The Government Delegate of the Andalusian Regional Government in Almeria, Aránzazu Martín Moya, and the Mayoress of Vélez Blanco, Ana María López, have chaired the Provincial Coordination Commission which for the first time leaves the Government Delegation in 2024 and has moved to the municipality of Vélez Blanco. Since the «Government of Change» arrived at the Andalusian Regional Government, this commission has been held four times in Almería, reaching Benitagla, Roquetas de Mar, Mojácar and Felix.
During the meeting, the important investments that the Andalusian Regional Government has made, which exceed 27 million euros in this town, were highlighted, as well as the projects that are planned for 2024. In addition, the Andalusian Government has taken note of the needs of this town, in order to continue improving. The meeting was attended by the mayor of Vélez Rubio, Miguel Martínez Carlón, the deputy mayor of María, Francisco Martínez, and the deputy mayor of Chirivel, Francisca Zamora.
The Government delegate, Aránzazu Martín, explained that «in terms of Development, Territorial Articulation and Development, more than 145,000 euros have been invested in energy rehabilitation works for the promotion of 8 public rental housing units». «Specifically in roads, 350,000 euros have been spent on emergency works for the repair of damage, protection and stabilisation of slopes on the A-317 road and the improvement of the road surface on the A-317 road, on the Vélez Blanco bypass. Martín wanted to highlight the total investment in the region of Los Vélez in this area, «since from 2019 to 2023 it has been 3,230,904 euros».
During the course of the meeting, the delegate announced an action that will benefit all the municipalities in this region and which is in the drafting phase, such as the project for the construction of bridges over floodable speed bumps on the A-399 road in the Pino Blanco and Chirivel wadis. This project is pending approval by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura.
In terms of Sustainability, Aránzazu Martín acknowledged «that important work has been carried out in this region, such as the forestry treatment works in public forests: between the last project received at the end of 2022 and the one currently underway, more than one million euros have been invested, benefiting an area of 469 hectares». He also highlighted «the improvement work on livestock trails, which in 2022 and 2023 received an investment of 655,512 euros». Forest roads in the region have also been the subject of a modernisation and improvement service, with 193,323 euros being allocated to them.
The Government Delegate announced that among the actions planned for 2024 are «the start of a new forestry treatment project on 174 hectares to prevent forest fires with a budget of 573,016 €, as well as continuing with the improvement of livestock trails (implementation of the priority network of green infrastructure in rural areas) where action will be taken on the Cañada Real de la Loma del Águila to Pozo Moreno with an investment of 315,000 €».
On the other hand, the delegate wanted to highlight that «between 2022 and 2023 between the actions of forestry treatments and improvement of forest roads and livestock trails completed, a total of 2 million euros have been invested and for 2024 in this area we will allocate 886,225 euros».
During the meeting the Government delegate detailed that «Velez Blanco depends on the North Health Management Area of Almeria, and that since the new management team took over the management a great effort has been made in improving equipment, maintenance and promotion of health infrastructures. Specifically in this town has been provided with furniture and equipment to the new clinic that will be opened in the municipality with an investment of 10,000 euros».
In the area of employment, the government delegate explained that «the municipality of Vélez Blanco has received a grant to encourage the improvement, modernisation and promotion of trade and crafts, and a project is underway to physically adapt spaces and infrastructures, and to provide and improve facilities and services for itinerant trade».
In the area of training, from 2021 there will be actions aimed at unemployed people so that they can be trained in factory work to cover roofing, auxiliary operations of rigid finishes and urban development, as well as auxiliary activities in nurseries, gardens and garden centres. During 2024, another training action will also be carried out in the field of social and health care, aimed at dependent people in social institutions, for cleaning and disinfection in hospital premises, comprehensive and person-centred care for professionals providing continuous care in centres and homes.
Martín highlighted that «since 2021 these actions have allowed 56 unemployed people to be trained in subjects that are necessary for the development of this municipality, which demonstrates the Andalusian Government’s interest in promoting employability, but through training. These actions have involved an investment of one and a half million euros by the Andalusian Regional Government».
In terms of Local Administration, in 2023 important actions of the PFEA have been carried out in Vélez Blanco, as it has hosted the courses of driving dumpers for employees and has benefited from three projects worth 230,000 euros. The project ‘Specific Works in Vélez-Blanco’, has enabled works to be carried out in the town centre (Placeta de Calle San Marcial and San Lázaro) as well as in Topares (Paving and Installations in Calle San Isidro). Similarly, thanks to the Stable Employment Plan project, improvements have been made to the Pinar del Rey Recreational Area, where the toilets have been refurbished and the exterior accesses have been transformed, and the Environmental Maintenance project has carried out gardening, painting, irrigation and cleaning work. A plan that has allowed the adaptation of classrooms and corridors in the CEIP Castillo de Los Vélez, as well as the maintenance of public spaces in this municipality. Thanks to this plan,» explained the Government delegate, «it has been possible to hire 2169 day labourers in 2022 and 2004 day labourers in 2023».
The Government delegate has reeled off «the numerous actions that have been made in terms of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development in Vélez Blanco, such as the rural road of Turruquena, with an investment of more than 64,000 euros, as well as an investment of more than 222,000 euros within the Plan Restaura in emergency works. We have also invested almost 250,000 euros in the Itínere Plan, on the Las juntas road, and in rural Itínere on the road from Derde to Topares with a grant of 125,000 euros». «We have granted more than 2 million euros for the creation of businesses by young farmers, and 1,800,000 for the modernisation of farms.»
The municipality of Vélez Blanco has also received more than 65,000 euros to help reduce the consequences of the drought, and 30,000 to try to alleviate the increased costs resulting from the invasion of Ukraine. In addition, with regard to CAP aid this municipality has received more than 10 million euros since 2019. Martin recalled that «in 2024 will begin the bidding process for the WWTP, whose investment will exceed 1.4 million euros with 12 months of execution, as well as the last phase of processing to go out to tender for the WWTP of Velez Rubio, with an investment of 5.5 million euros».
Martin stressed that «without a doubt, one of the big bets that the Andalusian Regional Government has made in the municipality of Velez Blanco has been in the field of Culture, specifically in its Castle with a global project that reaches nine million euros in investments, divided into three phases, of which the first begins today». «But we have also worked on many other tourism and sports projects such as the Mystreetbook application, which we presented just a month ago, as well as sponsoring the Renaissance and Baroque Music Festival of Vélez Blanco, as it is one of the highest quality musical and educational activities in Andalusia and Spain».
During the celebration of this Commission, the importance of continuing to support the inland municipalities of the province was highlighted. The mayoress, Ana María López, expressed her gratitude that «this town was the venue for this Commission of the delegates of the Andalusian Regional Government in Almería, and reminded us that actions such as these enhance the value of these towns».