Residents of Largo de Mompilher and Rua da Conceição in Porto say the noise is unbearable

Residents of Largo de Mompilher and Rua da Conceição say the situation has become unbearable and that they feel they have little support.

In the daytime, they face the relentless noise from multiple building renovation projects; once night falls, the sound shifts to what comes with the bars’ operation. In Rua da Conceição and Largo de Mompilher, in central Porto, locals say they cannot properly rest and believe the municipal authority is not backing them.

Building works noise leaves residents without respite

The disruption caused by the reconstruction contracts is described as “deafening”, and it is said to affect older residents in particular - including the mother of Ana Correia. “She’s 80 years old, she’s here all day and all night and she doesn’t rest; she can’t sleep in the daytime or at night,” the resident told JN.

“It’s terrifying to live here”

Living in Largo de Mompilher, residents say, means being exposed to several kinds of city noise for extended periods. “During the day it’s building work, deliveries and collections for the bars, and the refuse workers, who also do collections at that time. At night we’re bothered by people who go to the bars. After the venues close, at around 2.30 am, we get the noise of motorbikes. Then around 3.30, 4 am, we have three different rubbish lorries that come to collect. So that’s how it is: when we finally manage to fall asleep, after 4 in the morning, by about 8-something it’s immediately the noise of the building works again. This is our life…,” Ana explained.

On the nearby Rua da Conceição, a resident who did not want to be identified - fearing reprisals - said the street’s rhythm has changed completely, going from a quiet place to a hub for nightlife. For her, the presence of the bars “is a disgrace”. “It’s deafening, it’s awful, and on top of that there’s the chaos it creates among people - sometimes they end up fighting, they stop there in the middle of the street during the night, at 3, 4 in the morning, laughing, blasting loud music… it’s terrifying to live here,” she said.

“Down there on the street it’s difficult; you can’t sleep through the night, because the noise isn’t just from the bars - it’s from people walking along the street, yelling, shouting… We’re at home and you just can’t sleep; it feels like the noise is inside the bedroom. And when we do happen to nod off for a bit, you wake up straight away with that noise,” another resident added.

Several people told JN that the building works mainly disturb older residents, who over time have, in their words, become used to the bar noise. One person even said that no longer being able to hear the commotion is seen as a “blessing of age”.

Complaints to the police and the council, but no change

Most residents spoken to by JN did not want to be named, saying they were afraid of reprisals, but they all said they rely on medication to be able to rest.

Faced with what they describe as a relentless situation, there have been numerous complaints to both the police and the City Council, though without the results residents wanted. The municipality has a nightlife regulation with several restrictions, including limits on selling alcohol to be taken onto the street, and it recently launched a campaign promoting healthy coexistence in the nightlife area in the city centre.