Compromise for cultural centre

THE Generalitat pledged €12 million for the first phase of Benidorm’s Cultural Centre. Antonio Rodes, director general of the publicly-owned Valencian Community Themed Projects Society (SPTCV) which is responsible for large projects, confirmed the investment after announcing that there would be no second phase.

Earlier, the Hosbec hoteliers’ association Antonio Mayor criticised the Generalitat’s priorities.  “In recent years the regional government has put all its eggs in one basket with Valencia City,” Mayor said. 

Meanwhile, he continued, there was no money for the cultural centre which would put Benidorm at the heart of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.  

In response, Rodes declared the SPTCV would restart the project which was halted more than five years ago:  “It will go ahead, come what may.” 

The half-finished centre on one of Benidorm’s remaining prime sites will include two municipal conservatoires for music and dance, a 550-capacity function room, a cafeteria and communal areas.    

Rodes recognised the SPTCV proposal was only a partial solution but said the present regional government was not responsible for the cultural centre’s problems, the money that was wasted on it or the promises that were broken.  “Instead it has come up with a solution, however limited that might be, which requires a great deal of financial effort.”