PSOE Xàbia denounces work in the town hall building as lacking appropriate authorisation
The local government responded that the work was endorsed “verbally” and meets a historical request to address the building’s climate problems.
PSOE Xàbia has issued a statement denouncing a decision to build a new glass entrance at the top of the stairs of the town hall building, a project that aims to maintain the building’s climate by reducing energy loss through the escape of the heating and air conditioning environment and improve the conditions of the staff who work in it.
The socialists opponents argue that its construction is going to cause irreparable damage to a building that is listed as a BRL (Asset of Local Relevance) and is therefore subject to special protection for its historical and heritage value. In addition, the building is located in the BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest) zone of the church of San Bartolomé which means, for practical purposes, any proposed work is subject to a prior report from the local town hall and the Generalitat Valenciana, as the residents of the historic centre who have carried out work on their own homes know only too well.
The socialists claim that such restrictions don’t seem to apply to the local government body headed by mayor Rosa Cardona and that the project lacks any written report from the Technical, Cultural and Local Heritage department, now has the Ministry of Culture at the Generalitat Valencian been consulted, as is required due to the degree to protection of the building.
In addition, they claim that there has been no public technical study that would validate the 18,000 euro project (which consists of a bulky door that will split the entrance of the town hall building in half) as the best option to maintain the building’s climate. Thus, PSOE Xàbia has requested that the work stop and that the reports required by law be requested, whilst the project also be reported to the Ministry of Culture. And that the local government be subject to the same controls and procedures that are required of Xàbia’s residents.
The councillor responsible for Town Planning, Pere Sapena (PP), has responded that the project is a historical request to tackle the building’s climate problems and that, although no written documentation is available, municipal technicians “endorsed the work verbally“.
