Encamp Council Withholds €415K from Contractor Over Park Flaws

The Encamp parish council has withheld final acceptance of the 15,000-square-metre Parc de l'Ossa, retaining €415,000—5% of the €8.3 million total cost—from contractor Progec over execution shortcomings, particularly in outdoor areas.

Originally scheduled for June, the handover remains pending eight months later due to flaws identified in joint inspections with Progec and project supervisors. Indoor facilities and enclosed spaces have performed as expected, but outdoor elements have drawn user complaints about unkempt zones, degraded landscaping, and poor functionality. Key problems include leaks in the underground parking, poorly defined external areas, and paved walkways blending grass, wood, and granite that turn muddy after rain or snowmelt, despite their role as main pathways. The council has approved a €10,000 remedial quote for these paths.

Minor Cònsol Xavier Fernàndez described the project's design as a success, blending urban renewal, biodiversity, and community spaces to earn a MAPEI prize and a 2024-2025 Green Solutions Award. He emphasized that issues stem from inaccurate execution rather than council neglect: "There are things that should be finished but aren't, and others that are finished but don't work as per the plans." Daily workers continue tasks, with full resolution expected by May, delivering a "splendid" park. If Progec does not comply, the parish will use the retained funds to engage other firms.

The natural pond's green tint results from nutrient-driven algae, not poor maintenance; a biologist manages it, and a wave-emitting machine will address the issue after a full seasonal cycle. Some plantings await replanting in better weather. Fernàndez rejected claims of abandonment, noting that while incivic litter like beer bottles requires cleanup, core problems trace to construction or natural processes.

Opposition councillor Marta Pujol of Avancem welcomed the council's stance on withholding acceptance and issuing claims against Progec and supervisors. However, she criticized Fernàndez's mixed messaging on user satisfaction versus defects, calling it contradictory. Pujol recalled the project's cost overruns and delays in opening indoor spaces like the bar, youth area, and traffic office, which faced propping-up issues before becoming operational. Despite these, she viewed the non-acceptance as the right call.

The park, replacing the historic Prat Gran, stays open during fixes.