Andorra la Vella Councillor Slams Neglected Pavements
Opposition leader David Astrié criticises the poor state of sidewalks in the capital, highlighting resident complaints and videos of hazards like.
Key Points
- Councillor David Astrié criticises pavements 'same or worse' than Dec 2023, based on resident videos.
- Issues include loose tiles spraying water, causing trips and falls, e.g., ankle injury in Carrer de l’Aigüeta.
- Affected streets: Avinguda Tarragona, Prat de la Creu, and others; new complaints daily.
- Ruling Enclar budgeted €300k vs needed €2m; past mandates had planned refurbishments.
David Astrié, a councillor from the opposition in Andorra la Vella's local council, has criticised the poor condition of numerous pavements across the parish, stating they remain "the same or worse than in December 2023".
His comments follow the release of a video on social media by Demòcrates per Andorra, featuring footage submitted by residents highlighting defects in streets throughout the capital. Astrié explained that neighbours have contacted his group for months with complaints about broken or loose tiles that spray water in the rain, cause trips, and lead to falls.
He cited the case of a resident who stepped on a faulty tile in Carrer de l’Aigüeta, fell, and injured her ankle—an incident that prompted the collection of video evidence. Astrié stressed that the effort originated with citizens, not his party, which has simply relayed their concerns.
The video showcases issues in streets including Avinguda Tarragona, Carrer Mestre Xavier Plana, Ciutat de Valls, l’Alzinaret, Mossèn Tremosa, les Canals, Príncep Benlloch, l’Aigüeta, Prat de la Creu, Mossèn Lluís Pujol, la Plana, and Na Maria Pla. He noted this is not an exhaustive list, with new reports arriving daily.
Astrié accused the ruling Enclar group of failing to allocate sufficient resources despite campaigning on the issue in 2023. He questioned the adequacy of the €300,000 budgeted for maintenance, suggesting up to €2 million might be needed given the parish's neglect.
He contrasted this with previous mandates, when pavements underwent comprehensive refurbishments rather than patchwork fixes, pointing to examples like Carrer Prat de la Creu and Carrer Callaueta, which followed a planned investment schedule. Astrié also urged completion of pending work on the opposite side of Carrer Prat de la Creu, a busy thoroughfare promised for the following year but delayed for two years.
He hopes the videos will prompt action from the majority, after repeated calls in council meetings went unheeded, emphasising that the pressure comes from residents, not the opposition.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: