Benitachell residents design a friendlier town
'Critical walk' around town to pin-point problems
MORE THAN 30 residents participated in a walk around Benitachell last Saturday, as they tried to identify problems and provide solutions to aesthetic problems.
The idea stemmed from an initiative by Benitachell town hall, who want the neighbours to help try and change the image of the town to a more traditional yet modern look.
According to the council, the meeting was 'tremendously productive'. The walk started in the large parking area at Placeta dels Mestres. This car park offers excellent panoramic views of the rural landscape (vineyards, riu raus and farmhouses) and you can even see the sea.
However, the favourable view has not been used to make the car park compatible with a tourist lookout. The participants noted that pure asphalt and no shaded seating areas did not give a welcoming impression.
The walk continued through the urban part of town where the participants agreed that the aesthetics of the façades need to be harmonised. Around the many attractive town houses, it was pointed out that the pavements are actually too narrow to use, and priority should be given to pedestrians.
The residents also recognised that there is a lack of identity in certain public spaces, such as the Plaça de les Pesqueres. They advocated introducing trees and landscaping, expanding children's play areas, and encouraging the opening of more shops and restaurants.
Meanwhile, in the Plaça de l'Església, the most historic part of Benitachell, they stated that it should be equipped with attractive urban furniture, and supported the idea of recovering the old coat of arms of thetown that once existed on the pavement in the square.
The walk served to suggest that errors in urban planning can now be transformed into opportunities. With numerous abandoned plots between homes, it was suggested these be transformed into more attractive areas of open spaces with appropriate landscaping.
Another problem detected was that there are no cycle or pedestrian lanes to connect the town with the nearby sports facilities, which lay adjacent to a busy main road.
“The critical walk has given us a new perspective of our town, which has helped us to understand how neighbours perceive the urban space in which they live. We are very pleased that they provided us with critical and accurate insights,” said Jorge Pascual, councillor for land- scape and territory.
“The Landscape Plan is a project for everyone. When we arrived at the local government, we made it clear that our priority was to promote citizen participation. We want our people to be friendlier and the neighbours to be proud of their town. The walk opens our eyes to everyone. It has been a very positive experience, and we will continue working on this line of giving voice to citizens,” said the mayor, Miguel Ángel García.