Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 11 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The leader of the Socialist Group at the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, requested that the president of the Corporation, Rosa Dávila, clarify “where the comprehensive overhaul” she pledged to undertake at Heliodoro Rodríguez López is, as he addressed this on Tuesday in light of the stadium’s centenary in 2025.
Martín reminded that this was one of the initial commitments she made after assuming her position, and that the socialist group extended their hand on three occasions, proposing two amendments and a motion to raise the budget and facilitate the necessary works, “an initiative which Dávila rejected.”
The redevelopment of the stadium was even the subject of a plenary session requested by the PSOE for the island president to present her plan, “despite which there is a clear lack of strategy, with ongoing shifts in opinions between the Canarian Coalition and the Popular Party regarding whether to refurbish the stadium or construct a Tenerife Arena in a different location.”
Pedro Martín disclosed that during the last term, while serving as president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, all of the stadium’s floodlights were replaced and a new electrical transformation centre was established for the facility.
Additionally, the interior finishes of the premises were enhanced to prevent the fall of components and before the term concluded, renovations for all the restrooms were permitted, as noted by the PSOE.
Martín emphasised that, following the Cabildo president’s announcement, she indicated that “investment was necessary and not merely promotional advertising” and that is why a project was demanded, with timelines established, and warned that “two million would be inadequate for the complete refurbishment of the stadium.”
In this term, the governing coalitions within the Cabildo, comprising CC and PP, with support from Vox, have voted against the budget increase for the stadium three times following the socialist group’s proposals.
Over six million in the previous term
The first occurrence was during the amendments to the 2024 budget, the second involved a motion calling for the budget increase and a consultation with the Tenerife Sports Club and fans to partake in the design process, and the third arose for this year’s budget discussions.
Pedro Martín explained that in the preceding year, in addition to the contributions towards the sports city of Tenerife Javier Pérez in Geneto, over six million euros were devoted to improvements at Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium.
Of this amount, 2.8 million euros were allocated to the enhancement of stands, corridors, and doors with interventions on the stadium’s metal structures, the compartmentalisation and insulation of the electrical system to meet regulations, repairs to the plumbing in the press room, as well as work on the pillars and the vertical structure’s screens.
Furthermore, two million euros were earmarked for new lighting and adjustments to their structures, while 630,000 euros were designated for the renovation of the toilets, a project that had already been budgeted by the previous team.
In addition to this, the prior corporation chaired by Pedro Martín conducted an audit of the stadium and completed a reform plan which should serve as the roadmap for executing the works in this term, as indicated by the Socialists.
