Milan councillors seek health review of new San Siro stadium
Milan City Council has called for a public health assessment before Inter and AC Milan’s new stadium can be approved, but the non-binding motion does not halt the project.
Milan councillors voted 22 to six on November 9 to ask the city’s executive to suspend the current environmental assessment for Generali Stadium and replace it with a review covering the full redevelopment and its potential effects on residents’ health.The motion drew support from centre-right councillors and members of the centre-left majority, but the municipal executive is under no obligation to implement it.Mayor Beppe Sala said: “I respect the City Council’s opinion, but the council will respect the fact that I do not intend to have second thoughts. We will discuss it in the executive, but I have no intention of having second thoughts about the stadium.”The motion calls for a single assessment covering construction of the new stadium, partial demolition of the existing San Siro, site clearance, transport and the handling of demolition waste, so that the combined effects of the work can be assessed.Councillors also want the review to consider nearby developments, including the former trotting track, and examine whether retaining and modernising the existing stadium would be a viable alternative.Early works envisaged under the current design include rerouting the Patroclo tunnel, with new connections to the underground car parks planned for Generali Stadium.Under the motion, the health assessment would be published before approval of the implementation plan, and the project could proceed only if it met health protection requirements.Councillors want any measures needed to protect residents written into planning approvals and agreements, with clear deadlines, named parties responsible for carrying them out and consequences if they are not met.The proposed assessment would cover nearby homes, schools and medical facilities, with particular attention to children, older residents and others who could be more vulnerable to pollution or disruption from the works.The motion also asks the administration to set out within 15 days how it intends to respond, including the likely timetable and costs, and to provide progress reports at least quarterly.Sala signalled that he intended to keep the redevelopment moving despite the vote, saying: “We have talked about it for three years; everyone can do as they see fit, but I will continue to be a consistent man, and I will try to move forward on the stadium path.”