The Spanish government is planning to establish a migrant reception centre in the heart of Torrevieja. It is `planned to be built by in the Social Security Treasury building located in the Acequión neighbourhood. The move has sparked significant controversy within the local community.
The proposed centre, designed to accommodate up to 400 immigrants, has raised concerns about its impact on the local infrastructure and the potential strain on public services. The Spanish government, through the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, has selected Torrevieja for this facility, bypassing local authorities and community input.
The state-owned company Tragsa is actively involved in the project, overseeing the procurement of catering services for the centre. The building itself, a modern structure completed in 2011, is considered to be oversized and costly, raising questions about its suitability for this purpose.
The government’s plans involve substantial modifications to the existing building, including the construction of additional structures to accommodate various functions such as housing, dining, medical facilities, and administrative offices. These proposed changes have alarmed local residents and raised concerns about the preservation of the building’s original purpose and architectural integrity.
The Torrevieja City Council has strongly opposed the government’s decision, citing concerns about the lack of transparency and consultation with local authorities. They argue that the centre’s location in a densely populated urban area is inappropriate and could negatively impact the quality of life for residents. The council has also expressed doubts about the government’s ability to effectively manage and operate such a large-scale facility.
Torrevieja already has a Reception, Care and Referral Centre (CREADE) for displaced Ukrainians in the same Social Security building. This is a Ministry service that only three other cities in Spain have, apart from Torrevieja: Pozuelo de Alarcón, Barcelona and Málaga. Its function is reception and initial assistance (for which they have accommodation places), management for obtaining Temporary Protection and referral to spaces in the reception network.
As the new project progresses, tensions between the central government and local authorities are escalating. The government’s determination to proceed with the project, despite local opposition, has led to accusations of top-down decision-making and disregard for local needs and concerns. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further legal challenges and protests from residents and local officials.
The case is similar to the Naval camp in Cartagena. In this case, the Cartagena City Council has tried by all means to prevent the Ministry from increasing the capacity of it’s centre from 600 to 900 people. All this with successive attempts at expansion behind the back of the City Council of the port city and which have resulted in the municipal services stopping the works and sealing them off.
At this time, the Government is trying to avoid the obstacles of the executive of the Cartagena mayor, Noelia Arroyo (PP), by declaring the works as emergency works, which would save them from needing any municipal permit.
