Wanting to see the activities on offer at the Campoamor Residents Drop In Centre first-hand the Orihuela Mayor, Emilio Bascunana, stopped off in Lomas de Cabo Roig on Wednesday afternoon where he was given a tour of the Centre by Norah Bond.´ Wanting to see the activities on offer at the Campoamor Residents Drop In Centre first-hand the Orihuela Mayor, Emilio Bascunana, stopped off in Lomas de Cabo Roig on Wednesday afternoon where he was given a tour of the Centre by Norah Bond.
As well as meeting beginners in an intermediate Spanish language class the Mayor tried his hand as a student of the Watercolour Art Group before moving on to join the Campoverde Players who were practising a song and dance routine. He was initially caught up in their rehearsal as he actually jigged along for a moment before settling down to introductions and an invite for the group to perform at an upcoming council event.
After a briefing by Eva Johansson on the Centre’s Library the Mayor was then directed to the building’s structural problems by Norah Bond. Accompanied by Councillor Jose Galiano and the Centre Caretaker he was told, and subsequently shown, the subsidence along the entire front of the building, together with the many cracks in internal walls and ceilings.
He was told that despite opening to the public ten years ago, the building is still without a ‘Certificate of Occupation’ and in view of it’s crumbling structure seems unlikely to ever get one.
Norah Bond asked what plans the authorities have to carry out the necessary renovation, as many of her students currently feel they are putting their safety at risk every time they enter the building.
The Mayor seemed surprised at the amount of deterioration since his last visit and on his return to Orihuela, following discussions with city technical staff a decision was taken to close the Centre down.
What is not clear is how long the closure will be as, late on Friday afternoon, Community Care President, Norah Bond received an email stating that, following maintenance, it would reopen on Wednesday. However the notice pinned to the Centre gates states otherwise, indicating that the Centre will remain closed until further notice.
“We really don’t know what is going on” Norah told the Leader. “I just wish that the Council would have the common courtesy of talking to us so that we, in turn, can inform the Centre’s users. All that we know at the moment is that the Centre is closed.”
In the meantime anyone requiring further info should call Norah on 611 386 881 or email: oc.communitycare@gmail.com