Ordino Council Disputes Amphitheatre Swap for Wetlands Centre

A dispute arose at Ordino's communal council meeting on Thursday over replacing a planned Roman-style amphitheatre near La Querola with a molleres wetlands interpretation centre.

Minority councillor Enric Dolsa opposed the change, insisting on honouring the original commitment made with architect Jean Nouvel during early urban planning discussions for the area. He recalled negotiations that secured agreement from the Quart and noted Nouvel's endorsement of the amphitheatre as a key cultural complement to the project. "I still believe the commitment taken between Ordino council and Jean Nouvel must be upheld and that the amphitheatre should be built," Dolsa said. Acknowledging costs for construction and maintenance, he demanded evidence of any prior agreement scrapping it, warning he would remind all parties of their obligations if none existed. Dolsa highlighted the amphitheatre's appeal in preliminary designs, calling it a striking feature within the overall scheme.

Cònsol Major Maria del Mar Coma responded that a 2013 government letter flagged the site's high environmental value, requiring molleres protection that made the amphitheatre unfeasible. Environment departments later deemed construction atop remaining wetlands impossible, a stance she said Nouvel accepted. The following year, the Quart proposed alternatives, leading over time to the current interpretation centre plan. Coma noted the shift had not been broadly shared with council members initially, as it developed through talks. She stressed broad support for the modification from the Quart, La Querola developers and the council itself, prioritising environmental preservation while advancing the site's intended development. "As long as the surroundings are protected and we proceed as planned, we are fine," Coma concluded.