Call for Immediate and Long-Term Access Improvements
The municipal group of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) at Lleida City Council, known locally as La Paeria, has formally called for urgent action to improve safety and accessibility at the entrance to Club Tennis Urgell. This follows a meeting with club representatives who raised concerns about current conditions affecting access, mobility, and safety around the facility. Xavier Estrada, ERC’s spokesperson for sport, highlighted risks posed by inadequate horizontal and vertical signage, limited road width, obstructive roadside vegetation reducing visibility, and insufficient lighting. These issues, he said, could endanger both pedestrians and vehicles, particularly as the access route is regularly used by families, young people, and children. "We’re not just talking about comfort, but safety," Estrada stated. "Daily users include many young people and children, and simple interventions can reduce risks immediately. First, we must listen to the club, conduct a serious technical assessment, and act where improvements are clearly needed."
Two-Pronged Approach Proposed
ERC will bring a dual proposal to the Informative Commission on City Management, a municipal body responsible for urban planning and infrastructure coordination under the city’s governance framework. The first measure calls for a comprehensive technical study of the access route to determine necessary long-term upgrades to accessibility, mobility, and safety. The findings and proposed actions must be reported back to the commission. Simultaneously, ERC insists that immediate, low-cost interventions should not be delayed. These include reinforcing road markings, upgrading signage, trimming vegetation to restore visibility, and checking and improving lighting at deficient points. The group also invites municipal services to implement any other quick road safety measures they deem necessary. "Some solutions may require broader planning, but that doesn’t prevent us from acting now on maintenance and safety fixes we can do quickly," Estrada added. "If we can improve a road marking, clear obstructing plants, or fix a dark spot, there’s no reason to wait."
Safe Access as Part of Sport Promotion
Jordina Freixanet, ERC’s lead spokesperson at the council, framed the initiative as part of a broader commitment to ensuring dignified and safe access to sports facilities. She stressed that promoting sport means not only supporting activities inside clubs but also guaranteeing safe passage to them. "When we talk about promoting sport, we must also consider the conditions under which people reach these facilities," Freixanet said. "A venue may function well internally, but the council must ensure getting there is safe, especially for children and youth. These actions may not make big headlines, but they concretely improve people’s daily lives." ERC emphasizes that improvements must be developed in close coordination with the entities using the facilities daily. The group will push the city government to specify both the planned technical analysis and the immediate measures that can be taken without delay. Club Tennis Urgell, located at Partida de Balàfia, 71, is a key local institution, managing the municipal tennis school and recently reporting financial stability with projected surpluses for 2026. It has also been active in promoting tennis among schoolchildren across Lleida through outreach programmes.
Reported by ercpaeria.cat, paeria.cat, tennisurgell.com, contractaciopublica.cat.
