Icod PSOE Rejects Urban Planning Office Abolition

Socialist councilor Gerardo Rizo recently spoke at a town hall meeting, explaining why the PSOE party opposes the plan to get rid of the Urban Planning Management office. This office was set up to help Icod de los Vinos City Council handle urban planning quickly and efficiently.

Rizo stated that the PSOE, even though it's part of the ruling coalition, doesn't agree with the proposal at all. He emphasized that such big decisions need to be made "with transparency, discussion, and real public involvement."

"We're talking about getting rid of a tool that belongs to the City Council, one meant to help the town grow both urbanistically and economically," Rizo said. "We think it's a mistake to abolish it, and the public hasn't been properly told why."

The councilor also criticized how the issue was handled. It was brought up at an emergency morning meeting without enough warning and without a proper discussion among the ruling parties.

Rizo argued that there needs to be a clear explanation of what happened with the Management office and why it wasn't fully put into practice. He said, "We've always claimed this government would be different, more open. The public deserves to know how this situation has been managed. In this particular case, the PSOE was left out of the initial decisions."

He reminded everyone that the Urban Planning Management isn't something you can create or get rid of quickly. He noted that similar offices have been crucial in other towns like Icod. For instance, in Los Realejos, setting up a dedicated management body helped boost the town's urban and economic growth, alongside other policies.

"It's unrealistic to say it's being removed now just to be brought back later," Rizo added. "These kinds of structures need careful planning, resources, and ongoing political commitment."

Rizo pointed out that Icod faces important decisions soon, such as approving the General Plan, connecting with new roads, and attracting responsible private investment. For the PSOE, getting rid of the Management office now would be a step backward.

"We know how hard it is to speed up paperwork at the City Council," he explained. "That's exactly why the Management office should be made stronger, not scrapped. This is a short-sighted decision that could block future opportunities."

Finally, Rizo reaffirmed the PSOE's commitment to the ruling agreement. However, he made it clear that the party will remain responsible and critical when they believe it's necessary.

"We will keep working with the mayor and stick to the agreement we signed," Rizo concluded. "But we truly believe this decision is wrong. History will show that we missed a chance to modernize how our town handles urban planning."