but they should pay for it,” stated the councillor, who argues that the pedestrian connection should have been executed during the urban development of El Bercial. Getafe rejects this interpretation and maintains that the urban planning and accessibility laws place the responsibility in the hands of the Leganés City Council.
Getafe's response is not limited to the sidewalk. The City Council also demands that the Leganés Councillor for Works request from his government colleagues the cleaning and clearing of the surroundings. They report that the area located within the municipal boundary of Leganés accumulates garbage and abandoned appliances, a situation they describe as a “dump.” During the meeting, Sara Hernández showed photographs of these waste and pedestrian crossings hidden by vegetation, which poses a risk to both pedestrians and drivers.
Getafe emphasises that Leganés could act immediately on the already constructed and deteriorated sections of the sidewalk, as Recuenco himself acknowledged during the meeting that those parts belong to his municipality. However, according to the Getafe version, he did not commit to repairing them. Meanwhile, residents in the area continue to suffer the consequences of a conflict that seems far from being resolved.
The dispute over Eduardo Torroja street, which connects both municipalities, reflects the difficulties of coordination between neighbouring administrations. Residents are hoping for a solution that guarantees pedestrian safety and the cleanliness of the environment, but for now, the positions remain opposed. The next step could be mediation by the Community of Madrid or legal action, although neither party has yet confirmed what actions they will take.
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