Budget argybargy in Torrevieja

TORREVIEJA has become the focus of two bitter budget disputes between governments.

The announcement that the Valencia government will take back control of the Torrevieja area health department and hospital is continuing to cause friction between local town halls and the region.

The mayors of Torrrevieja and Orihuela have called for Valencia to match the vow made by healthcare concessionary company Ribera Salud, which stated in July that it would invest € 40 million in infrastructure and other projects, including a new health centre for Orihuela Costa in the period 2021 to 2026.

According to regional Spanish newspaper Diario Información, the regional budget for 2021 contemplates spending of € 3.8 million for the Torrevieja healthcare area.

According to the newspaper’s sources, € 2 million has been set aside for an ‘ extension’ of Torrevieja hospital and € 1.2 million for a new health centre in the area.

Costa Blanca News understands that councillor for health Ana Barceló is due to travel to Torrevieja to make an announcement on the spending plans for the coming year.

N332 row

Torrevieja mayor Eduardo Dolón has claimed that the national government has ‘ eliminated’ the project to turn the N332 road in the municipality into a dual carriageway.

Sr Dolón noted that the state budget for 2021 only included € 100,000 to draw up the plans for the muchneeded work.

According to the mayor, the projected national spending for 2022 to 2025 ‘ does not include one euro for the project’.

Sr Dolón said that he was surprised and indignant over the apparent lack of funding for the scheme which has been pending for the last decade.

He noted that the ‘ conversion’ of the congested road, which suffers some of the worst traffic jams in the country, is very important and urgent for Torrevieja.