The government will fully implement a budget modification of 2 million for the works of 'Universal Accessibility', El Castell and El Tossal

The government team of Benidorm will fully implement a budget modification of 2,044,226.94 euros to implement the 'Universal Accessibility' project and the archaeological interventions in El Castell and the El Tossal de La Cala deposit. The mayor, Toni Pérez, has reported the details of this change during a Board of Spokespersons held today, in which he recalled that these three works are subject to subsidies from the Diputación de Alicante - in the case of 'Universal Accessibility' - and of the European Union - within the line of aid for the protection or recovery of the Valencian cultural heritage of the ERDF Operational Program 2014-2020 in the case of El Castell and El Tossal.

Pérez has indicated that "with this modification we take the part of the investment that corresponds to the City Council in each of these projects, of great importance for the city, thus fulfilling the commitment that the plenary adopted with the Diputación de Alicante and with the entity in charge of the management of ERDF funds ". In this regard, he clarified that "this procedure must be carried out because we are currently working with the extended budget of 2018 in which, logically, these projects were not consigned".

The mayor has detailed that "the municipal technicians have worked in recent days to be scrupulous and generate the low of these resources in items that would not be necessary in the 2019 budget." Specifically, these 2 million euros come out of items destined to amortize debt. "The good economic management carried out in this legislature has made it possible to lower the municipal debt above what was planned and with it the financial expenses that the City Council has to assume in this fiscal year, so that the 2019 heading to repay loans is not it needs as much economic resources as in 2018, "he added.

This modification, endorsed by the municipal technicians of the Economic Area and that does not affect either the provision of services or the current expenditure, will be decided tomorrow at an extraordinary and urgent Finance Commission.

For the 'Universal Accessibility' project, the local administration has to contribute 1,042,000 euros corresponding to something more than 50% of the execution cost, while the municipal investment for the actions in El Castell and El Tossal amounts to 710,000 and 292,226.94 euros respectively.

The mayor recalled the project of 'Universal Accessibility' is valued at 1,992,000 euros, of which 950,000 euros are financed by the Provincial Council of Alicante, and includes six lines of action, including the comprehensive renovation of Elche Park, which amounts to just over 700,000 euros. This integral renovation of the first park of the city foresees to maintain the current appearance of trails although incorporating the same imitation material from albero of Foietes Park; the installation of rainwater network - of which it lacks - to avoid accumulation of water; the reform of the ramps and access stairs to the beach; renovate the luminaires with 'led' technology and the gardening areas while preserving the trees; fix with masonry the wall that separates the park from the sand; and to change the aesthetics of the promenade area giving continuity to the colored pavement of the Paseo de Poniente.

The rest of the lines foresee actions in practically the whole city in the matter of asphalting, road accessibility, sidewalks plan, security and accessibility in municipal public buildings. Thus, the Asphalt Plan is endowed with 681,148.25 euros, and with it will act on the avenue of Beniardá, with special attention to the section that connects with the first roundabout of the CV-70, at the height of the Treatment Station of Drinking Water (ETAP); and in the streets of La Cala located in El Tossal and its base. The accessibility actions budgeted at close to 140,000 euros will be focused on the Center; while the 150,000 euros of the Plan de Aceras will go to the upper section of Esperanto Street.

In the chapter on Security, endowed with 179,412 euros, access control has been planned mainly at the most sensitive points; while in the Plan to improve Accessibility to buildings - which amounts to 48,375 euros - it will reach all municipal public buildings and will focus on the construction of ramps and / or installation of automatic doors.

With regard to the 'Archaeological intervention in the Castellum del Tossal de La Cala', is valued at about 500,000 euros and plans to act on the entire surface of the site, especially in the western plot where last year archaeologists located the central street of the 'castellum' and in which the visible remains allow to deduce the existence of a set of buildings very similar to those already located in the excavated part of the fort. In addition, it includes consolidating and restoring the masonry walls of the 'castellum' rooms and the wall canvas, following the same operation used in the emergency works of consolidation of the site made between the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. For this project the City has received a grant of 205,793.62 euros from European funds.

Finally, the 'project of archaeological intervention and construction of the recovery and enhancement of the Castell de Benidorm', meanwhile, amounts to 1.2 million euros and includes the enhancement of this through its excavation , consolidation and musealization, which will be developed in several phases to ensure pedestrian traffic at all times. This project aims to discover the remains that lie under the pavement of El Castell square, investigate and document them; stabilize and secure the slopes; protect the structural elements; and to value them maintaining the pedestrian use of the enclosure so that it is accessible at least visually.