Housing for young people and territorial protection heads PSOE election manifesto

Thursday 11th May 2023
Mike Smith

After a complex legislature, marked by the two years of paralysis caused by the COVID pandemic, added to the destruction of storms and the rise in prices due to the war in Ukraine, the PSOE of Xàbia presented a review of the situation of Xàbia.

Mayor José Chulvi, PSOE mayoral candidate for the 2023 elections, claimed that “in times of difficulty we have done what we had to do: be next to the people and mobilize all the necessary resources to help families and companies“. For this reason, he stressed, 13 million euros were put aside for the support of businesses and jobs, and more than 10 million euros allocated for employment plans. In addition, the IBI obligation was reduced by 17% whilst the rubbish tex for companies and individuals was suspended.

Chulvi explained that “we have not stopped working in this time, and thanks to this, today we already have the Xàbia of the future underway, which has to be based on three axes: housing, sustainability and protection of people“. For this reason, the Socialists have presented an electoral program that is the result of hundreds of consultations with residents as well as meetings with the strategic sectors of the municipality.

Housing and Protection

Kika Mata and Rosana Sapena offered a town planning vision in which the highlight was the upcoming approval of the General Plan that protects 10 million square metres as well as the construction of 153 social rental homes for young people and low income families. Of these houses, the construction of 118 of them is going to start immediately after the recent agreement with the Generalitat Valenciana.

Rosana Sapena also explained two important urban development plans: the opening of Calle Génova between the port area and el Arenal (which has already been approved) as well as the creation of a flood prevention area in Saladar to put an end to the problems of Arenal floods.

Sports Infrastructure

Alberto Tur announced the renovation of the Les Mesquides complex as well as the new Freginal covered sports centre which, together with the athletics track that is planned to be built in the area between the football stadium and the river, will turn that zone into one of the most important sports centres. He also announced the upcoming opening of the municipal swimming pool next to the Miguel Buigues sports centre which Isabel Moreno confirmed will eventually be connected to the playgrounds of the CEIP Port by a new square, the result of the pedestrianization of Calle Manuel Bordes Valls and demolition of the wall that now separates them.

El Museo de la Mar (Maritime Museum)

Isabel Moreno also referred to the educational projects of the new legislature which go through the culmination of the works started at CEIP Trenc d’Alba and the construction of the new CEIP Graüll, in addition to increasing the training cycles offered in secondary school in Xàbia.

She also presented a plan for educational buildings to become sustainable energy communities, thanks to the use of clean and renewable energy, and solidarity (with the distribution of the energy surplus or the destination of the money saved to social plans).

Regarding cultural infrastructures, Vicent Miralles announced the creation of the Museu de la Mar, a centre destined to house the marine wealth of Xàbia, both that of archaeological origin from different periods, and that related to the most recent memory linked to fishing and traditional trades. This museum, which is completed with an open square, will be located on Avenida Augusta, next to the Canal de la Fontana, and will complete the cultural, leisure and sports offer on this road connecting the port zone and the Arenal.

He also mentioned the commitment to finish those works which have been paralyzed such as the Auditorium and those new buildings such as Casa Xolbi and the Central Cinema in the historic centre.

Economy and Sustainability

Ximo Segarra claimed that “Xàbia is one of the most dynamic and desired towns on the coast, and that is good for the economy, but we have the challenge of harmonizing that reality and accompanying companies with the protection of the environmental and quality of life values that we must preserve“.

He also explained that work will be carried out to create the coastal path that definitively links the port zone and the Arenal, between the Paseo Joaquim Sorolla and the Paseo del Tenista David Ferrer. For this, the most important step “was to open Calle Génova and we already have the project underway to make it a reality“.

An important aspect of the program appeals to environmental sustainability and the continuity of the protection of the most valuable natural spaces in Xàbia, as has already been done by providing anchoring buoys and creating the protection of sea caves and access to the coves. Regarding the latter, the PSOE project plans to establish parking fees to combat overcrowding as well as implement public transport and give them more rational access.

Segarra also announced that the campaigns to stimulate local commerce will continue and that new gastronomy and commerce thematic fairs linked to the heritage of Xàbia will be promoted to animate the low season. Also, that “the necessary means will be put in place to improve telecommunications and make our town attractive to digital nomads, workers who can choose their location and who provide a high added value to the destination“.

Youth, Equality and Social Care

Both Rita Berruti and Montse Villaverde emphasized the need to maintain the high level of care and help for the most needy with projects such as a shelter for people without resources, the maintenance of the ‘Menjar a Casa’ food for the elderly, Radars to detect neighbors with mental health problems and accompaniment for women victims of gender violence.

Finally, Sergio Camarasa addressed the challenges that the programme poses for children and young people, in the case of the renovation of the Parque Pedro IV and the implementation of a film series aimed at this audience, both in theatres and outdoors. Camarasa also referred to the possibility of creating a voucher in agreement with the hospitality sector so that the young people of Xàbia can access the local gastronomic offer, and to measures that are already underway such as the expansion of the skate park and the fact of offering free academic support in the Play Jove space, as well as the “Patis Oberts” initiative, which is already at a very advanced stage and which involves offering tracks from educational centres for use outside school hours.