SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife has approved in the Governing Council the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Bishopric of Tenerife and the City Council of Güímar for the financing and execution of the restoration and conservation works of the hermitage of El Socorro.
For the insular president, Pedro Martín, “the improvement of the hermitage is great news for the island, as it allows one of its most emblematic heritage assets to be recovered and valued, and especially for the residents of the municipality of Güímar, being a meeting and devotion point for the people, linked to their culture, history and traditions”.
The president highlighted the joint work between the Cabildo, the City Council and the Bishopric to finance the execution of this improvement project.
“Of the 563,813 euros in which the work has been budgeted, the Cabildo will contribute 53%, 300,000 euros, the Güímar City Council will contribute 151,050 euros, 27%, and the Bishopric, for its part, 112,762 euros, 20% remainder,” Martin explained.
To the item that the Bishopric will contribute, the expenses of the project and of the technical direction will also be added.
Martín highlighted “the heritage and cultural value of the hermitage, which integrates the historical heritage of Tenerife, classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Monument, as well as its surroundings, the Camino del Socorro, with the category of Historic Site”.
On the part of the Cabildo, he indicated in a note, “it will collaborate with both the Bishopric and the City Council in all the actions necessary for the execution of the works, as well as with the technical advice that is necessary for the processing of the action.”
The mayor of Güímar, Gustavo Pérez, indicated that “for the Güímar City Council it is important to take care of the heritage and the Socorro hermitage is a benchmark within the BICs.”
In his opinion, “everything that involves La Bajada del Socorro has to be taken care of because it is our popular reference.”
Pérez added that an agreement of this type guarantees the maintenance of an important asset for the entire island of Tenerife and the Canary Islands. “Historical moments and moments of great feeling for many Güimareros and Güimareras have been lived here,” he said.
The insular director of Planning of the Territory and Historical Heritage, Emilio Fariña, for his part, pointed out that with this tripartite collaboration agreement the impulse of this action is guaranteed to ensure the conservation of the hermitage “and stop the problems of deterioration that the building, especially the roof, affected by rain and the passage of time”.
Fariña clarified that “it is the Bishopric that will put the project out to public bidding and once the work is completed, the conservation and maintenance of the hermitage will pass into its hands, as the owner of the property.”
