Agreement Reached After Safety Concerns
The Poblenou fairground will take place from 10 to 20 September at its usual site on Paseo Calvell, after the Barcelona City Council and fairground operators resolved a dispute over safety concerns linked to nearby construction work. The council had initially deemed the area incompatible with the fair due to ongoing works at Poblenou park, raising difficulties in ensuring public safety during large gatherings. This led to tensions between the Sant Martí district and the Guild of Fairground Operators of Barcelona and Province, which warned that cancellation would deprive around 40 families of vital seasonal income.
The priority has always been and will be the safety of people.
A meeting held on Monday between the district and the organising streets of the Poblenou main festival led to an agreement. The city council confirmed that the fairground will continue in its habitual space, provided essential adjustments are made to align with the construction site.
Operators Satisfied with Outcome
The Guild of Fairground Operators had insisted the site was viable, noting that managers of the construction works raised no objections to coexistence. They argued that Paseo Calvell was the only location in Poblenou with sufficient space to meet emergency access requirements for ambulances and evacuation routes. Marcos Orús, president of the Guild, had previously stated that the fair’s exclusion felt discriminatory, especially after the site was used recently for the Beer Fair with only minor adjustments. Operators plan to visit the area on Wednesday to begin adapting installations to meet safety conditions. The city council expects final approval of the fair’s layout and attractions to be completed by Tuesday. Officials reiterated that the fairground was never denied outright, with decisions guided by public safety protocols.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by en.ara.cat, elperiodico.com, europapress.es, Districte 10. Sant Martí, El Periódico Barcelona.
