The Governing Council of the Cabildo of Lanzarote approved this Monday a report on the minor modification of the General Plan of Arrecife to allow the expansion of the municipal cemetery of San Román. This measure arises in response to the urgent need to expand the capacity of the cemetery, where currently only 18 niches are available.
The president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted the importance of this action, "after fifteen years of blockage." "This is a minor modification of the municipal planning but absolutely essential to ensure that Arrecife has the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the population in the future," explains Betancort.
For his part, the Councilor of the Area of Territorial Planning and Territorial Policy, Jesús Machín, highlighted the technical work and planning that have allowed the approval of this report. "We have worked in a coordinated manner with the City Council of Arrecife to ensure that this future expansion meets all legal and environmental requirements. The cemetery is located in a natural protection area, which has required a careful review of the General Plan to ensure that the expansion is done in a sustainable and respectful manner with the environment."
The approved modification allows the recategorization of a plot adjacent to the cemetery, of approximately 5,578 square meters, which until now was classified as environmental rustic land. With this reorganization, the plot becomes rustic infrastructure land, which enables its use for the expansion of the cemetery.
The project has also had favorable reports from the Environment Area and the Historical Heritage Area of the Cabildo, ensuring that the expansion is carried out without affecting protected areas or heritage elements.
As the Councilor of Urbanism of the City Council of Arrecife, Maciot Cabrera, advances, "this urban action is a response to a need that Arrecife had been waiting for a long time and that could not be postponed any longer. Its unblocking was one of our priorities and we have achieved it thanks to the joint work between the Cabildo and the City Council. Now we can offer citizens a funeral service according to current needs."
In addition, he highlighted the value of planning, emphasizing that "we have ensured that each step of this process complies with current regulations, and most importantly, that it is done respecting our natural environment. This expansion of the cemetery will not only increase its capacity, but will also guarantee an adequate space for families in a moment as sensitive as the farewell of their loved ones."
