First Cáceres Focus Group Held. Experts Address Proximity Challenges in Medium-Sized Cities Peripheries.

 

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Cáceres School of Technology hosted the first focus group of the Entropy research project on the Cáceres Case of Study, aimed at exploring sustainable mobility strategies for the peripheral areas of medium-sized cities. 

Representatives from the City Council of Cáceres, the College of Civil Engineers, the public transport company Vectalia, and the e-mobility consultancy firm Diggia came together to discuss how to implement innovative, sustainable transportation models in suburban districts, using Cáceres’ Northern District as a case study. 

During the session, experts addressed both the opportunities and challenges associated with new developments in urban peripheries. Among the opportunities, they highlighted the potential to design more efficient and eco-friendly transport systems that could reduce congestion in city centres. However, they also identified threats, such as the lack of integration between new developments and the existing urban network, as well as the need for coherent planning to avoid further sprawl. 

Moderated by Andrés Monzón, the Principal Investigator of the project, alongside researcher Mari Luz Brownrigg-Gleeson, the session featured representatives from major shopping centers such as Burgo Centro and La Tortuga, the PRO2 Vocational Training Center, local merchant associations ACLR and PECA, and the Department of Commerce of the Las Rozas City Council.
 
Participants evaluated six mobility strategies currently implemented in the municipality, reflecting on their impact on commerce and the changing habits of consumers. The lively discussion underscored the challenges and opportunities businesses face as Las Rozas pushes for a greener, more accessible future. To conclude, attendees shared insights and recommendations on how to balance sustainable mobility with the needs of the local economy.