One of the key projects for Bigastro under Plan E for this year was supposed to be the reformation of Calle Purisima, the main shopping street in the town. The plan was to close the street to traffic and install new lights, plants and benches, it was meant to take three months to complete. The Thursday market market was moved to the street above in preparation for the work to begin but so far nothing has happened.
Out of the FEIL budget, 179,830 Euros was set aside for this first phase which was to take three months to complete. The plan was then to complete the work with further money from the Province.
Three companies bid for the contract for phase one. Unfortunately the project was awarded to a company which the Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas said was unacceptable even though the company had already completed other civil work. So the second and third companies that had bid were approached but both withdrew because they said they had underestimated.
The only recourse then was to award the contract directly to a suitable company. Unfortunately , the term for awarding contracts for this year’s Plan E expires 31st December and work was meant to be completed a month later; most towns have already drawn up their plans for Plan E 2010. The Auyuntamiento are therefore seeking permission from the sub-delegation of the Government to extend the period to allow a new contractor to be validated and for the new contractor to make arrangements for materials etc and start work.
In the meantime, the Diputación de Alicante already has the plans for the second phase passed. Obviously the first phase will have to be completed before the second phase begins which further complicates matters.
You know it English we say, “it never rains but what it pours”. I can’t help but feel sorry for aTown Council who, no matter how hard they try, seem to move from one crisis to the next. Bigastro describes itself as a “cittá slow”, perhaps we are now realising just what that means!
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