Mario Simón: Sustainable cities with an enviable quality of life - the city model of the 21st century

An interview with the mayor of Palencia (Spain)

Mario Simón (1978, Palencia) holds a Diploma in Business Sciences (EUEE Valladolid). Before becoming the mayor of Palencia, almost all of his professional career took place in the financial and banking sector, having performed different functions and responsibilities in different localities throughout Spain.

In December 2014, he joined the Ciudadanos political platform, being part of the constitution of its Palencia branch. He was a councillor in the opposition during the 2015-2019 town council. Since 2019, he has been the mayor of Palencia.

Mr. Mayor, how would you describe Palencia for those who have never been there?

Palencia is a medium-sized city of 78,000 inhabitants, a town in the Spanish Midwest, belonging to the community of Castilla y León, with a continental climate. A green, comfortable, welcoming city with a lot of history. It is ideal for family enjoyment, for visiting historic buildings, sacred art, and also a place where you can enjoy a rich gastronomic offer. Everyone who comes to visit Palencia is pleasantly surprised and happy to repeat.

What are the most important economic sectors in your municipality? We would be interested to know more about the connection between Palencia and the world of coffee.

In Palencia, like many surrounding cities, the service sector predominates. Along with this, we have to highlight the important presence of the automobile industry with the FASA Renault factory, and all the related auxiliary companies. Likewise, both in Palencia capital and in the province, the Agro-Food industries are of great importance.

Regarding coffee, Palencia has two of the 5 most important companies in the production of soluble coffee in Europe - PROSOL and SEDA. For this reason, the City Council has promoted synergies for the training of workers in this sector.

Can you explain the idea behind the platform 'Palencia 2030: Smart specialization strategy'? What are the efforts to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas?

This regional project, in which Palencia has a fundamental role, aims to project the province as a reference in the agri-food sector, both regionally and nationally, based on its strategic geographical location, as well as its production volume of winter cereals, milk, and other food production, as well as the research done at the Palencia University. It’s an institution specializing in this segment, having a long history of research and innovation applied to the food industry.

Our goal is turning Palencia into one of the axes of development for the Autonomous Region (of Castilla y Leon) and promoting it as a hub for attracting investment and progress, by highlighting the local agri-food and industrial sectors.

A project that facilitates the resources and tools that allow the creation and development of companies and jobs. Also, one that will help people to settle here by betting on business models based in the territory of our municipality.

Let's talk about strategic plans. What are the details of the Sustainable Mobility Plan? What lessons have been learned from the free bike rental service, available in the past?

One of the main challenges that arise today is to design and build accessible and functional cities, with comfortable and obstacle-free itineraries. Cities like that are not only more sensitive to those who have difficulties getting around, but they are also more competitive and attract a greater number of visitors and tourists.

A challenge that the Palencia City Council has taken up and turned into a firm, serious and solid commitment through actions is to eliminate architectural barriers and improve accessibility. This has been carried out in recent years.

Aware that there is still a long way to go, we continue our efforts to achieve a fully accessible and responsible city with the necessary care and conservation of the environment. We are concerned about the natural legacy that future generations will inherit. To this end, the Comprehensive Plan for Sustainable Mobility of Palencia was launched, which is a useful and effective tool for planning and developing the different modes of urban transport that exist and function in our city. It will allow us to carry out a practical and operational diagnosis to improve both the mobility and the accessibility in the urban core of Palencia.

With regard to bicycles, steps have been taken to favour the use of this means of transport, such as making parking spaces with a video surveillance system and operation based on a mobile application. The idea is to gradually implement this type of parking lots in different parts of the city, in order to facilitate the use of bicycles as a regular means of transport within our city.

Palencia gives the image of being a city that has the welfare of the youngest among its priorities. What are the 'School Paths' and why are they necessary?

The School Paths (Caminos Escolares) walking routes is an initiative promoted by the City Council of Palencia and the Faculty of Education at La Yutera Campus of the University of Valladolid. It is intended as an alternative to motorized transportation of the youngest schoolchildren to their educational centres.

The Caminos Escolares not only contribute to improving the parents' ability to compromise, but also to the socialization and responsibility of the minors themselves. The initiative also improves the environment, by promoting mobility on foot, and lessening road traffic. In addition, it allows the Education students from La Yutera Campus to put into practice the pedagogical knowledge that they are acquiring.

Do you have any advice for the other mayors of medium-sized cities in the European Union?

The responsibility lies not only with the mayors but with all citizens. This concerns, on the one hand, the conservation of our cities and adapting them to more efficient, accessible, sustainable city models, which increase the quality of life of our citizens and, at the same time, conserve and maintain our legacy and environment for future generations. 

Mid-sized cities carry out good management and planning, by applying technology and efficiency to public services in order to offer sustainable municipalities with an enviable quality of life - that is the city model of the 21st century.