Adrián Pumares, the secretary general and parliamentary spokesperson for FORO Asturias, has demanded that the President of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, explain why his government decided to acquire a facility in Granda for an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos, or Vehicle Technical Inspection) station, which is now set to close just four years after it opened.
Pumares accused the regional government of wasting public funds to satisfy private interests and warned that the situation with the ITV in Granda exemplifies poor resource management in Asturias. He recalled that in 2021, FORO Asturias had already raised concerns about the site's suitability and highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the project.
He noted that FORO Asturias, along with other parliamentary groups, had submitted a non-legislative proposal to the General Board to halt the installation of the ITV station in Granda, ensuring that any site selection adhered to technical, environmental, traffic, and transparency criteria. “We questioned not only the decision to place an ITV in a rural area with inadequate access and near residential homes but also demanded transparency regarding the circumstances under which ITVASA acquired the land and the facility,” Pumares stated, emphasising the need for an investigation into the purchase.
Pumares expressed that the most shocking aspect of the situation is that the disaster could have been avoided. “The Barbón government ignored all warnings, proceeded with the project, and now contemplates permanently closing a facility that has only been operational for four years,” he said. He also reminded that the station had to suspend operations in 2024 due to flooding and has been closed since May because of damage to the roof and one of its walls.
According to ITVASA, the initial repair costs to restore the facility are estimated to exceed one million euros. “We are talking about a station that has had to close multiple times, now requires costly repairs, and which the government acknowledges may not reopen. The question is how so much public money could be spent on a project whose suitability was in doubt from the outset,” Pumares remarked.
In light of these issues, Pumares has demanded that the Barbón government disclose the actual amount of public funds spent on purchasing the land and facility, their refurbishment, and ongoing maintenance. He also called for clarification on the criteria that justified the acquisition, the technical reports that supported the operation, and why prior warnings were ignored.
Furthermore, the FORO Asturias spokesperson sought explanations regarding the possibility of ITVASA exchanging the Granda land for a municipal plot in Tremañes. “Before initiating a new real estate operation, the government must account for the previous one. We cannot allow public assets to be compromised again without first explaining what happened with an investment that has ended in failure,” he cautioned.
Finally, Pumares insisted that “responsibilities must be clarified” and lamented that “the Barbón government seems intent on moving on without providing explanations for a decision that has turned into a genuine failure.” He concluded, “In 2021, we demanded transparency and warned that the location was unsuitable. Five years later, we are still seeking answers. The Barbón government cannot continue to spend the money of the Asturians, ignore all warnings, and when the project fails, simply close the facilities and look the other way.”
