The mayor of La Orotava, Francis Linaresappeared this Tuesday with his government team to show their rejection of the new Master Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) for the Teide National Park and expressed “concern” with this matter in the face of numerous complaints from citizens and multiple groups.
The first institutional representative stressed that regulation, protection and control are advocated, “as is logical”, but stressed that they are in favor of a plan “with common sense, but not with a document that is based on the prohibition”.
So he said He asked that “it be returned and start from scratch, extending the deadlines and letting the public participate.”
In his opinion, “the Teide National Park it is from Tenerife and not from the politicians of the day or from the technicians, and a document of this magnitude that will regulate the park for the next 30 years needs more time, more debate and more reflection”.
In this line, he also expressed concern about the concern that various affected groups have expressed to him, such as beekeepers, hikers and athletes, “people who surely do take care of the park.”
Another of the aspects that worries – Linares underlined – is security, “because of 24 hours, no less than twelve is without surveillance.”
And in this sense He also demanded that a space for the Civil Guard be reinstalled in the park as it was until about twelve years ago, because now both its agents and those of the Local Police are the ones who have to go in case of any incident “being an hour away”.
It is also very worrying, he said, the mobility plan that contemplates how displacement and parking will be carried out within the park, among other things.
OPPOSES RESIDENTS PAYING
Linares showed his “total rejection” of residents paying and continued his defense that tourists should pay, even if it is one euro for the maintenance of the area, since it represents an annual investment of four million euros for the Cabildo.
Although with regard to this point, he also pointed out that it would be necessary to reflect on how many visits the park must support since it receives more than four million a year, being the first in Spain and the second in Europe.
The mayor also expressed his surprise at the appearance in the media of an image of the infrastructure that could be used for parking lots, and asserted that if this large construction in the park and surroundings is really contemplated in the plan, since it is planned in three points.
“I will actively oppose it as mayor because it is simply inadmissible and it is not the philosophical spirit that the park has,” he said.
Linares also advocated the creation of a public shelter, blended into the environment, being able to use existing spaces and adapt them, so that citizens have the opportunity to stay and also enjoy in this environment.
He also explained that the National Park has an area of approximately 19,000 hectares, of which 13,000 (almost 70%) are from La Orotava, and therefore the municipality contributes its own resources to cover services such as solid waste collection.
In addition, historically, and before it was declared a national park in 1954, it has been cared for and protected by the residents of the town, especially those from the upper area, and from the neighboring municipalities.
Thus, there are fourteen towns on the island that adjoin this natural space, “which should also be consulted and have their opinion,” he said.
