City Council Unanimously Approves Historic Windmill Restoration

The city council yesterday unanimously agreed to a proposal from the PSOE party, which was also discussed with the ruling parties (CC and PP). This proposal aims to restore, protect, and highlight three windmills in the Southwest area. These windmills are considered important historical, cultural, and local heritage for the city.

Elena Mateo from the PSOE explained that the agreement's main goal is to create a technical plan. This plan would help fully restore the windmills still standing in Barranco Grande, Llano del Moro, and Cuevas Blancas. To make this happen, they're asking for money to be set aside in the next city budget. They also want a study that looks at both the technical and legal aspects, suggesting how to zone the areas around these old structures, especially since they are on private land.

The proposal also suggests setting up the legal and ownership arrangements needed to bring these historic windmills under city ownership. This would then allow the council to take action to preserve them.

This isn't the first time the City Council has tried to protect these windmills, but previous efforts were blocked by urban planning problems. This new agreement outlines the next steps. These include adding the windmills to the city's updated General Plan. It also calls on the Cabildo (island government) and the Canary Islands Government to continue working with the City Council on cultural heritage matters.

In other news, the council also supported another PSOE proposal, which was discussed with the local government and the Vox party. This proposal suggests expanding the "Plenilunio" event in the future to include the shopping areas of Las Ramblas and Ramón y Cajal street. The idea is that the revitalization activities organized by the Development Society will also help businesses in these areas.

The socialist group also put forward part of another proposal. This one is about joining Endesa's "Confía" project, working with Social Services, and taking similar steps with Emmasa. The goal is to prevent essential services from being cut off for vulnerable families. Alana Chinea presented this idea and received praise from Charín González, the councilor for the area, who promised to look into it. Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Public Services, stated that "no resident with social problems has had their water cut off in the city." Charín González added that "her department also provides social vouchers to families in need to help with electricity costs. As of last September, 376 such benefits, totaling 60,000 euros, had been given out."

Another agreement made by the council, in partnership with the Tenerife Cabildo, aims to improve the transport system for people living in Anaga. The goal is to ensure the service meets their needs. This proposal, put forward by the PSOE, was approved with a change suggested by the nationalist group. This change will strengthen transport services all year round and add to existing bus lines 946 and 947.

However, the council rejected a proposal from the Vox party to create a Police Mediation Unit within the local police force. This unit would have aimed to resolve disputes between citizens. Gladis de León, the Councilor for Security, acknowledged the value of the idea but said it wasn't possible right now because there aren't enough police officers, and the government has frozen the hiring of new staff.