The Almuñécar municipal market has become yet another squabbling point between political parties – something to score points off.
On the one side we have the CA, which is Benavides’ party, accusing the Mayor, Trinidad Herrera, of attempting to deceive the stall holders, and claiming that her real intentions became known during a meeting with them, where she reportedly revealed the idea of demolishing the market building after the summer, instead of carrying out repair work that would permit the underground park to be reopened for summer.
The CA considers that the Mayor is lying when she says that there are no funds because the Town Hall holds a bank guarantee placed by Hermanos Garcia, who hold the parking lease, which can be used by the Town Hall to carry out the work.
The Mayor’s proposal to find alternative and provision parking along Calle Nueva would not solve the accessibility problem for the market, the CA considers, and merely extends the “ruinous” decision to close the parking in the first place.
The CA press release goes on to claim that the Mayor lied to the stall holders when she stated that she would respect their wishes, because they have already voted against the demolition option and for the immediate reopening of the underground car park. Now, the Mayor has said that the decision would be taken after summer, leaving the parking closed during the whole of summer, when it is most needed.
So, what does the Mayor say? She says that it is evident that the Town Hall is working in the best interest of everybody, adding that there was to be a meeting on the 16th of April with the Hermanos Garcia, and if they did not carry out the necessary work on the installations, the lease agreement would be cancelled and a new concession given, under which the new lease holders would run the car park, the stall holders would continue to occupy the ground floor and the Town Hall would take over the first floor above it.
As for the accusations levied by the CA concerning her already entered into an agreement with a large department store, who would be given the plot once the demolition is carried out, she demanded that the CA backed up their claims with proof.
Meanwhile, in the middle, as association of stall holders has been making itself heard. They gave the Mayor ten days to force Hermanos Garcia to carry out the necessary work on the parking, and if this was met by a refusal, to confiscate the bank guarantee belonging to the company and for the Town Hall to carry out the repair work themselves. The association also demands that the Town Hall sets aside funds from the municipal budget for the market building.
“In the case that they do not take into account out demands,” said the association’s Spokesman, Javier González, “we will be forced to put pressure on the Town Hall to act, as the situation cannot be prolonged any further.”
He says that after their meeting with the Mayor, the association completely rejected the official proposal, as it put the situation back to square one and negated the wishes of the stall holders. He considers putting things back to October as inadmissible because of the continued deterioration of the structure.
So, in conclusion, the stall holders appear to share the view of the CA and are not happy in the least with what the Town Hall is doing, or better said, not doing.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)