‘Outdated’ tower block scheme slammed
RESIDENTS have reacted angrily to plans to radically change the Doña Sinforosa park in Torrevieja, which form part of a scheme to build two tower blocks with 26 floors.
Costa Blanca News reported last week how the town hall has published detailed documents relating to the ‘skyscraper’ project presented by property company Baraka.
Their two tower blocks measuring some 82 metres in height would be built off Avenida Dr Gregorio Marañón
– and directly behind Doña Sinforosa park, which leads onto El Acequión beach near its access from the Marina Internacional.
Since then an online group has been set up to ‘save Doña Sinforosa park’.
The Green party (Los Verdes) sent out a press release stating that they support the aims of the group.
Referring to the tower blocks, they noted their ‘complete opposition to continuing with an outdated urban development model, which is not the way that Torrevieja should be going’.
They stated that the tower block project would ensure that trees in the park which have been there for decades would be erased.
However, the town hall responded that most of the trees would not be touched.
Mayor Eduardo Dolón said ‘improvements’ to Doña Sinforosa park were an ‘obligatory condition’ written into the Baraka scheme.
He noted that public documents show that ‘almost all’ of the trees in the park will remain as they are at the moment.
Added to this, the project will see the area spruced up with new paving, street furniture and lighting, he added.
Town planning officers have given the thumbs up to the tower block scheme, stating that it complies with the modifications made to the Town Plan (PGOU) by a previous Partido Popular council which allow for buildings with up to 30 floors to be constructed in Torrevieja.
They state that the project is ‘viable and economically sustainable’ and claim ‘in essence’ the national coast department (Costas) does not have any present objections.
On the company’s website they state that one of the buildings would be a hotel and the other a private building.
They note that there would be 130 luxury private apartments and 250 apartments for tourists.
THE FINAL meeting to discuss the planned multi-purpose centre for Orihuela Costa was held between representatives of residents and the town hall on Friday.
The federation of residents’ associations (FAOC) reported that the next step is for the architectural project to be drawn up. A FAOC spokesman thanked the councillor for public participation, Almudena Baldó and her department's technicians for putting together all these ideas which were brought up at various meetings since July last year.
The location will be a plot of land in La Zenia between Calles Jade and Madreperla and the complex will take up approximately 5,500m2 with the main building, a car park and an open air auditorium with capacity for over 2,000 people.
The main building will include a basement, library, computing room, gym, large rooms on the ground and first floors, and an indoor auditorium.
The most significant modifications agreed at the last meeting were the indoor auditorium, with capacity for up to 400 people; to increase the amount of the plot that can be built on by approximately 700 square metres; increase the budget by approximately €600,000 to almost €2 million; and ensure the separate areas are aesthetically and functionally connected with the surroundings and are fully accessible.
FAOC said the plans have the mayor’s support and the council indicated that the schedule to carry out the project will depend on the required administrative procedure. They hope to put the contract out to tender before the end of this year.
LAST weekend volunteers from Alfaz’s Protección Civil force patrolled the path to the popular El Faro lighthouse in Albir to ensure walkers were all complying with the current health measures – a measure which will continue this weekend.
The route is especially popular with families who take the opportunity to walk through the Sierra Helada natural park at the weekend. Councillor for security Toni Such highlighted the important role played by Protección Civil, reinforcing the work of the local police at busy times. The volunteers checked social distancing was being maintained and people were wearing a mask.
ONE of the largest recreational areas for families in the Mar Menor area has been opened in Los Alcázares.
The Parque del Gonio – in the area by Avenida Radio Baliza Óscar and Calle Paseo del Gonio at Los Narejos – was inaugurated on Tuesday and covers more than 36,000 square metres.
As well as renovating and adding new children’s play apparatus, the town hall has installed new benches and litter bins, a new callisthenics exercise equipment area, a football pitch, a dog park, a picnic area with wooden tables and barbecues, and a car park.
Councillor for parks María José Bernál said they are also working on a kiosk with a canteen service.
“We want to make this a place where families and friends can come and enjoy a whole day,” she said.
Mayor Mario Cervera said the council is committed to restoring the municipality’s plazas and parks, noting that this one had been abandoned for years.