Altea’s municipal market will close temporarily on 31 October because of structural defects detected in the building, according to municipal information reported by Ahora Marina Baixa.
The measure also affects the Juzgado de Paz, the local peace court, which will move to premises acquired by the council on Calle Zubeldía.
The council is preparing a temporary market in the town hall square, with a €408,000 allocation approved at the council meeting on 1 October.
Nine stalls have accepted relocation, while another three have decided not to move for personal reasons, councillor for commerce José María Borja explained.
Report calls for stronger foundations and pillars
On 6 August, the building’s owners’ association submitted a report by an external architect warning of significant defects and the need to strengthen the property’s foundations and pillars.
The study followed Caixaltea’s application for permission to refurbish its part of the building for its foundation and to construct additional floors.
Mayor Diego Zaragozí explained that Caixaltea owns 50.5% of the building and the council 49.5%, with the costs of the work to be covered in those proportions.
Zaragozí distinguished these defects from the precautionary shoring in the fish stalls area: he attributed the latter to water leaks and denied that it had been installed because of a risk of collapse.
Temporary market will miss its original target
The commerce department held its first meeting with stall concession holders on 28 July and considered alternative premises before opting for a covered structure in the town hall square.
The project was presented to traders on 5 October, and the stall layout was supplied two days later.
According to Borja, the signed agreements did not arrive until 21 October, delaying procurement of the structure and the necessary services.
The councillor acknowledged that the original expectation of having the installations assembled the week after his press appearance could not be met.
The council is examining air conditioning, toilet and security requirements for the temporary site, aiming to allow the stalls that accepted relocation to continue trading during the building’s closure.
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