A fire that broke out on Monday in a pile of trash accumulated on a private plot near the Aurora buildings, at number 38 Passeig de Joan Bosco in Girona, has reignited residents' complaints about the neglected state of the area. The plot, which was not part of the adjacent building's renovation carried out last year, has been accumulating waste for some time, a situation that, according to residents, contributed to the outbreak of flames.
Residents feel "abandoned" and lament that "no one has taken responsibility" for the private land, even though they believe the fire has "put everyone in danger." They criticize the City Council for being aware of the situation and not acting, despite promises of a cleanup that has yet to occur. Residents had requested that the building's renovation works include clearing the plot and removing asbestos cement.
Josep Maria Castanyer, president of the Pont Major Residents' Association, notes that the lot "has always had things piled up," including improper waste and tires, which generated visible black smoke. Although the building was not damaged, Castanyer reminds that "any action must be initiated by the community" as it is private property.
The ownership of the lot is complex, as few residents live in the building and the City Council had difficulty gathering signatures from all owners, including banks and vulture funds, for the access renovation. Municipal sources indicate that the exact ownership of the burned plot is currently unknown, although requests for its cleanup have been made. The owner reportedly "renounced the inheritance" of this specific plot, while retaining adjacent land.
The council has consulted the Generalitat, as if it is an intestate inheritance, ownership could pass to the regional body. Municipal sources assure that a subsidiary action is planned to clean the area if the land ownership is not clarified soon.
