Residents of Firal square in Santa Coloma de Farners have decided to install a sound meter to record noise levels in the public space. This initiative aims to document the disturbances that, according to their complaint, are caused by the concentration of bar and restaurant terraces in the area.
The residents explain that the situation has worsened over time, particularly following the recent opening of a new terrace. For this reason, they are demanding specific regulation of the square's uses to improve coexistence between economic activity and neighborhood rest. They emphasize that their intention is not to single out any particular establishment but to address what they consider a widespread problem, warning that a large part of the square is occupied by tables and chairs, increasing noise and reducing control.
The installed device records acoustic levels and, through automated analysis, compares the data with the limits set by the municipal ordinance, generating reports on periods when maximum permitted values are exceeded.
The residents state they have submitted several petitions to the City Council and requested an urgent meeting with the municipal government to present the situation. They also call for the development of a usage plan that defines the space allocated to terraces and better regulates activity in the square.
The City Council is already working with the Local Police and technical services to ensure compliance with regulations.
The mayor of Santa Coloma de Farners, Pep Prat, has acknowledged the need to ensure residents' rest and stated that the council is already working with the Local Police and technical services to ensure compliance with regulations. Prat also admitted that administrative response times are too long and expressed his willingness to meet with residents to hear their demands. The mayor defended the role of terraces as an element of social and economic revitalization, insisting on the need to find a balance between the establishments' activity and residents' quality of life.
