The City Council of Puerto del Rosario held an extraordinary plenary session on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the processing of the Municipal Protection Catalogue. This document is vital for the conservation and enhancement of the historical, architectural, ethnographic, and archaeological heritage of the municipality.
During the session, the results of the public information period following the initial approval of the document were discussed. This public engagement process, which allowed residents to contribute their feedback, yielded 179 objections. These submissions have since been reviewed and addressed by the drafting team of the catalogue, underlining the importance of transparency and community involvement in local governance.
The Mayor of Puerto del Rosario, David de Vera, emphasized the critical nature of this tool in safeguarding the municipality’s identity. He stated, “The Municipal Protection Catalogue is fundamental for preserving the history and identity of Puerto del Rosario. Our goal is to ensure that the municipality’s development occurs with respect for the elements that are part of our collective memory and cultural legacy,” highlighting a commitment to thoughtful urban planning.
One of the key topics discussed during the plenary was the proposal to reincorporate properties located in the La Cornisa area. These properties, initially excluded from the catalogue during its initial approval, faced a wave of objections. The City Council noted that reports from relevant heritage administrations, including the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, support their inclusion in the catalogue, in accordance with the Law of Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands.
Support for this proposal also emerged from submissions by associations, groups, and individuals, who advocated for these properties to be part of the protection catalogue. This community backing illustrates the collective desire to preserve local heritage, demonstrating a strong public interest in maintaining the historical character of the area.
The Councillor for Historical Heritage, David de León, explained in his remarks that the process followed aligns with the City Council’s commitment to legality, transparency, and the protection of municipal heritage. He expressed, “A protection catalogue is not a list of prohibitions. It is a map of our identity. It is the tool that guarantees future generations can continue to read in the buildings, the pathways, and the spaces of our municipality the history of who we were and who we are,” making a strong case for the importance of heritage in community identity.
The proposal also includes the incorporation of 60 new heritage assets into the municipal catalogue. These new additions encompass architectural, ethnographic, and archaeological properties, enhancing the inventory of protected elements within the municipality and ensuring a more comprehensive approach to local heritage preservation.
