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The Socialist Group is calling out the PP and VOX-led government in Orihuela, accusing them of having lied two months ago when they claimed that the road maintenance management assignment in Orihuela Costa was about to be launched.
The Socialists are now demanding that the council convene the board of the municipal company chosen to carry out this task, to explain the reason behind the delay.
“Back on February 17, they said it would be ready in two or three weeks. Two months have passed and nothing has happened. If this is going to take much longer, we demand an emergency contract be issued for materials and personnel to put an end to the disastrous state of the roads on the coast.
Orihuela cannot continue to make national headlines because of the incompetence and negligence of this administration,” they stated.
April 15, 2025
Isidro Grao, councillor for the Socialist Municipal Group in Orihuela City Council, denounced in a press conference the dire condition of the roads in Orihuela Costa, blaming the systematic negligence of the PP and VOX government. “The abandonment is as obvious as it is unacceptable. Orihuela Costa has been completely forgotten by this administration,” Grao said.
He described roads riddled with potholes and sinkholes, broken sidewalks, and damaged signage as clear signs of poor management and a complete lack of planning. Grao warned that this situation poses a serious risk to the safety of residents.
He also pointed out that some citizens have recently taken matters into their own hands and paved streets themselves due to the total inaction of the local government—“an unprecedented and telling event that shows how abandoned the area truly is,” he said.
Grao strongly criticized the failure to implement the investments promised by PP and VOX. “In October 2023, they announced almost €3 million in investments, and in February of this year, another €2.3 million. But nothing has been executed. It’s all smoke and propaganda,” he added.
Since February 3, Orihuela Costa has had no road maintenance service after 20 workers responsible for that service were dismissed. “More than 30,000 people have been left in limbo right before the busy Easter season. This is both political and administrative irresponsibility, and the names are clear: Mr. Mestre, councillor for the coast and directly responsible for maintenance; Mr. Valverde, councillor for infrastructure; and Mayor Vegara, for failing to act or lead during a foreseeable crisis.”
Grao stressed that this situation stems from the municipal government’s failure to launch a new maintenance contract in time, despite knowing that the previous one would expire in February 2024. “A year later, with technical reports already prepared, the service still hasn’t been reinstated,” he said.
He further revealed that the issue has not even been formally discussed by the board of the municipal company Servicio de Gestión Medioambiental, S.L., which is meant to handle the new service. According to the company’s own manager on February 17, the plan could be operational “in two or three weeks,” yet as of April 15, it remains on hold.
Grao emphasized that the government’s neglect is leading not only to urban decay, but also to falling property values, frequent accidents, and even difficulty accessing schools.
He also reminded the public that Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor is currently investigating the previous maintenance contract over alleged serious irregularities such as uncontrolled billing, absence of personnel, and a lack of enforcement procedures.
In light of all this, the Socialist Group is demanding urgent action:
- An immediate meeting of Servicio de Gestión Medioambiental, S.L. to explain what is preventing the official assignment of the road maintenance, repair, and conservation service in Orihuela Costa.
- If the official launch of the new plan is going to be delayed by more than a month, an emergency contract must be issued for the purchase of materials and hiring of personnel.
“Orihuela Costa can no longer be the forgotten part of the municipality. It’s a key area that generates wealth and deserves serious, professional, and transparent management,” Isidro Grao concluded.
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