The PSOE spokesperson in Torrevieja, Bárbara Soler, has publicly challenged the local government’s decision to authorise a new joint venture between the companies Acciona and Actúa Servicios y Medio Ambiente. The new entity, operating under the name “Cuida Torrevieja”, will now jointly manage essential municipal services including street cleaning, waste collection and beach maintenance, while Actúa remains responsible for the green spaces in the municipality.
Soler expressed concern that this union is an attempt to “dilute responsibilities” rather than improve the quality of public works. She highlighted the historical background of Actúa, noting its links to previous public contracts in Torrevieja that were involved in legal proceedings against former mayor Ángel Hernández Mateo.
The socialist spokesperson also drew attention to the escalating costs of the city’s cleaning contracts. She noted that while a previous coalition government estimated the service at between 16 and 17 million euro per year, the current Partido Popular administration promoted a new tender that increased the cost to between 24 and 25 million euro annually for the same public service.
Furthermore, the PSOE has pointed out repeated failures in the existing contracts. Soler specifically mentioned the years-long absence of brown organic waste containers, which prevented residents from recycling correctly and potentially lowering their waste tax. “For four years, a basic contractual obligation has been ignored, and now, coinciding with the validation of this joint venture, they announce its deployment,” Soler remarked.
Regarding the maintenance of parks and gardens, Soler claimed that Actúa provided services without a formal contract following its expiration in 2022, receiving monthly payments exceeding 263,000 euro. Despite further contracts for irrigation maintenance, she alleged that many green areas remained neglected due to broken systems. She also criticised a 2025 contract for green spaces worth over 111 million euro, citing a lack of mandatory palm tree inspections despite recent incidents involving falling trees.
The PSOE concluded by stating that Torrevieja does not need a partnership between companies with a history of non-compliance, but rather an administration that ensures contracts are strictly enforced for the benefit of the citizens.
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