A protest in Roda de Berà saw over a hundred residents oppose the installation of acoustic barriers by Adif, claiming they obstruct views and harm the community. Local officials support their cause.
In a significant display of community dissent, more than 100 residents gathered in Roda de Berà on Friday to voice their opposition to the installation of acoustic barriers by Adif along the railway line. The protest comes after Adif dismissed local objections to its project, which aims to erect barriers stretching 14 kilometers between Tarragona and Calafell.
The demonstration included not only local residents but also members of the Mercancías por el Interior platform and various political representatives. Esther Valls, secretary of the Costa Daurada-Berà Neighborhood Association, emphasized the need for these barriers to be removed. She proposed replacing them with shorter screens measuring just 1.5 meters, arguing that they would effectively mitigate noise without obstructing scenic views.
Valls expressed frustration at the current situation, stating that many homes have lost their ocean vistas due to these towering structures, which can reach heights of up to eight meters. “These monumental barriers create a prison-like environment for our community,” she lamented. Over a hundred homes are reportedly affected along this stretch.
The call for change is not limited to aesthetic concerns; it also addresses broader issues regarding train traffic in the region. Eugeni Sedano, spokesperson for Mercancías por el Interior, argued that solutions should focus on addressing the root causes rather than merely mitigating their effects. He advocated for a dedicated freight railway line that runs parallel to high-speed lines but away from populated areas.
The local government has rallied behind its constituents’ demands. On Thursday, Roda de Berà’s municipal council unanimously passed a motion opposing Adif’s plans for acoustic screens. Mayor Pere Virgili expressed his discontent with how negotiations have unfolded, stating that they felt misled during previous discussions with Adif representatives.
“We left our last meeting with assurances from Adif that nothing would proceed without municipal approval,” said Virgili. “Yet here we are facing a project that disregards our input.”
The mayor criticized what he described as an ongoing lack of transparency from Adif and referred to future negotiations as akin to being in a “guardhouse,” suggesting that discussions should not continue after objections have been formally rejected.
This sentiment was echoed by various political figures present at the protest. Josep Maria Cruset from Junts per Catalunya likened the proposed barriers to a modern-day Berlin Wall separating coastal communities from inland areas. He announced plans to request parliamentary hearings involving Minister Óscar Puente for further clarification on this contentious issue.
Xavi Puig from ERC condemned the initiative as an outright assault on local territory made without consensus among stakeholders and urged other municipalities affected by similar projects to take a stand alongside Roda de Berà.
“This is an attack against our territory,” Puig stated emphatically during his remarks at the rally.
The unanimous stance taken by Roda de Berà’s council reflects growing frustration over perceived governmental neglect regarding local needs and preferences when it comes to infrastructure projects affecting communities directly.
The next steps involve continued advocacy efforts by residents and officials alike as they seek intervention from higher authorities such as Spain’s subdelegation government office in Tarragona. For those interested in supporting this cause or learning more about upcoming meetings or protests, updates will be shared through local social media channels and community boards.
You might also be interested in
