In the Montecarmelo district of Madrid, discontent has once again flared among residents. The cause is a project to build a base for the emergency cleaning service—a plan city authorities continue to push forward despite clear local opposition. The capital’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has insisted the facility won’t be industrial, but residents consider this a blatant lie.
A court ruling issued back in April classified the planned base as industrial infrastructure, meaning it requires a separate environmental assessment. Moreover, official city documents have repeatedly emphasized the industrial nature of the site, directly contradicting statements from municipal officials. This has sparked a wave of outrage among residents, who have been fighting for years against the construction of such a facility in their neighborhood.
Conflict Escalates
City Hall claims the new base will only have changing rooms for staff and that there will be no constant movement of vehicles. However, residents of Montecarmelo insist this is actually a large-scale industrial complex spanning 10,000 square meters, with plans to accommodate 117 vehicles. They believe the authorities are ignoring their concerns and acting against the will of the majority.
According to polls, support for the ruling party in the area has dropped sharply. While more than 60% of voters used to support it, that figure has now fallen to 24%. Amid the scandal, the VOX party has become the most popular in Montecarmelo, and would receive 28% of the vote if elections were held today.
Residents’ response
The Montecarmelo neighborhood association and the platform opposing the construction issued a strong statement. They accused the mayor and the official in charge of urban planning, Borja Carabante, of spreading misinformation. Their statement highlights that the word “industrial” appears 13 times in the official documents, making it pointless to deny the real nature of the project.
Residents have called the project an “urban planning mistake” and point to the lack of dialogue from the city hall. They say officials have not responded to repeated meeting requests or to a petition, signed by more than 14,000 people, calling for a green space instead of the planned facility. People are convinced their opinions are being ignored and decisions are being made without considering local interests.
Political response
Opposition to the project has come not only from residents, but also from opposition parties. VOX, PSOE and Más Madrid supported moving the facility to the neighboring district of Las Tablas, a proposal backed by six local associations as well. However, city officials rejected this option, citing technical and urban planning challenges.
Despite widespread discontent, the city council has no intention of abandoning its plans. After a court ruling classified the facility as an industrial site, authorities appealed the decision to the High Court of Madrid (TSJM). The case is currently under review, and the fate of the controversial project remains undecided.
Outlook and expectations
Residents of Montecarmelo continue to stand their ground: they are demanding the cancellation of the construction project and the creation of a green space on the disputed land. Authorities, for their part, claim to be open to dialogue but, in practice, have not engaged. The conflict is escalating, and the neighborhood is still awaiting a final court decision.
In case you weren’t aware, José Luis Martínez-Almeida has served as mayor of Madrid since 2019 and is known for his tough stance on urban development. His administration has repeatedly faced criticism for a lack of transparency and communication with residents. In recent years, Montecarmelo has become one of the fastest-growing areas in the capital, where issues of ecology and infrastructure are especially important to locals.
