A community in disagreement
Sant Pere Sallavinera, a small municipality in Anoia, is at the center of an intense debate on the possible reactivation of an aerodrome that has been abandoned for years. Residents and the City Council have expressed their opposition to a private project that provides for an average of 30 daily flights, as well as the creation of a social space with bar and barbecue area. Neighbors criticize the lack of information and the transparency of the process.
Stories of a turbulent past
The history of the aerodrome extension project is not new. Jaume Torrades, one of the neighbors who fought a similar initiative in the early 2000’s, comments that this plan looks like a ‘déjà vu’ of a previous episode. At that time, the Generalitat had planned a 16 -hectare aerodrome with a large number of daily operations, which was finally stopped by the Supreme Court due to lack of proper environmental impact assessment.
A new project with old ghosts
The neighbors of Sant Pere Sallavinera fear that the reactivation of the aerodrome will again generate conflicts. Maria Caparrós, a worried resident, says that the lack of information on the current project is alarming, and that they should have been better informed about the implications of this initiative.
The mayor and his position
Maties Bosch, the mayor of the municipality, explained that the City Council is in a complicated situation. Although they disagree with the project, they cannot refuse to process it, as the company has followed the legal procedures established. Bosch emphasized that the final decision is in the Department of the Environment and Urbanism of the Generalitat.
A community reaction
In the face of this situation, the neighbors have made allegations, including the Association for the Environmental Sustainability of Alta Segarra and Anoia, who have expressed their concerns about the environmental impact of the aerodrome. The company Subados S.L., responsible for the project, has stated that the operations will be limited to light sports aviation and that environmental regulations will be followed.
The cumulative effects of projects
Josep Maria Canela, President of the Asaasa, has shown that the aerodrome project is added to a series of renewable energy projects that are already underway in the area. This proliferation of projects, according to him, is not reflected in environmental impact studies, and this may have detrimental consequences for both the community and local wildlife.
A look into the future
The debate on the Sant Pere Sallavinera aerodrome is an example of how small communities can face large projects with significant implications. The reaction of the neighbors and the local authorities is an example of the power of citizen mobilization in the defense of the territory, and the next steps will be crucial to determine the future of this controversial initiative.