The Administrative Court Number 24 of Madrid has dismissed the appeal from the Pozcavir association against the location of the patron saint festivities of Pozuelo de Alarcón, which will once again be held at the site on Avenida de Europa. The judge considers that general interests must prevail over individual ones.
The patron saint festivities of Pozuelo de Alarcón, which will kick off in early September, will maintain their location at the temporary venue on Avenida de Europa. This has been decided by the Administrative Court Number 24 of Madrid, which has dismissed the appeal filed by the Pozcavir neighbourhood association, which sought to halt the festive events at that site.
The judge, in an order dated last Friday, recalls that the Pozuelo City Council already moved the festivities in 2024 from the San Juan de la Cruz neighbourhood, in the urban core, to this more distant area to minimise disturbances to residents. The distance to the nearest residence increased from 23 metres to 300 metres, a change that the judge considers “precisely to minimise the impact of the disturbances that these events inevitably generate.”
Lack of Evidence and Alternatives
The order also harshly criticises Pozcavir's strategy. The judge points out that the association has not provided data on the number of affected residents, conclusive acoustic measurements, or evidence of alleged environmental damage. It only submitted two complaint letters from individuals and some measurements taken on the terraces of the residences, not inside, which the judge considers insufficient to classify the noise as “disproportionate or exorbitant.”
Furthermore, the ruling emphasises that Pozcavir has not offered any “clear and plausible” alternative for relocating the fairground without harming other residents. The judge describes it as “difficult, if not impossible” to find an alternative location with such short notice and without causing disturbances to other areas.
Organisational Measures and Security
The Pozuelo City Council has deployed a comprehensive plan to ensure the festivities proceed smoothly, which includes access controls, prevention of drinking in public, real-time acoustic measurements, traffic closures, surveillance through cameras, and increased police presence with private security. The judge positively assesses these measures, which help ensure that disturbances are “occasional” rather than permanent.
The Pozcavir association had requested the precautionary suspension of the festivities at that location, citing noise and environmental damage. However, the judge concludes that “the general interests represented by the City Council must prevail over individual ones” and that halting the events would cause economic harm to municipal finances and to residents who enjoy the celebrations.
A Recurring Conflict
This is not the first time Pozcavir has attempted to stop the patron saint festivities. In 2024, it unsuccessfully challenged the location, and this year it has tried again with an appeal that the judiciary has dismissed once more. The site on Avenida de Europa, a peripheral area, has established itself as the temporary fairground while the City Council seeks a permanent location.
The festivities of Our Lady of Consolation will be held for a week, featuring concerts, children's activities, and traditional events. Residents of Pozuelo de Alarcón will be able to consult the full programme on the municipal website starting next week.
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