After a long journey through the desert of eight years in the opposition, Manu Reyes (PP) has regained the mayorship of Castelldefels, which he already held between 2011 and 2015.
Did you consider throwing in the towel during the opposition stage?
never Throughout these eight years, the neighbors who trusted me encouraged me and made me clear.
He was very close to the absolute majority. He governs with Som, a group led by an ex-socialist councillor. Will they understand each other?
Nico Cerpa has left the PSC and created a new municipalist party. I respect this kind of training. I already agreed with a similar one in 2011. It was a formidable relationship. It will be the same.
What are the main challenges of this mandate?
There are some predictable and others unexpected. We have found a hole of between eight and nine million euros in this year’s budget because the accounts are extended and there is a significant cut in the income chapter and an increase in expenses. The challenges already foreseen are cleaning, improving security, mobility, transport, parking, protecting the environment and putting people at the center.
In one way or another, Castelldefels beach has always had top manta. How will you approach this issue?
It has been modulating. When I was mayor there were much less. In recent years, the municipal government, instead of fighting it, has almost given it protection. It is not the way, because it creates a calling effect. It is necessary to make a round with joint work between the local police, the Mossos d’Esquadra and the National Police on the issue of foreigners.
Just a police approach?
It’s just that the way we can really attack is because of the issue of illegal products being sold, fakes… It’s total and absolute discrimination for businesses that pay taxes and have difficulties.
Another unusual but recurring issue is that of dumping dirty water on the beach.
We are sickened by the faecal waters that end up contaminating natural areas such as Olla del Rei and the beach. Time passes and the investments of the AMB and the ACA have not been made. We demand that they be done. There is another important phenomenon, in the part closest to Gavà there is some regression of the sand.
What do you think of Aena’s project to expand the airport?
I haven’t seen it. If there are more flights, it is very likely that when there is an adverse weather situation we will have more planes over Castelldefels. If we support more planes, the neighbors cannot be in favor. It’s obvious. We are the municipality with the most affected population. I will defend the interests of my neighbors above all other interests and we will be radically against it.
And a greater connection between Catalan airports?
Looking at what big capitals are doing, such as London, we see that there are airports within 50 kilometers. No one considers landing near Piccadilly Circus, they land at Gatwick, Stansted or Luton. They have good intermodal and rail conditions. In 15 minutes you take the Gatwick Express and you are at Victoria Station. Reus and Girona have the AVE nearby. Why don’t we use this intermodality and have certain flights go somewhere else?
Why did he vote to stop the modification of the PGM known as Green Axis?
The previous government presented a project that was not agreed upon in which they intended to change the appearance of Castelldefels and which posed the serious threat of building 4,000 homes touching or in the Garraf natural park. We don’t want to destroy the park. We don’t have to enter a metropolitan competition to see which city grows the most in number of inhabitants. We have 99% of the developable land used up.
Castelldefels is one of the cities with the most expensive rents. How can the access to the house be shielded?
It is clear that the price is very expensive. But the housing solution must be metropolitan, it cannot be local. We have to see where we can put more housing, and what needs to be improved is transport and mobility to find an alternative at an affordable price. We have no more room. Castelldefels cannot be Benidorm with skyscrapers.
And what can be done at the local level?
On these remaining plots, we will see if public or public-private housing can be built there. What we can do is to see the park, which are not the first houses to be closed and to study whether there is a problem of legal security, which is why the owners are afraid to let them out for fear of illegal occupation.
