The meeting, organized by the Spanish Government, was attended by Pilar Bernabé, Government Delegate in the Valencian Community; Leire Iglesias, president of Casa 47; and Zulima Pérez, Government Commissioner for the Dana. Mayors and councillors from about twenty municipalities affected by the catastrophe also participated.
The program promoted by Casa 47 involves the free transfer of municipal land to promote affordable rental housing, a measure that Torrent City Council considers essential for housing reconstruction and to facilitate access to housing for affected families. However, the council has stated that, in its current configuration, the call presents significant difficulties for its actual implementation in many municipalities.
During the meeting, José Gozalvo presented Torrent City Council's proposal, which consists of transferring a municipal plot of approximately 900 square meters, with capacity to develop around 30 homes, fitting within the range foreseen in the call itself. However, the councillor pointed out that one of the main obstacles is the minimum surface area requirement of 2,500 square meters stipulated in the bases, which excludes proposals like Torrent's and significantly limits municipal participation.
“"From Torrent, we have exercised responsibility by proposing a viable solution, adjusted to our urban reality and housing needs, but we are encountering requirements that, in practice, exclude many or almost all municipalities."
The councillor emphasized that, after the effects of the Dana, the availability of large urban plots is very limited in most affected localities, making it especially complex to meet the established criteria. He added that the requirement for plots of at least 2,500 square meters does not reflect the current situation of municipalities, and that reconstruction demands flexibility and adaptation, not rigidity. Furthermore, he warned that the deadline for submitting proposals, set for May 9, is tight given the technical and administrative complexity involved in preparing these initiatives.
Torrent City Council has conveyed to the Spanish Government the need to review certain criteria of the call, especially those related to the minimum surface area of the plots, with the aim of allowing greater participation from municipalities and, therefore, a greater real impact of the program. Gozalvo concluded that they share the program's objective and want to be part of the solution, but it is necessary for the bases to adapt to the reality of the affected municipalities if this initiative is truly to be effective.
