The Platform against Noise denounces that this past Monday from 10 in the morning until midnight, the residents of El Reducto and the center of Arrecife have endured 14 uninterrupted hours of noise, with shouts by megaphone, sound tests and constant recordings." "A filming that, far from being an anecdote, collapsed the city in the middle of the working and school day, without any consideration for those who work, study or simply try to rest," he adds.
In a statement they criticize that "while the event progressed, the streets were blocked, traffic jams multiplied and daily activity was paralyzed, affecting educational centers, businesses and residents. At the end of the day, the beach and the surrounding area were full of plastics and waste."
The association points out that "beyond the noise, the effects were evident: empty classrooms in institutes and schools, with absenteeism in some cases exceeding 50%, endless traffic jams and businesses affected by access cuts and mobility restrictions."
The Platform against Noise of Arrecife recalls that, according to the WHO, "prolonged exposure to more than 53 decibels can generate stress, anxiety and even cardiovascular problems." "This Monday in some homes, 95 decibels were exceeded. And this is not just a nuisance: it is a violation of the right to rest, of the inviolability of the home and of the emotional stability of many people, especially the elderly, children and vulnerable groups," they state.
"The 165,000 euros of public money, managed by the Lanzarote Foreign Promotion Society (SPEL), are only part of the real cost of this event. To this must be added the deployment of police, the assembly and disassembly of the stage, the reinforcement of municipal personnel, traffic operations and subsequent cleaning. A great economic effort that has been allocated to an event that, once again, completely ignores coexistence and citizen well-being," they add.
The Platform demands compliance with acoustic regulations and real measurement of noise levels, the relocation of events away from residential areas and responsible planning and measures to mitigate the environmental impact on the city.
Finally, they affirm that "Arrecife cannot continue to be an improvised fairground. It is time for fundamental rights protected by the Constitution to be respected."
