The Sustainable City sector of the Puerto de la Cruz City Council, in partnership with the PFAE Creas en Verde, has recently completed a survey conducted both on the streets and via social media regarding the city’s Urban Agenda for 2030. This initiative was designed to pinpoint the main community concerns and gather proposals for enhancing the city and increasing its sustainability. The findings indicate that the two primary focal points are infrastructure and housing accessibility.
The survey was conducted representatively across 15 neighbourhoods, with the initial design based on the demographic distribution of each area. The results reveal that, out of the 538 respondents, 60% were women. No specific age limit or variable was established for participant selection.
In terms of education, 42.09% hold university qualifications, while 24.2% completed secondary education. Moreover, over half of the respondents (52.04%) have spent their entire lives in the area. In relation to the issues that concern them most, the findings clearly indicate widespread anxiety over the condition of urban infrastructure, with 82.34% of respondents affirming that this matter urgently requires attention.
Not far behind, with 55.76%, was the significant concern for environmental issues, while 51.67% noted that the local economy is also an essential factor for community wellbeing. An additional noteworthy point is that 57.1% of respondents expressed a willingness to participate in sustainability-related programmes or initiatives.
Housing accessibility, however, takes precedence, with 90.6% asserting that locating a suitable residence in the municipality is “very difficult” or “difficult.” Indeed, high costs (41%) and limited availability (25%) are the most frequently mentioned barriers to finding accommodation in the area.
The study also indicates that 43.9% prefer to walk, whereas car usage ranks as one of the more common modes of transport, adopted by 34% of individuals. However, the bus usage merits consideration: 37.3% do not utilise it, while 31% use it only occasionally. Motorcycles and bicycles are not prominent as primary transportation options in Puerto de la Cruz.
The councillor for the Sustainable City, David Hernández, convened a meeting at the end of October with the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, to discuss the collaboration agreement between the two entities aimed at fostering research activities like these surveys and the transfer of knowledge to formulate and implement the action plan, establish the urban laboratory, and manage the Puerto de la Cruz Urban Agenda office until 2030, noting that it is the second municipality on the Island to adopt the Urban Agenda.
