Canillo to Make Final Push for Armiana Cable Car Land Deals Before Legal Action

Canillo authorities will convene a final meeting with three resisting landowners affected by the Armiana cable car project, but their representatives have already declared their position unchangeable, ruling out any deal short of rerouting the cable.

Jordi Alcobé, the parish's senior consul, issued the warning following a council session on Wednesday. He said the council would summon Josep Casal, Carme Duedra, and Remei Rossa—whose property was initially spared after a route adjustment but who has now rejoined the opposition—for one last discussion. Without progress, the parish will seek a public interest declaration as a precursor to expropriating airspace rights over the affected sites: the Casal campsite, the Les Somiades plot, and the Molí garage parcel.

The landowners' lawyer insisted the sole acceptable solution involves altering the trajectory to avoid overflights. He highlighted the Casal campsite's reliance on natural serenity, arguing that frequent cable car passes above bungalows would devastate its viability and scare away visitors. The other properties, he added, would lose significant development value under the cable. "At minimum, not in my garden," he stated bluntly, rejecting public interest claims as overriding citizens' rights.

Alcobé emphasised exhausting dialogue first. "If no agreement proves possible with the owners, we will resort to the formula of parish and general interest," he said. "Expropriation becomes an option then, but I do not want to reach that point without trying every approach." He justified the project's public value through enhanced neighbourhood safety, reduced road traffic risks, streamlined infrastructure operations, and year-round Tibetan bridge access.

Engineered by Despolm and ERIC, the 900-metre cable spans a 350-metre elevation gain in three minutes, starting from the Pla campsite—purchased by the council years ago—and crossing the river. Initial cost estimates reach €9 million. The council prioritises agreements with cooperative owners in coming weeks while preparing legal steps if needed.