Mazarrón strikes balance between rest and revelry with new noise laws
The council wants to “put Mazarrón back on the map of the major music festivals in the Region and Spain”
Mazarrón is working hard to strike a balance between the right to rest and the desire to enjoy nightlife. The town council has started the process of creating a local law to regulate noise and vibrations, with the goal of combining peace and quiet and entertainment in a way that works for everyone.
This happy medium, mayor Ginés Campillo said, is fundamental in “a first-class tourist destination, such as Mazarrón.”
The proposed ordinance will be on public display until March 26 and the mayor hopes to have it approved by April. If there are any objections, the approval date could be delayed until May.
Essentially, the law prohibits bars and restaurants near schools, health centres and cultural venues from having sound equipment on their terraces. This means no music or loud noises that might disturb nearby residents. The same rule applies to outdoor terraces that are less than five metres from homes or in narrow streets with homes on both sides.
The ordinance also sets rules for construction work and other noisy activities. For example, work on public roads and buildings can't be done between 9pm and 7am in residential areas, unless it's an emergency or a matter of public safety. And loading and unloading goods, construction materials and other activities can only be done between 7am and 11pm.
But the ordinance isn’t all about restrictions since it does make exceptions for special events like parades, street festivals and pilgrimages, as long as they're organised and don't get too out of hand. And the town council can give special permission for events that are in the public interest.
The same applies to activities organised by the Town Council for the celebration of Christmas, Easter, Carnival and local festivities.
For Ginés Campillo, the ordinance will be the tool that “provides legal security to promoters of public shows and music festivals interested in landing in our municipality”, something that he considers “vital” to strengthen Mazarrón as a first-class tourist destination.
In this regard, he points out that the local government wants to “revitalise nightlife and for the municipality to regain its leadership in music festivals in the Region of Murcia, as was the case in the 1980s and 1990s.”
In fact, the Mazarrón Town Council is already looking for a location to build a dedicated venue for music festivals and other similar large-scale events.
This should “put Mazarrón back on the map of the major music festivals in the Region of Murcia and Spain.”
The mayor also confirmed that this year the second edition of the OLA Fest will be held, which brought together more than 6,000 people on the esplanade of the Mazarrón port last summer, when the first edition took place.
As for those who break the rules, there will be fines. Drivers who blast their music or use their car alarms excessively can face fines of up to €600. And businesses that don't comply with the noise regulations can face fines of up to €300,000 and even have their licenses suspended.
The ordinance also aims to crack down on the use of firecrackers outside of authorised events and locations. Those who break this rule will face fines of up to €750.
For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today
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