SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tenerife Cabildo has sanctioned an increase of one million euros in grants for the restoration of properties of cultural significance, aimed at individuals, businesses, and homeowner associations.
With this new funding, the total budget allocated for the preservation of historical heritage rises to three million euros.
This was announced by the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, alongside the island’s vice president, Lope Afonso, during a press briefing held this Wednesday following the Government Council meeting.
Dávila remarked that these grants signify “the most substantial economic commitment made by the corporation in this domain, and this decision is a response to the unprecedented number of applications received, totalling 210, which indicates an increase of 25% in comparison to the previous year.”
With this funding, she added, “the Cabildo reiterates its pledge to preserve the historical heritage of Tenerife, offering property owners the most favourable conditions for the conservation of their estates.”
The grants, intended for both natural and legal entities, cover 50% of the project costs, up to a maximum of 30,000 euros per recipient.
Depending on the applicant’s financial status, the coverage rate may reach as high as 100%.
These grants facilitate crucial interventions on properties of cultural value, including maintenance, conservation, restoration, consolidation, and modernisation or replacement of supply networks, water sanitation, and electrical systems.
Additionally, the president announced the Government Council’s agreement regarding the contract for slope rehabilitation and consolidation works on eight significant roads across the island. This measure aims to enhance road safety and mitigate the risk of landslides in prone areas.
With an investment exceeding 390,000 euros, this initiative aims to bolster the safety of Tenerife’s roads through targeted interventions at vulnerable locations.
The scheduled works involve the stabilization and reinforcement of slopes on the following routes: TF-13 (La Laguna-Tegueste), TF-21 (Las Cañadas), TF-82 (Santiago del Teide), TF-134 (Taganana), TF-629 (Arico), and TF-28 (La Cisnera).
In those sections, areas at potential risk of landslides have been identified, and they will be secured to improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
FIBRE OPTICS FOR THE TEIDE VISITOR CENTRES
Furthermore, within the domain of Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Security and Emergencies, the UTE Conservación, Asfalto y Construction SA (Unipersonal)-Domaser Canaria SLU has been awarded the contract for the implementation of fibre optics in the visitor centres of the Teide National Park for approximately 3.9 million euros and a completion timeline of 10 months.
Additionally, a budget of 1 million euros was approved for the public company Tragsa for the renewal of signage within the Teide National Park.
Moreover, a collaborative agreement was sanctioned between the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies area of the Tenerife Cabildo and Red Eléctrica for the execution of the ‘Fire prevention actions, enhancement of natural and agricultural biodiversity, and reactivation of medians on Baja-Teno Island’ project.
The Government Council also granted a commission to the public company Gesplan for the execution of a comprehensive management service for various recreational areas, which includes incident repair, cleaning, assistance, and information services for these spaces.
This initiative entails an expenditure of 876,451.81 euros and is scheduled to take place from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
IMPROVING IRRIGATION WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
In addition, the vice president of the Cabildo, Lope Afonso, reported on the approval of several targeted capital contributions for the public business entity Balsas de Tenerife (Balten), totalling 750,961.21 euros.
This funding will facilitate budget enhancements for various projects, including the establishment of permanent seawater desalination facilities in Isla Baja, the installation of photovoltaic energy at the Balten headquarters, the capacity assessment of the Los Laureles Well, and the implementation of the hydroelectric plant in the Isla Baja complex.
Afonso noted that “these initiatives will finance project execution, reduction of electricity consumption, technological improvements, equipment implementation, and minor works that enhance the irrigation water distribution service.”
Furthermore, as part of necessary measures to combat drought, it is intended to launch the exploitation of the Los Laureles well in Tegueste, which is currently unutilised, alongside the installation of the hydroelectric power plant of the Isla Baja complex.
COASTAL WORK AT PUERTITO GÜÍMAR
Additionally, in the Tourism sector, Lope Afonso detailed the awarding of the contract for the execution of works included in the project titled ‘Frente Litoral del Puertito de Güímar, Phase 1’, in Güímar.
The Cabildo sanctioned the award of the contract for Phase 1 of the Puertito de Güímar Coastal Front Project to the sole bidder for a total of 806,485 euros, with an execution period of ten months from the signing of the minutes of staking.
This project, co-financed in cooperation with the Güímar City Council, is part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan for Tenerife and aims to enhance the coastal tourist area, ensuring accessibility and safety in the Puertito de Güímar vicinity.
Regarding the cultural domain, the Government Council has granted approval for the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra to perform one of the school concert sessions as part of the Concert Series for Schoolchildren, Babies, and Families titled ‘Caracol, take out the tuba in the sun’, free of charge, on November 15, 2024, at the Guía de Isora Auditorium.
