On May 28 Marta Farrés (PSC) revalidated the mayorship with 14 councilors, who gave her her first absolute majority. In the constituent assembly, he extended his hand to the opposition groups, organizations and companies to “come together and find more and better ideas for Sabadell”. He encouraged us to achieve “what unites us and not what separates us”. He speaks fast, like a bullet. He smiles a lot. On the agenda, strategic challenges: 500 public flats, the strong commitment to the North Roundabout, attracting more industry, parks against the climate emergency and improving mobility.
How do you approach the challenge of mobility in the center of Sabadell? The Passeig car park has been inoperative for some time.
The next step is to rescue the concession of the operator, Saba. This will allow us to reduce the access ramp by half and organize the accesses from Plaça de l’Àngel. We are studying how to transform via Massagué, to give it more life. We want to widen sidewalks, plant trees…, but also ensure that drivers can get to the center and park. It is compatible to promote walking and commerce. If not, we will kill the center.
How will the low emission zone be applied?
We have the Next Generation. We will start it in 2024 in the centre, with a small pilot test, with trial and error. We don’t want to chase the driver or collapse adjacent streets, as we’ve seen in other cities. The best way to remove vehicles from the Gran Via, Strasbourg or Ponent is with the Nord roundabout. It is vital for the internal mobility of Sabadell and the Vallès connection.
With the departure of the Minister of Territory, Juli Fernàndez, and the entry of Ester Capella, will the construction be derailed?
I wish for it, hope for it and almost beg for it. The agreement in the territory, with Sabadell, Terrassa and Castellar del Vallès, is unanimous and increasingly strengthened. I hope that the Generalitat fulfills its commitments.
But it is an environmental threat.
It will achieve the minimum environmental impact. We have carried out studies on where this round has to pass and it can go underground on Avinguda de les Palmeres, with a 2 2, without impacting the forest… It is possible and we know how to do it. The political decision must be made to unblock it.
On the part of the central government, there is indeed this will.
Of course. I always say that if it wasn’t done right, we’d be the first to stop it. We want the North Roundabout, but done well, a viable project.
We are in the midst of a climate emergency. Has the surf wave pool project, Surf City, been closed for good?
It is a project in which I strongly believe, but I understand the doubts that exist and they are reasonable. City Council reports state that there is no environmental impact. In order to have the maximum guarantees, we have asked the Generalitat to make another report, which is not binding, and thus have the gaze of an external observer. If it impacts the Ripoll River, Surf City will be paralyzed.
Increasing public housing is another challenge.
right This mandate will not be for major works, but for improving public services and housing, that is key. Among different options (Vimusa, cooperatives, purchase of occupied flats…), we will get 500 public housing.
Some big project is there…
Yes! We are about to buy the Gas Museum (closed since 2018) to transform it into the Sabadell Textile History Museum, with relevant collections such as that of the Antoni de Montpalau Foundation, the most important in the country, with 17,000 haute couture and ready-to-wear dresses and 30,000 designs.
