Located within the Rigat river valley, Planoles is a small city within the Girona Pyrenees with round 300 residents through the week who double their holidays due to second houses. Over the years, it has misplaced residents like so many different components of emptied Spain. Even so, it retains a rural college, a Renfe cease and has opened a municipal nursery for 2 college students. Àngel Verge, mayor of the city since 2007, hopes to repeat his victory within the municipal elections on May 28. He will proceed his “battle” to open inexpensive housing to draw new residents.
Question: Tell us about Planoles
Answer: We are a small city with lower than 500 inhabitants. In Catalonia there are 327. We are within the Pyrenees at an altitude of 1,200 meters, however very nicely related to the practice station and an hour and a half by automobile from Barcelona and Girona. We keep the agricultural college, which works very nicely with 22 youngsters. Two years in the past we opened the municipal nursery. This course we’ve two college students and subsequent 12 months we hope to have 4. It is a really sunny city, which attracts nature tourism and sports activities actions.
Q: Since has your group ruled within the metropolis council?
A: In 2007 a gaggle of neighbors launched us. At that point we have been connected to ERC however in subsequent ones we’ve introduced ourselves as impartial. Our goal is to work for the municipality, we’ve no political ambition, we would like the city to advance in a sustainable means. This 12 months two second houses have been constructed and we expect it is extremely good however we’re not involved in massive promotions of fifty houses.
There is a hoax that if we’re not connected to a celebration we don’t get subsidies, however this isn’t the case.
Q: Why did you develop into impartial from the massive events?
A: These cities want each day administration, individuals who work. With matches, every little thing will get sophisticated, as a result of the match is a gear and every little thing goes very slowly. We do not want them. Perhaps if we have been connected to a celebration one thing would unravel. There is a hoax that if we’re not connected to a celebration we don’t get subsidies, however this isn’t the case. As a council we’ve not had any issues.
Q: What teams are within the Planoles City Council?
A: We are seven councilors: 5 from Gent per Planoles and two connected to Junts per Catalunya.
Q: What have been the Planoles initiatives on this mandate?
A: We have opened the nursery and in two months the fiber optics shall be operational, though this has been the work of an organization that entered the competitors and wired your entire space. We have solely offered permissions. When it’s operational, we hope that the residents of second houses will keep longer. It is feasible that it’ll deliver us extra neighbors all 12 months spherical. A household from Barcelona has instructed us that they’re ready for fiber optics to maneuver right here with their youngsters.
Also beginning an power group and we’ll construct an RV park close to the station with a Next Generation grant. We are additionally fixing the streets of Planès, one other city that belongs to Planoles.
Q: Any errors you acknowledge from the final time period?
A: A council tries to speculate the cash in the absolute best means however it may be mistaken. We wished to make a pedestrian avenue in Planès, which on the identical time is out of city, and we acquired a variety of criticism from the neighbours. In the tip we threw it again.
Since 2018 I’ve assisted 80 households involved in transferring to a rural surroundings (…) No one has come
Q: What is the nice problem of the city?
A: The home. Since 2019 I’ve served 80 households involved in transferring to reside in a rural surroundings and none have come. I promote them the city, the station, the college, the fiber optics, we speak concerning the choices of discovering work however we get caught once they ask if there are homes. The value of a flat within the city middle is round 300 euros. While the lease for brand spanking new houses goes as much as 700. No one has come. We aren’t on the degree of La Cerdanya, which rents for 1,200 euros, however right here the salaries are 1,200 – 1,300 euros, the costs are excessive.
Q: Is there social housing?
A: Yes and they’re all occupied. The Generalitat opened a line of help for the rehabilitation of closed homes in alternate for social lease for 15 years. Two houses have benefited from this plan and shall be accessible after the summer season. Better this than nothing, however the velocity is gradual. The downside is official obstacles, as a result of we’ve flooring to open however every little thing is caught.
Apartments might be reused with out millionaire investments
Q: Do you may have closed flats that might exit for social lease?
A: Yes. About twenty. Tomorrow households might enter to reside in 12 homes in a constructing that belongs to the Ministry of Public Works as a result of the snowplows are stored on the bottom ground. The request is made however we’ve not acquired a response. We even have a Sareb constructing with 6 closed houses. We current the rectory to the rehabilitation help of the Generalitat, we’ve ceded it from the bishopric to the City Council, however the necessities don’t permit the determine of the cession. They are buildings which might be already constructed and the Administration wants to grasp it and expedite the procedures. Apartments might be reused with out millionaire investments.
Q: What would the opening of those homes imply?
A: With 22 open homes, about 60 folks would arrive. If we managed to achieve 400 inhabitants, it could be a terrific leap. Shops and eating places would have extra life, financial exercise would enhance. In the Nineteen Seventies, when my household moved to their second residence, there have been 25 outlets open, now there are solely 8.
Q: Is there work within the space?
A: Yes, there are job alternatives for builders, carpenters, gardeners and industrialists for second houses. Also within the tourism sector, we’re subsequent to the Núria Valley, La Masella and we’ve three hostels within the city. In the area there are a number of industrial estates with essential corporations.
Q: What do you ask of the administrations?
A: Let the forms run aground. I work in a non-public firm and if you see that initiatives take ceaselessly right here, you despair. We don’t need it to occur like in La Cerdanya the place employees reside in motorhomes as a result of they can not afford lease.