The decision was taken by the mayor, Rui Moreira, after the majority of political forces expressed, during the executive meeting, their disagreement with the regulation.
PS councillor Rosário Gamboa criticised the fact that the regulation “completely ignores” the proposals of CENA-STE, which, at the suggestion of Rui Moreira, presented a proposal for the document.
“It seems serious to us that the proposal is the same and completely ignores the CENA proposal”, she said, also considering the lack of a monitoring committee, as proposed by the union, “absolutely strange”.
BE councillor Maria Manuel Rola also considered that the document “disregards a large part of public consultation and the people who represent those who carry out the activity”, especially regarding the use of sound amplifiers and noise licenses.
“We deeply regret that nothing was taken into consideration”, she stated, arguing that this is a “highly oppressive” regulation of the activity.
Like the PS and BE, the CDU councilor, Ilda Figueiredo, argued that the document “did not take into account” the opinion of musicians, street entertainers, and the union.
“I regret that this happened and that the same proposal is insisted on. I know there are noise problems that need to be taken into account, but there needs to be some balance and this is not in the proposal,” she said.
Social Democrat Mariana Macedo highlighted the need to regulate the activity and “reconcile the wills” of both entertainers, traders, and residents.
“I don’t know if this is the ideal or perfect regulation, but we have to regulate it, because, as it is, it’s not good. There has to be space and openness so that, at any time, we can improve”, she highlighted.
Proposed rules
The regulation for street entertainers establishes two areas where artists can perform, one with greater tourist pressure, referring to the city’s downtown (zone B), and another with less tourist pressure (zone A, which covers all parishes except the historic center ).
In zone A, entertainers are exempt from paying fees, and, in zone B, a reduction of 70% of the value set out in the municipal fee table applies, which sets one euro per day.
Performances may take place between 10:00 and 22:00, with performances not permitted in the vicinity of residential buildings between 20:00 and 08:00, next to schools, health units, less than five meters away from intersection or walkways, in front of entrances or steps to train, metro and other stations.
Avenida dos Aliados, Praça do General Humberto Delgado, Praça D. João I, Largo Amor de Perdição, on the sidewalk in front of Jardim do Palácio de Cristal and less than 10 meters (on each side) from bus stops The activities of street entertainers are prohibited.
In all performances, sound amplification is prohibited, considering the regulations that the entertainer must “seek to minimise noise disturbance and make coexistence compatible with homes, commercial spaces, hospital establishments or schools”.