Plaça del Poble renovation disputed over leaks and extra funding

The renovation of Plaça del Poble in Andorra la Vella remains contested after the communal council approved a €420,569 transfer to cover possible cost deviations while the private owner of the Vinyes car park has filed a claim alleging water infiltration from the square.

The current Enclar-led administration reworked a project originally advanced by Demòcrates; the work has not yet received final formal acceptance. Opposition councillor David Astrié listed deficiencies he says persist — lack of real vegetation, insufficient shaded areas and benches adapted for older people — and urged the council not to set a completion date until the square is “finished, comfortable and dignified.” He warned that unresolved problems could force the plaza to be lifted and rebuilt within a short period.

Cònsol major Sergi González defended the project and its current state, saying he is very satisfied and that residents are already using the space. He acknowledged there are finishing touches and planned improvements — more benches, additional trees and shading — but rejected claims of structural faults and warned against creating alarm. He said technicians have identified all incidents and are addressing them.

A central dispute concerns localized water infiltration from the plaza into the Vinyes car park. González described the problem as minimal and nearly resolved, saying technicians have located “four or five” punctual leaks that produce only occasional drips — he gave examples such as one drop every four minutes at one point, one every 12–15 minutes at another, and about five drops across 24 hours at other spots. He said most leaks are linked to retained old planters preserved during the works and noted a double waterproofing layer was applied; he also admitted that during earthmoving and when pavement was opened there were moments when more water entered the buildings below.

Vinyes Patrimonial, which owns and operates the private car park, has filed a claim at the Batllia against the commune for material damage. The company is seeking compensation for losses tied to closed parking spaces and cleaning costs and is also demanding the plaza’s waterproofing be redone. Earlier in the week the firm also sued the construction company and the project’s insurer.

Astrié attributes the infiltrations to defective execution or inadequate waterproofing across the plaza and the Vinyes area, calling the legal action a warning sign and urging immediate remediation. He urged that all necessary resources be allocated now to avoid later, more costly interventions.

On costs, González acknowledged earlier references to an approximate 15% overrun came from preliminary information supplied by the contractor and project management. He stressed the final figure for any deviation is pending analysis by the project’s technical direction and said a definitive number should be available shortly. The credit transfer, approved by the council with the minority voting against, was presented as a measure to reinforce budgets for ongoing public works, including Plaça del Poble.

The combination of additional funding, the legal claim by the car park owner and sharply differing assessments of the works has kept tensions high between the majority and the opposition as the municipality moves toward finalising the project. The council says recommended repairs are under way and that there are no plans to reopen or lift the entire plaza; the opposition insists the issues reveal problems in conception or execution that must be addressed before the space is declared complete.