Community Efforts Lead to Municipal Action in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
In a week marked by collective efforts from the residents of the García Escámez neighbourhood in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the local council has finally intervened. They dispatched an excavator to clear a plot of land, which is typically used for the San Juan bonfire, of debris and overgrowth.
Municipal Action Taken
On Friday morning, municipal workers arrived with a mechanical shovel and a large container. They began removing rubble and dead plants from the site. This plot is divided equally between public and private ownership, with the latter having been neglected for years, prompting the excavator to work in that area as well.
A Community-Driven Initiative
The movement to clean the area began on June 11, when resident Ernesto Llebry started clearing the overgrown vegetation alone, using just a board and a hoe. The heavy winter and spring rains led to rampant growth of brush, which has now dried up in the heat. Both Ernesto and the community of nearby homeowners had repeatedly requested that the area be cleaned for public health reasons, as it had begun to attract rats.
This vacant lot, located between the El Rosario main road and José Crosa street, has several owners. More than half of the land belongs to the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, while the remainder is divided into smaller parcels with unknown owners.
Community Support Grows
As time went by without a response from the council and the date for the bonfire approached, Ernesto, who leads the local festivities committee, began removing the dead plants himself. He aimed to receive official approval from CECOPAL to set up the bonfire there. Given the dense undergrowth, it seemed unlikely a bonfire could be safely held due to the risk of an uncontrolled fire.
After his initial efforts, more residents joined in the clearing work, using rakes, pickaxes, and hoes. Finally, on Thursday, the council acknowledged the residents’ efforts and sent a team with heavy machinery to support their work. Additionally, the Santa Cruz City Council has painted several walls in the neighborhood, addressing another concern raised by the residents.
