The La Laguna City Council declared yesterday that the development of an action plan to combat noise has commenced, serving as a vital tool to assess and mitigate noise pollution within the municipality. This initiative includes the review and updating of the Strategic Noise Map from 2018, aiming to devise specific measures that ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment for all residents.
The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez (PSOE), highlighted the significance of this measure yesterday: “This noise map will enable us to understand the acoustic situation of the municipality, pinpointing the areas most affected by this kind of pollution, and to design effective strategies that facilitate adherence to current regulations.” He continued, “Our primary focus will be to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens against any sound disturbance that exceeds the established limits without the necessary authorisation.”
In this regard, he emphasised that “it is essential for all involved parties to work together to foster a more respectful, sustainable, and healthy municipality in the long term, where leisure, mobility, and professional activities do not hinder the adequate rest of the population.”
The plan, which has been assigned to the public agency Gesplan for technical execution, is structured into various phases that consist of acoustic modelling of the municipality using GIS technology, public consultation of the document, approval by the plenary assembly, and subsequent monitoring of the actions implemented.
Among its aims are the assessment of areas with heightened noise exposure, the establishment of corrective measures, the protection of quiet zones, and compliance with European, national, and regional regulations regarding noise pollution.
The Councillor for the Environment, Domingo Galván (CC), remarked yesterday that “this initiative will help bolster La Laguna’s reputation as a leader in the Canary Islands in environmental planning.” He added, “The formulation of this plan will significantly reduce noise pollution and notably enhance the quality of the urban environment, with particular focus on our historical centre and the most densely populated residential areas.”
This initiative, anticipated to span approximately nine months, also includes awareness campaigns and opportunities for citizen participation.
