Palma neighbors cry out against the noise of nightlife: "It is a torture that destroys coexistence"
Neighborhood associations demand the declaration of Santa Catalina, el Jonquet, the Maritime Promenade, and Llotja-Born as acoustically contaminated zones.
Palm"Noise is torture". With this forceful slogan, various neighborhood associations in Palma have intensified their protest against the noise pollution that, they claim, neighborhoods like Santa Catalina, El Jonquet, the Paseo Marítimo, and the sa Llotja-Born area have suffered for years due to uncontrolled nightlife.
The campaign has become visible with posters hung on the balconies of the affected neighborhoods to denounce a situation they consider "unsustainable" and which directly affects the health, rest, and coexistence of residents. Neighborhood groups warn that public administrations "cannot continue ignoring" a problem they define as "a serious problem that pollutes entire neighborhoods and affects the rights of residents".
Acoustically Polluted Zones
Organizations demand immediate and structural measures from the Palma City Council. Among the main demands is the installation of certified sound meters in the most exposed neighborhoods to create noise maps with public and real-time accessible data. Based on this data, they propose to formally declare those areas that exceed legal limits as Acoustically Polluted Zones.
Residents also demand the suspension of new licenses for bars and restaurants in saturated areas, as well as exhaustive control of existing establishments to verify that they comply with regulations regarding soundproofing, capacity, and the closing of doors and windows. Furthermore, they request limiting new terraces and sanctioning irregular occupations of public spaces.
Among the measures proposed is also the reduction of opening hours for establishments and terraces, especially in residential areas, as well as the prohibition of new concerts and musical activities in public spaces in the most affected neighborhoods.
The associations also demand more police control against incivility in the street, public drinking, and noise caused by whistles or music, in addition to active surveillance of street musicians and vehicle traffic.
Epicenters of uncontrolled leisure
The groups assure that they are willing to collaborate with the City Council to find solutions, but they insist on asking municipal representatives for measures to address "the problem in acoustically polluted neighborhoods such as Santa Catalina and El Jonquet, the Paseo Marítimo and Sa Llotja Born, epicenters of uncontrolled leisure in Palma".