The City Council of Collado Villalba has once again announced the installation of the Youth Tent in the Dehesa Boyal, an emblematic natural area of the municipality, for the patron saint festivities of San Antonio de Padua in 2026. This decision comes despite the rejection last year of the event's location, which is associated with crowds, high noise levels, and waste generation, in an environment that requires protection.

The measure is contradictory, given that the council invested 15,000 euros in 2023 in information panels about the natural and historical values of the dehesa. Furthermore, on April 30th, the municipal plenary approved a motion by the PSOE for the protection of this area. However, the insistence on hosting a massive nocturnal event that could endanger species such as bats and nocturnal birds of prey persists.

The organization Ecologists in Action has expressed its concern, comparing the situation to other large concerts held in fragile natural spaces. They point out that, in the context of the global ecological crisis, disregarding the conservation of these habitats is "truly suicidal." The planned fireworks, with their noise and fire risk, exacerbate the situation, especially when alternatives like the Recinto Ferial (Fairgrounds) exist.

The environmental organization has submitted a letter to the City Council requesting information on the permits and reports necessary to authorize the activity in this Protected Non-Urban Land. They also denounce the lack of citizen participation in the planning of festive activities and the choice of locations, ignoring the complaints from neighborhood associations, political parties, and over 600 signatures collected on the change.org platform.