Marina Baixa 1st June May Issue 47
NEW BENIDORM POLICE STATION MOVES A STEP CLOSER Spanish interior minister Jose Ignacio Zoido, on a visit to Benidorm earlier this week, reiterated central government’s desire to forge ahead with the long awaited project to build a new police station in the resort. For several decades, politicians in city hall have been asking ministers in Madrid to include the project in their annual infrastructure budget and last year put forward a projected 10 million euro construction plan. The current police station, situated in the heart of the old town has been considered too
small and virtually obsolete for many years, mainly because of its outdated facilities and lack of parking. In June last year, a plan submitted by architects Rafael Landate and Jose Manuel Escabedo to build a new 5000 square metre, state of the art station on land adjacent to the Benidorm Law Courts, situated on the outskirts of the resort, was accepted by central government officials. The building is presented as a modern, accessible police station with secure zones, independent entry for detainees and a careful design that gives priority to the entrance of natural light.
The interior minister was in the city to honour a promise he made to mayor Toni Perez, to visit the newly opened SATE (Service of Foreign Tourist Assistance) building in Avenida Derramador. Zoido, accompanied by regional minister Juan Carlos Moragues, Alicante delegate Jose Miguel Saval, Perez and PP representative Isabel Bonig, confirmed that the project would be included in this year’s financial budget. Addressing delegates outside city hall, Zoido said, “The project is an outstanding debt to Benidorm that has been in the planning stage for decades.” He promised the investment would be “accelerated to the
maximum as Police officers destined to work in Benidorm, deserve to work with dignity as do the citizens and tourists who visit the resort.” However, the minister also pointed out the project could be derailed, delayed or even postponed by a motion of censure brought by opposition parties, which is set to be debated by parliament over the next week. Zoido explained that he did not want the motion of censorship brought forward by Pedro Sanchez to cloud the fact that the new police station will be a central government priority whatever happens. by Andy Mansell