The mayor of La Massana, Eva Sansa, has expressed concerns about what she describes as "the maximum of populism" surrounding the proposed l'alt de la Capa viewpoint. Her comments come amid rising tensions as local elections approach.
Sansa has taken aim at the opposition, asserting that their objections to the project have emerged at a politically charged moment. She emphasised the need for the local council, known as the comú, to prioritise the economic development of the parish while remaining open to viable alternative initiatives. "If someone were to present us with a project that is genuinely economically viable, we would not close our doors to anyone. We are open, and we will analyse whatever we need to," Sansa stated.
Additionally, Sansa has critiqued the opposition for focusing on the viewpoint debate instead of engaging with the more pressing issue of the POUP (General Urban Planning Plan) review. "I don’t think we have done such a bad job at the comú, and now, just a few months before the elections, minority members are starting to mobilise over a viewpoint. What disappoints me is that we have been working for many hours on a modification of the POUP, which is crucial for the future of our parish, and now the attention has shifted to a viewpoint, when the POUP of La Massana is the most important aspect of our mandate," she added.
The deadline for submitting objections to the project is set for Saturday night. Once these are received, the comú will review them and forward them to the Ministry of Environment, which will provide its assessment of the report. "Until all objections are analysed, we cannot comment on the final report from the Ministry of Environment. It is they who must make a pronouncement; it is not up to us. Ultimately, if the Ministry says no, we will not proceed with the project. We cannot advance a project that has an unfavourable report from the Ministry of Environment. If that were to happen, we would seek another location," Sansa concluded.
The mayor also noted that "many people have spoken in favour of the project, seeing it as an opportunity for the parish of La Massana," despite the criticisms from some citizens.
