Antigua to fast-track emergency tender worth nearly €700,000 to restore sports pavilion: it failed to meet safety requirements

Alberto says the situation did not arise suddenly and recalls that his political group had already raised concerns about the pavilion’s condition during the previous term. “Four years later, it’s not us saying it: the technicians are, and they are telling us to close the pavilion for safety reasons,” he said.

The councillor stressed that the facility continued to be used for sport despite problems that, he said, had persisted for years. Activities such as wrestling and archery took place there, and he recalled incidents involving leaks and power cuts. “When it rains, more water comes into the pavilion than falls outside,” he said.

The situation has also left the municipality without a sports facility that is operational and in proper condition. “We have to put the work out to tender as an emergency because there’s nothing—there is currently no sports facility open and in suitable condition in Antigua,” Alberto said.

The Town Council plans to replace a roof covering around 3,000 square metres through an emergency procedure. The work is estimated to cost around €700,000, with an expected completion period of between two and three months.

The councillor attributed the accumulated deterioration to a lack of upkeep. “There has not been proper maintenance of the sports facilities inherited from previous administrations,” he said.

Alongside restoring the pavilion, the Town Council is also proposing changes to access to municipal sports facilities. Alberto said residents registered in Antigua would be given priority over users from other municipalities.

“What cannot happen is for our residents to have to travel, for example, to Puerto del Rosario and pay to use a gym or any sports facility, while people from other municipalities come to our gym,” he said.

The intention, he explained, is to offer available places first to people registered in Antigua, then open access to users from other municipalities if places remain. “First, those who can prove they are registered in the municipality of Antigua will be able to use the gym,” he said.

Antigua Sports City project to resume ‘within days or weeks’

Work on the pavilion coincides with the revival of the Antigua Sports City project. Alberto said construction had begun, but defects relating to the athletics track and the stands were identified during the work, forcing it to stop and the project to be revised.

The project was put out to tender again with a budget of approximately €7 million. Although work was initially expected to resume in September, the start has been delayed while the works supervision and safety plan were being processed.

The councillor said those procedures were now well advanced and he was confident that work on Antigua Sports City could resume “within a few days or weeks”.

Road resurfacing in Antigua town, Triquivijate, Costa de Antigua and Caleta de Fuste

The new municipal government has also made four road-resurfacing plans a priority. They are funded through a budget amendment drawing on the Treasury surplus, approved at the end of July for around €7.5 million.

According to David Alberto, some of the plans have already been put out to tender, while others are listed on the procurement platform. The work will cover Antigua town centre, Triquivijate, Costa de Antigua and Caleta de Fuste.

The first work to be carried out will be in Antigua town centre. The councillor said some of the streets included in the plans had gone “more than 20 or 25 years” without being resurfaced.

Seven children’s parks and €1.5 million investment

The package of works also includes the refurbishment of seven children’s parks across Agua de Bueyes, Valles de Ortega, Antigua, Triquivijate and Caleta de Fuste, where three projects are planned.

Around €1.5 million has been allocated to refurbishing the children’s parks.

Alberto listed road resurfacing, the parks and the pavilion roof among the new government’s priorities for the coming months. “In this remaining quarter of the year, we’ll see road resurfacing, work to replace children’s parks and the replacement of the roof at the Antigua pavilion,” he concluded.