At least two opposition parties (Junts and PP) at the City Hall Barcelona will urge the municipal government to allow the reopening of the twenty stalls in the Boqueria market that have been closed for several years without the Markets Institute ruling on their fate. Both will present separate requests in the Economy and Finance commission next Wednesday, thus supporting the claims of the board of the historic market at the foot of Rambla, which has claimed for months resurrect the stops so that the market complements its offer with new proposals and to energize some parts of the premises now turned off by their lowered blinds.
As reported by El Periódico, the market board chaired by Jordi Mas has requested both the previous government of Ada Colau and the current government of Jaume Collboni to promote the reopening of stalls given the demand from operators interested in introducing products now not covered ( from vegan food to artisanal ice cream). In principle, the closed businesses were amortized by the city council to readjust the offer and fluff the area, but they are very dispersed and it is difficult to relocate other operators to empty entire islands, argues Mas.
Furthermore, traders believe that with two places already created In the middle of the market it is enough to facilitate passage and host specific events. They prefer that what is closed have commercial use. After not receiving a response from the Institute, the parties of the opposition those who will make a move this week.
In the case of Together for Catalunya-TriasCouncilor Joana Ortega, will present a request for the municipal government to “activate an action plan for the allocation of closed stops in La Boqueria”, to report on what efforts have been made with those interested in settling, and to clarify because it is “taking years to find a solution.”
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Your request is argued based on the paper economic and social aspects of the markets, its commitment to proximity, the strategic importance of the Boqueria, the fact that 10% of its stalls are closed “with the detriment that this entails to the vendors next door”, to the location of several closures in the access of the Gardunya (which discourages entry and unbalances the flows), the loss of about 3,000 euros per month in membership fees for the market association, the evidence that there are merchants interested in opening in the Boqueria and the “will of the board to carry out a promotion plan for the local client”.
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By the PP, your request will be “streamline the adjudication process of the closed stops in La Boqueria, especially those located in front of the Plaza de la Gardunya, and diversify the uses, with stops selling traditional food products and more shopping areas. tastingwith new services in accordance with new consumer habits, without losing sight of the market model that guarantees local products, health and sustainability.” In full accordance with the demands of the board.
They start from the reflection that five years ago the market had 225 positions, compared to the current 169, due to different circumstances. The popular ones consider that the venue must adapt to the “new reality without losing the essence,” summarizes its municipal president, Daniel Sirera. They also observe a disproportionality of the offer, with a shortage or absence of some specialties, compared to the saturation of others, such as fruit shops (47) that in many cases sell juices and products prepared for tourists.