The PSOE party within the Almería City Council has criticized the governing team's announcement regarding the tender for improvement works on the Civil War Shelters, labeling the action as a belated response to problems. According to the party, this marks "another summer" with these facilities closed to tourism, a situation they have lamented for two years.
Socialist councilor Lidia Compadre stated that while the investment to modernize the facilities is welcome, the fact that the Shelters will remain closed "for at least twenty months" cannot be presented as a success. Compadre attributes this prolonged closure to "deficient management and lack of foresight" by the governing team.
The works, with a budget of 382,800 euros and an estimated execution period of four months, come after more than a year of closure and "repeated warnings" from the PSOE about the facilities' deterioration. The socialist party recalled that as early as March 2024, they had alerted about "deficiencies in the electrical system, lighting, emergency exits, intercoms, security cameras, air conditioning, and other essential maintenance elements."
Compadre highlighted that the municipal project itself includes the creation of new evacuation routes, an issue that has conditioned the Shelters' reopening during the works on the Paseo de Almería. "The important thing is not to pose for a photo with a tender, but to explain why a fundamental tourist infrastructure for the city will remain closed for almost two years and what the City Council intends to do to compensate those who have borne the full economic burden of that decision," she stressed.
The PSOE also warned in February of this year about the damage to city center tourism due to the closure of the Shelters and delays in the Paseo de Almería works. According to the party's estimates, from the closure on March 5, 2025, to the planned reopening in November 2026, approximately 80,823 visits will have been missed.
The party estimated the loss of tourism activity at around 720,941 euros, considering the average ticket price of 8.92 euros. This translates to a direct revenue loss for affected businesses of about 559,295 euros, after deducting the municipal fee. "Behind these figures are self-employed individuals, small businesses, and families who will be, for at least twenty months, unable to carry out their activities normally and have received no municipal aid," stated Compadre.
In light of this situation, the PSOE has urged the governing team to adopt measures to mitigate the economic impact and ensure a reopening "with safety, transparency, and planning." Proposals include publishing a detailed timeline for the works, an extraordinary aid plan for tourism sector professionals, and a specific tourism promotion strategy to recover lost visits.
