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Date Published: 06/07/2022
ARCHIVED - Cartagena street market shut down over illegal building work
The new private market was due to be built in an area where there are already four markets
The license that Cartagena City Hall had granted to a company for the implementation of a private market in Las Tejeras has been suspended as they have been carrying out work to pavements, curbsides and streets, which is not allowed by private companies.
The company, which has not been named, is also accused of other unresolved issues such as the illegal construction of parking for customers and vendors.
Cartagena’s Councillor for Markets, Juan Pedro Torralba, expressed his displeasure with the situation and the reasons for shutting down the market to representatives of the Association of Street Trading in the Region of Murcia (Venam).
Venam are optimistic about the conclusions drawn from the meeting, stating, “In addition to the technical issues that have been explained to us and which have led to the suspension of the activity licence, there has been unanimity among the associations in explaining that there is no need for a new street market that would introduce more problems than those already in place. We cannot cause serious harm to the general interest for the benefit of a few.”
There are already four street markets in the same area around Las Tejeras, and opening a new one would have a negative influence on the sales at the existing markets.
“Demand is not increasing and supply is increasing exponentially. We understand that reason and logic must prevail,” explained Venam. “The administration must look after the general interest, that is its mission. The associations had the function here of explaining to the administration the point of view of the people we represent, the day-to-day life and the economic reality they live in.”
Pedro Furió, vice-president of Venam, pointed out that this is the general feeling of all street vendors: “There is a licence permitted for an open-plan area, but here they may be doing something different, with some infrastructures that were not even planned and with access to the ring road completely prohibited.
“The Town Hall can grant whatever licences it wants, but with a certain amount of foresight and without harming the sector in such a flagrant way.”
The company that has had its licence suspended in Las Tejeras is expected to make its counterarguments to try to explain that the constructions it intends to carry out are legitimate and continue to open their new market.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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