Andorra la Vella Opposition Demands Seniors' Centre Relocation from Restaurant Space

Opposition councillors in Andorra la Vella have called on the local government to reconsider the shared use of space between a private restaurant in the Casa del Poble and the Casa Pairal seniors' centre on the building's first floor.

David Astrié, a councillor from the Democratic minority group, told Diari d'Andorra that elderly residents feel "expelled" from the Casa Pairal. The group plans to submit a formal request through a council session or the social affairs commission, urging officials to address the "incompatibility" and explore relocating the seniors' facility.

Elderly users, known as *padrins*, report that the main issue stems from the centre's afternoon opening at 3:45pm. The local council had agreed with the restaurant operators that the dining area would be cleared and cleaned by then, allowing seniors to gather for coffee, conversation, card games like *botifarra*, or dominoes. However, this arrangement has not been followed, leading to discomfort for both diners and seniors. "It's not pleasant for us or for those eating nearby while games are underway at the next table. Everyone feels uneasy, and there's a lot of bad feeling," one *padri* said.

As a result, many seniors now stay home in the afternoons or head to the dedicated seniors' centre in Escaldes-Engordany, which offers its own building with services and a landscaped terrace.

Additional grievances include the room's restaurant-style decor, with few square tables suitable for games—most are long, round, or oversized. Walls cannot display event posters or schedules during restaurant hours, so they are rarely put up. Seniors also initially objected to meat ageing fridges visible at the back, though staff now cover them with blankets after lunch service.

One *padri* summarised the situation: through the concession, "we've sold the Casa Pairal. It was Andorra's best, with a terrace, views, natural light, and a great location—now it's one of the worst." Another put it as: "We now have a seniors' centre inside a restaurant, not a seniors' centre with a restaurant."

Complaints have also arisen over the redesigned Plaça del Poble outside. Benches formed by stone planters and wooden backrests are uncomfortable, particularly for older people, and fail to encourage lingering chats. The shading system offers insufficient protection from summer heat.