Massana Council Approves €6.6M Purchase of Arinsal Cable Car and Parking

The Massana parish council approved a €6.6 million purchase of the Orriols cable car in Arinsal and its adjacent parking area, securing the measure with a 10-2 vote and opposition abstentions. The deal, funded by treasury resources and a special credit line, includes an initial €3 million payment in 2026 followed by €1.2 million annually until 2029. It ends monthly leases—reported between €27,000 and €31,151—and brings the full infrastructure, including stations, pylons, and mechanics, plus a 6,500-square-metre lot, under public ownership. A recent court ruling clarified the private seller's title, resolving disputes dating back to 2018 amid interest from other buyers.

Cònsol Major Eva Sansa called the acquisition strategic, noting it prevents loss of key assets vital for Arinsal's village life, ski station access, mobility, tourism, and economy. She highlighted the negotiated terms and future potential, such as an underground car park with a public plaza atop it, while avoiding dependence on private leases subject to hikes.

During the session, the council allocated €200,000 to Massana Activa for project launches and approved an objective-criteria subsidy scheme for non-profit sports, cultural, and social groups, as outlined by Consellera Bet Rossell. The fifth four-year management plan for the Comapedrosa Valleys Communal Natural Park advanced, setting protection rules, activities, zoning, and land use, per the cònsol menor.

Finance conseller Agustí Garcia reported a €1.4 million first-quarter surplus in the 2026 budget, despite €5.2 million in authorized investments during the early rollout phase.

On the late-March fire at the Aigües d'Arinsal bottling plant—which stemmed from an unreplaced section of the old electrical system during renovations and burned for over 72 hours—Sansa confirmed judicial and police seals have lifted following a joint report by scientific police, firefighters, and government safety experts deeming it accidental. The site has returned to owners tied to Quart d'Arinsal, Causes Pies, and the Bishopric of Urgell, along with tenant Aigua Pura.

An external assessment commissioned by the council pegs demolition and debris removal at nearly €1 million, with Sansa detailing a €900,000 cleanup budget plus €40,000-€50,000 in fire response costs forwarded to Aigua Pura's insurer. Experts from the insurer have accessed the site for evaluations, but no decision has emerged on coverage or the tenant's potential recovery of a €15 million rebuilding investment. Sources indicate full reimbursement appears unlikely due to attributed liabilities.

Sansa stressed urgency for cleanup, citing the ruins as an unwelcome village image, and dismissed rumours of luxury housing. The tenant retains a long-term lease and intends to resume operations, but if it withdraws, the council would pursue public uses like a plaza in coordination with Causes Pies and the Bishopric, given the site's scale and local needs. No final plans are set.