Santa Cruz Port Authority Holds Emergency Meeting Over Controversial Silo Demolition

The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has called an emergency board meeting to reconsider the future of the old grain silo on the San Andrés highway. The authority had planned to award a €990,140 demolition contract to the company Hercal Diggers, but that process is now on hold following significant pressure to save the structure.

The dispute centers on how to manage industrial heritage. The Ministry of Culture, along with the Canary Islands Government, the Island Council (Cabildo), the Santa Cruz City Council, and the Association of Architects, have all called for the demolition to stop. These institutions argue that the silo is a unique piece of Spain’s port history and that its destruction would be an irreparable loss to the region’s architectural legacy.

Legal tensions are rising, particularly after comments from the Island Council’s second vice president, José Miguel Ruano. The Council has warned that it will take legal action to block the demolition if the Port Authority proceeds. Opponents argue that the Port Authority has violated the Spanish Historical Heritage Law by failing to conduct a thorough study of the building’s historical value before moving forward with demolition plans.

The Port Authority now faces a difficult decision. During today’s extraordinary meeting, the board must decide whether to stick to its original plan or pause the project to allow for the technical studies requested by other government bodies and professional groups. The outcome of this meeting will determine whether the silo is saved or if the demolition process moves ahead.