José Manuel Bermúdez has just turned 57 years old. A celebration that has coincided with his first hundred days at the head of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, in which he faces his third term together with the Popular Party as a government partner. Bermudez He is excited about the great challenges that the city faces in the coming years. A new Santa Cruz of the 21st century that, he hopes, will create a more sustainable capital.
-What is the roadmap for the next four years?
“I have the illusion that it is going to be the most productive legislature of the last three terms. There are many issues that have been worked on for years and that will finally be finished in the next four years, while many others will finally be started. I trust that many good things are going to happen.”
-Could you detail some of these actions?
“We will continue with the street paving plan and with the works on the coast, some historic ones that will already be put into service, such as Valleseco, at the end of the year, and others that we will begin with the closure of the Palmetum ring or the Las Teresitas beach dam. The more than 300 new parking spaces on said beach have also been completed and the city’s soccer fields are being rehabilitated, as well as new sports centers that we did not have, such as the one in María Jiménez. We are also going to boast of having a cleaner and more sustainable coastline with the zero discharge plan, whose works are being carried out to achieve this goal in 2025. Likewise, spectacular playgrounds will be created in the five districts, which will be put into operation next year. service, and the reform of the Viera y Clavijo park and the Masonic temple has already begun.”
-Are we talking about a new Santa Cruz?
“From a better Santa Cruz. We have always said that there are essential characteristics of our city that we do not want to change, but rather to improve and, in this sense, there will be a new city that, without abandoning its essence, will improve in these coming years. It will be a very productive legislature from the point of view of what citizens will notice in their neighborhood, on their street and in their district.”
-And speaking of works, how are those at Viera and Clavijo going?
“Nothing has been decided, because the works have just begun, but I think that in this enclave there should be something linked to culture and that adds value to the city from a local, national and international point of view. “We are investing 11 million euros in rehabilitating a park that cannot be used for offices.”
-As for the Heliodoro, would you allow its transfer, as has been stated?
“The problem with the stadium lies in the capacity, which could reach a maximum of 25,000 spectators. I believe that the Cabildo’s actions should focus on developing a rehabilitation project to turn it into a modern infrastructure, where concerts can be held without affecting the grass and with technology that allows shows to be held before or after the games. But in terms of capacity, it will not be able to grow from an urban planning point of view, because it is very difficult to make more stands due to the limitations of the neighboring buildings or the nearby BIC of Viera and Clavijo Park. I trust that this is the path that the Cabildo takes, because in no case am I going to allow the stadium and headquarters of the Tenerife Sports Club to leave Santa Cruz. If they want to build a new one in the capital there is land for it, in the Southwest district or in the future land of the Refinery, but I do not admit that it leaves the capital because Tenerife and Santa Cruz are the same. Even the team’s shield is that of the city. because here he was born, here he has played all his life and here he has his headquarters.”
-The connection of the city with its coastline passes through the Port. Are there agreements between both parties?
“The Port is working on a project that will exceed one hundred million euros, which will consist of a large building with a commercial area and offices that will be the gateway for cruise passengers to the city. We are going to seek this amount as we did for Valleseco beach, through the Cabildo, Government of the Canary Islands and Spain and the City Council, since the objective is to sign this agreement so that the Port can begin a work that will be very important for Santa Cruz. Another thing we have asked for is that the capital needs more parking in the downtown area and, in this sense, the Port has a large esplanade in front of the Cabildo that is called to be a city. For this reason, we request its dual use throughout the year, since the idea is to hold concerts for more than 20,000 attendees. Another issue is the Palmetum ring, a project that will allow us to create infrastructure for bathing and sports in a dignified and paved environment around this enclave. The project is being drafted and what we intend is for the Port or us to do it, but with their collaboration.”
-And what does the Port ask for in exchange?
“He wants us to take charge of the San Andrés highway, because the maintenance, lighting and paving of this road, from Paso Alto to Cueva Bermeja, is port-related. He asks us for the City Council to take on these works and if there is good collaboration everything will be able to move forward.”
-How are relations with the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Tenerife going?
“The change is evident. Now it is the Government that asks me for an appointment and not the other way around, which happened in the previous PSOE mandate, where we never met. Although I would like to exclude the former president, Ángel Víctor Torres, with whom I always had a good relationship. But the rest of his government was not affordable for Santa Cruz. Regarding the Cabildo now there is no color, since we have been the first municipality that President Rosa Dávila has visited. The only thing I ask of both institutions is that they treat me as what I am. I am the capital of Tenerife and co-capital of the Canary Islands. We are also the most populated municipality on the Island and the second in the Archipelago. I have 208,000 inhabitants and 40,000 vehicles enter Santa Cruz every day, which must be attended to. What cannot be is that in the last budget that the PSOE made for Santa Cruz we were treated the same as Fasnia, granting us 6.5 million euros of nominated items, when said municipality has 2,600 inhabitants.”
-Is the unblocking of negotiations what has promoted so many projects for the city?
“That’s how it is. That’s why I’m so excited, because now there are many things that can be reactivated. In this sense, we have asked the Government, and I would like the next budget to reflect some impact, to invest in the Highway Area in the burying of the TF-4, which runs from the Auditorium to the Palmetum and the entrance axis to the city from the south. It is the only point in the entire city where port and urban traffic mix, which is why during rush hours a significant collapse is generated.”
-What is planned for Cabo Llanos, once the Refinery is moved to the Port of Granadilla?
“The future City of Justice will be located in this area, which will generate more traffic as all the courts in the metropolitan area are concentrated. To this will be added Santa Cruz Verde 2030, a long-term project in which work is now being done based on the decontamination of the soil and the dismantling of the Refinery. It will take a while to see results, but while the planning of the land is being prepared with the Council and the Government, there are 573,000 free square meters that will be used in new homes and companies, whether in the tourism sector, communications or the knowledge industry. . It will be a city of the 21st century, more sustainable and an example worldwide.”
Will implementing the Low Emissions Zone be delayed?
“It is an obligation that Europe imposes on us, but we have asked for an extension because we will not be able to implement it from January 1, 2024. It will be done progressively. The resident will be able to enter with his car, even if it is polluting for a period, but it will be the visitor who will not be able to do so, and will have to park at the port. For this reason, there will be a sustainable mobility plan, prioritizing public or personal transport with scooters and electric bicycles, as a cycle network is planned.”
