Pedro Martin He clarified that “there is still no exact data” of the investment that the Cabildo will carry out in La Orotava in the coming years, “since there are many contributions that are not yet reflected in the island accounts.” The mayor of villero, Francisco Linares (CC), recalled that among the projects with a commitment to execute “for the next six or seven years”, with a contribution of 80% by the Cabildo, include the improvement of seven kilometers of the TF -21, whose cost is estimated at 41 million euros; the reform of the auditorium, valued at about 7 million; the new geriatric residence, budgeted at around 9 million, and various road actions whose cost exceeds 2 million euros.
The visit began with a meeting between the members of the island government; the PSOE and Assembly spokespersons for La Orotava, María Jesús Alonso and Aida Salazar; the CC spokesperson, Narciso Pérez, and the mayor himself. After this work meeting, Martín and Linares appeared before the media to show their good harmony and willingness to cooperate. The nationalist president publicly thanked “the institutional loyalty” of the Insular Government, “which has given continuity to the projects that had been planned in previous terms.”
In the opinion of Linares, «The big goals» of local planning come from what was agreed «ten years from now» and thanked Pedro Martín and his advisers for “keeping intact all the commitments and lines of work that came from previous mandates, although in some cases they did not yet have the financial record.”
Among the projects of more immediate execution, Linares cited the improvement of the road that connects Santa Úrsula with the old Recodo, in La Orotava, through the Humboldt viewpoint and the urban area, «where in a second phase the creation of a section of bike lane ». He defined it as “an arterial road” for the Villa. Another “short-term” action is the resurfacing and improvement of Nelson Mandela Avenue, the main access to the town from El Ramal. “Another imperative need,” he declared. Both actions will cost more than two million euros.
“In the long term”, Linares referred to Teobaldo Power, “which could be partially renovated in 2015, but we did not want to make a simple facelift, but a comprehensive reform that leaves for the future a dignified and fit audience. We are already in the last phase of reforming the project, adapted to current regulations ”. One of the requests of the local government (CC) is that the Cabildo extend the term of the Island’s Cultural Infrastructure Plan until 2026, “since it will be impossible to finish this project, tender and execute it before 2023, which is when it expires.” .
The island president, Padro Martín, picked up the glove, described as The reform of Teobaldo Power is essential and he assured that “deadlines and margin” will be sought so that this work is not left out of the aforementioned plan, “looking for the regulatory fit and solving the necessary paperwork because we are talking about a space that has special protection for being a historical heritage of undoubted value”. Linares acknowledged that one of his objectives is that the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (OST) can return to the Teobaldo Power Auditorium after the reform, “and that part of the Canary Islands Music Festival can also be offered in La Orotava.”
The great pending work, and a priority for the local government (CC), is the improvement of the six kilometers of the TF-21 that separate the Hacienda Perdida and Aguamansa, through the urban centers of Barroso, Colombo, Cañeño and Camino de Chasna. A road that is also the main access to the Teide National Park from the north. There are about 40 million euros to complete the section that has been pending since 2008. The project is still in the drafting phase and its execution is estimated to take about six years. Linares expects the agreement to be signed in 2022.
With respect to new geriatric center, which should replace the old hospital in San Francisco, closed since 2013, Pedro Martín said that it is “an outstanding debt with La Orotava.” It will be built near La Boruga, on a 27,000-square-meter plot donated by the City Council, with 100% insular financing (about 9 million euros). Martín added that “it does not seem reasonable that we should be happy to have found a location in the squares of the old Hospital de la Santísima Trinidad in the Hospital del Norte.”
Martín recalled that the island administration has allocated more than 600,000 euros to employment programs in La Orotava or that “now we are collaborating on issues that were previously addressed to us, such as social assistance or technical advice and computer support.”
«The joint work of the Cabildo with the La Orotava City Council It is not substantiated only with a meeting, it is a continuous commitment, for a long time, acquired by this team of the island government for a matter of institutional loyalty and also to ensure that commitment with the citizens, “said Pedro Martín before starting the tour that He took him to visit some of the areas that are intended to be improved with island and municipal funds, such as Polígono San Jerónimo or Las Palmeras.
