"Horrified and scared we have the result obtained in the Plaza Valgamediós after several months of construction." This is how the Obrim el center platform reacted on its social networks, where it has published a very critical message, accompanied by a photographic montage, against the new design of what is commonly known as Plaza Oeste.
The Valgamediós square already presents its new face when the project of the Dénia City Council to return the city center to pedestrians reaches the final phase. First it was Calle Mayor, then Plaza Tenor Cortís and now Plaza Valgamediós and Calle Pare Pere reach the final stretch.
In this historic location, the center of what was previously asphalt has been raised to place a triangular sidewalk that forms that new pedestrian space where cars used to park. The route of circulation that has been maintained is the one that goes from Valencia avenue towards Alicante avenue.
That little square that is where it used to be parked has been delimited with pylons to reinforce the security of the place and benches have been placed there. Otherwise, it is simply a large sidewalk.
The Obrim el center platform, which was created with the aim of claiming the reopening of Marqués de Campo and Glorieta del País Valencià to recover the circulation of vehicles, has also been very critical of this project in social networks, accusing the City Council of not having taken into account "neither accessibility nor the breadth of space.
"The idea of a single platform has been lost, which in its original conception already existed, it has been dissected into small spaces at different levels, that is, we have lost amplitude of space for the sake of other smaller spaces", they indicate from the platform, ensuring that "the consequence is that the fluidity, accessibility and functionality of the space has been lost."
The platform considers that a step back has been taken for this space that has been key in the history of the city and that "now it is trivialized and chopped up for no reason."
"We have reason to be alarmed at the insistence of the consistory to carry out similar actions in such emblematic areas as Glorieta and Marqués de Campo", they conclude in their publication.
That's right, Pedro. The car occupies 70% of the space in cities, but it is a transport that only uses 20%. It is those who do not use the car who should have more voice.
The city, for the citizens.
What used to be a cluster of improperly parked vehicles is now a pedestrian and accessible area. Accessibility and social commitment before "I park where I want to, even if it is badly done."