Tacoronte Council Offers Options for Radon-Closed Job Office
Tacoronte's council has offered the Canary Islands Government two options to reopen its local employment office, closed for over 18 months due to radon gas, aiming to restore vital services safely and quickly.
The Canarian Employment Service (SCE) office in Tacoronte has been closed for over a year and a half. This long closure, caused by the discovery of radon gas in its old building, has led the local council to step in and offer ways to reopen it.
Last Thursday, the council announced it has offered the Canary Islands Government two options: a piece of public land to build a new office, or space within the La Estación Market. The aim is to bring back this vital service for the community.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can cause health problems, including cancer, if people are exposed to it for a long time. This health risk was why the office on San Sebastián Machado street had to close. Without it, people in Tacoronte needing help with employment have faced major problems.
Tacoronte's ruling parties (PSOE, CC, and PP) formally put forward these suggestions at a council meeting in February. They urged the regional government to decide on its plan for the town. Mayor Sandra Izquierdo said it's important to know if the regional government wants to keep the office in the town centre or if it will consider the new options.
Currently, the Canarian Employment Service is doing maintenance and renovation work on the old building. The City Council is waiting for the Canarian Government to make a decision so they can renew their partnership agreement. This agreement was in place until the office closed. The council clarified that the agreement not being renewed was not why the office closed or why it's been inactive. They stressed that getting the in-person employment service back in Tacoronte is a "clear priority."
A legal report from the council found no issues preventing the two governments from continuing to work together. The main goal, according to the three ruling parties, is to quickly reopen the Employment Office, making sure it's safe for both staff and visitors. The council has emphasized that the Canary Islands Government needs to act "quickly" to ensure workplace safety and fully restore employment services in Tacoronte.