Andorra Shifts Road Accident Cleanup Duty to Parishes, Sparking Criticism

The Andorran government has notified the seven parishes that, starting at the end of this year, the Fire Service will cease handling cleanup operations for roads impacted by traffic accidents, transferring the responsibility to the parishes themselves.

Parish leaders have criticised the move as "totally inefficient." Maria del Mar Coma, Ordino's lead councillor, raised the issue at a press conference following a meeting of parish representatives in Ordino on Tuesday. She explained that many parishes lack the specialised equipment for such tasks and that purchasing machinery for sporadic spills would be uneconomical. "We would have to buy a machine and dedicate someone to cleaning these roads," Coma said, adding that the government seems not to have fully assessed the implications of managing these spills.

Coma called for meetings with the Interior Ministry and Territorial Planning Ministry to request that the Road Maintenance and Operation Area (COEX) retain the role. She questioned the rationale behind the decision, suggesting it might amount to a "sort it out yourselves" approach, and urged reconsideration on the basis of solidarity across parishes. Eva Sansa, La Massana's lead councillor, noted that parishes can address minor leaks but struggle with major incidents. "When a vehicle travels a kilometre spilling oil on the public road, it is very difficult with the resources we have to carry out a thorough clean," Sansa said.

In a related discussion at the meeting, Culture Minister Mònica Bonell sought parish involvement in reformulating the Night Literary Award after the Cercle de les Arts i les Lletres announced it would no longer organise the event. The proposal aims to establish a new national prize replacing previous awards, open to all parishes rather than just those previously funding categories. Coma described it as a project to boost visibility for authors, support publishers, and aid translations to internationalise Andorran writers. Parishes gave a very positive reception, though economic contributions remain under discussion. Sansa highlighted how broader participation would add importance, professionalism, and an integrative model, despite the project still needing refinement.