The PS in Lisbon City Council requested this Wednesday all the necessary opinions for the placement of large advertising panels in the city and demanded the removal of structures that compromise road safety and the rest of Lisbon residents.
PS Accuses PSD/CDS-PP Leadership of Negligence
In a private city council meeting, the socialist council proposed that Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD) obtain all necessary opinions — both internal and external — regarding road and pedestrian safety. It also suggested changing the location of installed street furniture when justified.
The proposal was not voted on and is awaiting scheduling for discussion at a future city council meeting. In a statement, the PS accused the PSD/CDS-PP leadership of approving the placement of large advertising panels in sensitive areas of the city.
They blamed that this was done without having requested an opinion or assessment from the competent entities in the area of road safety. Therefore, the socialists consider that
The Lisbon City Council (CML) did not safeguard the interests of the city, nor did it take care to protect, as is its obligation, road safety, pedestrian safety and the rest of Lisbon residents.
Request for Reassessment and Safety Improvements
In this context, they urgently request all essential opinions regarding the placement of these advertising panels.
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Based on the conclusions and recommendations obtained, the PS asked for a reassessment of the conditions under which their locations were permitted, removing any panels that compromise safety or disturb the city’s tranquility.
Furthermore, the socialist council expressed perplexity at Carlos Moedas’ statements for shaking water off his coat and blaming the PS for the problem. They reinforced their stance by saying:
It is urgent that the current management of CML can reverse decisions regarding problematic locations, avoiding future damage and losses to Lisbon and its residents.
The PCP councilors also proposed that the local authority obtain opinions from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), and the Portuguese Road Safety Authority (PRP).
They believe that their take on the interference of large multimedia advertising panels on road safety is crucial. The communists requested that the proposal be scheduled as soon as possible.
Left Bloc (BE) and Audit Proposal
The Left Bloc (BE) demanded the study that allowed the location of these advertising panels in the meeting. It also announced that it would propose an audit, criticizing the contract signed between the city council and the company JCDecaux for the installation and operation of advertising in Lisbon.
The BE explained in a statement:
The problems at bus stops continue, with benches that are too high and without lighting, as a result of poor execution of the CML contract. And now, with the installation of advertising panels, we understand that they are a danger to motorists and take up the sidewalks. Moedas says that he is a hostage to the contract signed in the previous term, but the location was decided by the PSD/CDS executive.
Criticism of Advertising Panels By Cidadãos Por Lisboa
The council of Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) argued that the type of advertising panels that have been placed in the city and their locations “are very harmful. It even puts the safety of pedestrians and drivers at risk.
They questioned the contract with JCDecaux and reinforced that it is necessary to guarantee the public interest and safeguard drivers and pedestrians. Moreover, they highlighted the issue of the lack of lighting at bus stops.
In this regard, the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) filed an injunction against the Lisbon municipality and the companies JCDecaux and MOP – Multimédia Outdoors Portugal for the placement of up to 125 large-format digital advertising panels.
The aim is to prevent the operation of large light panels, already installed. However, they also don’t want to allow the installation of new panels of this nature.
ACP pointed out that they are clearly a distraction factor when driving and a huge risk to the safety of everyone, drivers and pedestrians. The ACP member said that:
The ACP is not concerned about the existence of street furniture with digital advertising, only its location and size, which clearly undermine road safety.
Lisbon City Council Defends the Contract
In response to the media, CML stated that the current situation resulted from the public contract for the installation and advertising operation of urban furniture. The contract was awarded to JCDecaux in 2017 during the municipal executive led by socialist Fernando Medina.
Its specifications included the installation and placement of 125 large-format digital panels. The local authority, led by Carlos Moedas (PSD), expressed reservations and doubts about the specifications for the installation of advertising panels and stated that it had requested an opinion from the IMT.
They explained that:
The current executive was thus ‘held hostage’ by a competition and options that were considered in 2017 and that only much later, following several years in court due to lawsuits filed by competitors, finally began to be implemented.
Approval of JCDecaux Concession Contract
Although the process began in the previous municipal executive, the concession contract with JCDecaux for the installation and operation of advertising in Lisbon was approved by the current council, in September 2022.
with 15 votes in favor, of which seven from the PSD/CDS-PP leadership, five from the PS, two from the PCP, one from the BE, and two abstentions from Livre and the independent councilor elected by the PS/Livre coalition.
The concession contract with JCDecaux has a term of 15 years, with the company paying CML an annual remuneration of 8.3 million euros in return.
