The Association of Consumers and Users of Lanzarote (Aculanza) has sent a letter to the Minister of Development, Ana Pastor, to warn her of a new delay in the rehabilitation of homes in Valterra and Titerroy. "We request, with all modesty, your help and protection so that what was signed is fulfilled once and for all, opening the appropriate investigation and closely monitoring the situation day by day," Aculanza claims in its letter to the minister.
In its writing, the association explains that it was in November 2011 (two years after a person died when the roof of a house in Titerroy fell) when an agreement was reached in the bilateral commission to finance these urban renewal areas, without it having been carried out to date.
Aculanza even recalls that the Ministry of Development entered the annuity corresponding to the year 2012, which amounted to 2,159,774 euros, and that later "it was transferred by the Government of the Canary Islands to the Arrecife City Council in November or December 2013".
However, the association regrets that "despite all the good intentions" of the Ministry, "to date nothing has been done and, what is worse, we do not believe that anything will be done in the future." In the opinion of this group, "municipal laziness and apathy are stronger" and "have once again delayed what was scheduled to begin in November 2015 to February or March." An announcement that they also distrust.
"We do not know when the works will truly begin," questions the association, which recalls that a report by two architects confirms "the ruinous state of the homes pending rehabilitation."
Opposition from several neighbors
After years of delays, in which errors and defects in the processing even had to be corrected, the demolition and reconstruction of 20 homes in Valterra and 20 in Titerroy was finally approved, within a first phase. However, the City Council points out that now it is the opposition of some of the affected residents that is delaying the intervention.
Specifically, 5 owners from Valterra and 11 from Titerroy opposed the project, as explained a few months ago by the current Councilor for Urban Planning, Samuel Martín. Last August, the mayor expressed his confidence that these neighbors "will join as soon as possible those who have already shown their agreement so that the works can begin."
