Protest Against Arinsal Astronomical Viewpoint Set for October 22 in La Massana
Opponents of the planned Alt de la Capa viewpoint will gather at Plaça del Quart after a vote by the Salvem la Capa platform, as a Change.org petition passes 4,400 signatures.
Key Points
- Protest scheduled for Thursday, October 22 at 8 pm at Plaça del Quart in La Massana.
- The date won 73.1% support in a Salvem la Capa vote; the location took 60%.
- Organisers demand construction be halted, administrative actions transparent and genuine public participation opened.
- A Change.org manifesto opposing the project has gathered 4,400 signatures.
A public protest against the planned scenic viewpoint at Alt de la Capa, in Arinsal, will take place on Thursday, October 22 at 8 pm at Plaça del Quart in La Massana, the Salvem la Capa platform has confirmed.
The date was backed by 73.1% of participants in a vote organised by the group, ahead of the alternative of Wednesday, October 28, also at 8 pm. Plaça del Quart took 60% of the vote on location, beating Plaça del Comú and Plaça de les Fontetes.
The square sits next to the departure station of the cable car to Pal. It is one of the busiest spots in the country and is expected to give the gathering high visibility. It is known to some in La Massana as Plaça del Donpi, after the restaurant located there.
Organisers have said they will launch an awareness campaign and begin the administrative procedures required to hold the protest. They have argued that the project has been pushed through "with its back to the public" and that the response to the petition and to their coordination channels shows a wider movement against the viewpoint. Their demands are that construction be halted, that administrative actions be made transparent, and that a genuine public participation process be opened. Salvem la Capa wants the future of Alt de la Capa decided through democratic mechanisms and intends to keep organising actions to press the case with the parish council.
Opposition to the project has grown since it was announced at the end of September. The Massana parish council said last Tuesday that documentation on the project would be made available on its website, having previously been accessible only in person by appointment.
An environmental impact report commissioned by the council concludes that the viewpoint would have a "moderate" effect on the natural surroundings. Opponents argue that its impact on the landscape and biodiversity of the area would be serious and potentially irreversible. A manifesto calling for the project to be halted and its impact reassessed, published on Change.org, has gathered 4,400 signatures.
Related Articles
Other articles from Catalan-language sources about the same story:
- El Periòdic•
La primera concentració contra el mirador de l’Alt de la Capa ja té data: el dijous 22 d’octubre a la plaça del Quart
- Altaveu•
La mobilització contra el mirador a l'Alt de la Capa ja té data: 22 d'octubre a les 8 del vespre
- Diari d'Andorra•
La protesta contra el mirador apunta al dijous 22 d’octubre