Torrevieja Forum and Discussion Board

Torrevieja's Mayor has today announced via video link a reactivation plan for the commercial, hospitality and industrial sector following the State of Alarm.

The 15 point plan can be found in this article:

https://www.elperiodic.com/torrevieja/a ... rma_674293

In summary it is largely a stimulus package with the cuts to taxes and fees, and some rebates, as well as planning for life after the State of Alarm.

There is a section about promoting tourism, as well as planning to hold cultural, festive and sports activities as soon as the State of Alarm restrictions are lifted.

Building licence applications will be streamlined, and restrictions on building work hours on holidays, weekends and during the summer will be temporarily relaxed and number of hours that can be worked increased.

I think businesses should be pleased with the Mayor's plan.

I am sure some residents may be concerned about streamlining of building licence applications and whether this will lead to a flood of applications that are not thoroughly reviewed before being approved, as well the amount of building works being undertaken not getting out of control and blighting Torrevieja.

The de-restriction on building work hours could be an interesting issue if the lifting of the State of Alarm allows for the normal (or semi-normal this year) July/August summer holiday breaks, as building work and holidays do not tend to mix very well.

Thanks for posting this Admin.
Light at the end of the tunnel ?

Graham Knight wrote: 06 Apr 2020 18:09 Light at the end of the tunnel ?

I can see the relaxation on builders working hours being well received, but that is only probably going to be beneficial to medium - large construction companies with a flexible workforce that are already working on a project that has been temporarily suspended. If you are a small works builder or company with a couple of workmen, you simply may not have the physical ability to work anymore hours in a week then you would normally do.

The streamlining of the building licence applications on the face of it sounds positive, but as so many people are struggling financially since the 'lockdown', spending money on building work may not be a high priority.

Economies around the world use construction to build their way out of financial problems, but does this region need anymore construction projects and could this lead to another boom and bust ?

Will new build properties currently under contruction be abandoned as there are no buyers for them or buyers are unable to complete on the sales due to their finances ?

Promoting Torrevieja tourism will be difficult in the interim and it will need alot of effort to install confidence in people to travel to the city from anywhere, as travel would be elsewhere around the world at the moment.

We need to remember that Spain went into 'lockdown' earlier than most countries, so whereas Torrevieja might be ready to receive visitors again, restrictions in other countries may prevent visitors travelling.

It will also be interesting to see how the Spaniards deal with their traditional July/August holidays if the 'lockdown' restrictions are lifted. I believe that many workers have to work back the time that they have been paid for whilst being unable to work, so will they forego these holidays this year ?

There's no doubt that there are going to be difficult times ahead in many sectors, made worse with the uncertainty of when the lockdown will be lifted or at least certain restrictions eased.
The President intimated that if needs be it will be extended from 26th April.
I would'nt mind a quieter summer this year for a change.. We have enough to contend with with the heat and humidity.
But that`s being selfish. !!

I share your sentiments on that , JamesB.