The rehabilitation of Plaza de Las Ventas, a paralysis wrapped in a blanket of darkness | The bull, by the horns | Culture | EUROtoday

Without alarmism, however with realism. What is the present state of affairs of the required and pressing rehabilitation of the constructing that homes the Las Ventas bullring? It is being studied by the general public firm Planifica Madrid, as defined on this newspaper by Carlos Novillo, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Interior of the Community of Madrid. When is the renovation work scheduled to start and finish? There are not any deadlines for one or the opposite. Is the plaza in Madrid secure? Yes, as a result of it has a sound license to carry bullfighting occasions, however it’s stunning that different reveals are prohibited for exactly safety causes. That is to say, the present rule on this matter doesn’t apply to the bullfighting competition, however does apply to every other celebration.

Novillo's latest statements on this weblog not solely don’t clear up the doubts, however they improve the priority.

There is an apparent truth, accepted by the Government of the Community of Madrid, proprietor of the sq.: Las Ventas requires a profound reform as a result of it’s a constructing from 1931 wherein the general public initiative has invested little or no monetary sources for its upkeep.

Thus, in 2022, the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Interior at the moment, Enrique López, introduced a reform undertaking that was launched originally of December and was divided into three phases, with an preliminary price range of round 20 hundreds of thousands of euros.

Why has the 2022 reform undertaking been invalidated? What have the technicians detected to suggest the preparation of a brand new report?

The first crews of bricklayers and painters started work in that final month of the 12 months and their work was scheduled to proceed till April 2023 on the finish of the primary part. But on December 16, solely 15 days after the beginning of the reform, an surprising political occasion occurred that disrupted the deliberate plans: the regional parliamentary group of Vox voted towards the group Budget undertaking and the Government was compelled to increase these of the earlier 12 months.

This circumstance paralyzed the works began; Months later, regional elections are held in Madrid, the PP wins by an absolute majority and the president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, elects new members for her govt. Enrique López leaves, and Carlos Novillo, till then Deputy Minister of the Interior, turns into Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Interior of the Community of Madrid.

But then an uncommon occasion happens: the bricklayers and painters don’t return to Las Ventas, the Community leaves the discussion board and stays silent. In truth, this weblog requests an interview with counselor Carlos Novillo on September 12, 2023 with the rehabilitation of the sq. as a central subject, however the politician's agenda postpones the assembly till February 2, 2024.

It is then that the Community of Madrid formally stories – not a single official assertion to this point concerning the interruption of the works – that there was a change of plans: the brand new Government decides to place the earlier plan – that of the three phases and a 20 million price range—and commissions the general public firm Planifica Madrid to hold out an in-depth research of the state of affairs of the plaza, to which 13 million are allotted.

Because?

Novillo goes across the bush, doesn’t reply the query and easily says that the technicians have thought-about the necessity to perform an in-depth research of the state of affairs of the constructing earlier than restarting the works, and alludes to the injury that was prompted in him the extreme snowfall of the Filomena phenomenon, in January 2021.

Why is the earlier undertaking invalidated? What have the technicians detected to suggest the preparation of a brand new report? Why does the Community persist in its coverage of silence? What is occurring in Las Ventas that the general public doesn’t know?

The actuality is that the reform is paralyzed and, in keeping with the Minister's phrases, there isn’t any deadline for the start of the works, a lot much less for his or her completion.

Meanwhile and concurrently, one other curious circumstance happens. The heart of the Las Ventas area is occupied by a tent the place weddings, baptisms and communions will be celebrated, however the prohibition on organizing reveals that require the occupation of the stands stays in drive, except for bullfighting celebrations. And the reason being the identical as that given by the then mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, when she poured chilly water on the plans for live shows and mass occasions that businessman Rafael García Garrido had below his arm: safety.

Without alarmism, however with realism; Someone ought to clarify to the general public the reality concerning the state of the Las Ventas constructing

Bullfights will be held with full capability (22,964 spectators), however not different reveals that require the occupation of the strains, even half.

Novillo argues {that a} live performance doesn’t seem within the constructing license, however bullfighting celebrations do. But safety, he understands, ought to be an equal requirement for everybody.

In different phrases, he doesn’t know why the Government of the Community of Madrid paralyzed the reform that started in 2022 and that ought to finish this 12 months; The present standing of the research carried out by the corporate Planifica Madrid is unknown; The conclusions of that report will likely be unknown, primarily based on what has already occurred, and it isn’t recognized when the works might restart and what their magnitude may very well be.

Meanwhile, with out it being recognized whether or not the Las Ventas constructing has the required safety ensures, bullfighting reveals proceed to be held with full capability as a consequence of a political determination—the Government of Madrid boasts of its unconditional help for bullfighting—that permits every kind of malevolent conjectures.

Without alarmism, however with realism: somebody ought to clarify to the general public the reality about this matter; The absence of transparency will not be the most effective coverage.

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