The closure of the Manilva fire station by the Provincial Consortium will be one of the key items at the ordinary plenary session of the Diputación de Málaga to be held this Wednesday, 18 June. The decision has prompted widespread rejection from institutions, residents and political groups, and several provincial groups have announced motions calling for its reopening.
Among them is the joint motion by PSOE and Con Málaga, in which both parties condemn the closure as a measure that has left the municipalities of Manilva and Casares in a situation of «helplessness and insecurity». They also recall that a peaceful demonstration was held in Manilva to demand the continuation of the service.
The Vox group has also registered a motion expressing its support for Manilva’s municipal corporation and rejecting the closure of the fire station, advocating an agreement that would resolve the deficiencies identified without shutting down the service.
The Town Hall is considering legal action
For its part, Manilva Town Hall has said it is studying the possibility of going to court if the Diputación maintains its decision to keep the fire station closed. According to an official statement from the Town Hall, the municipal legal services are analysing the most appropriate route for starting legal proceedings over a possible violation of residents’ fundamental rights.
At the same time, the Town Hall has announced that it has already identified and made available to the Provincial Council five plots of land where the new building could be constructed, as promised by the supra-municipal body. The local governing team says it agrees with the roadmap for the future fire station, with the exception of the immediate closure of the current one.
Manilva Town Hall has also submitted a formal complaint to the Ombudsman, calling for a review of this decision and stressing its impact on the safety of a population that multiplies during the summer season.
A decision at the height of the high season
The fire station has closed at a particularly sensitive time, just as summer begins, when Manilva and its surroundings receive a significant increase in the floating population. Various social and trade union groups, such as the Sindicato Andaluz de Bomberos, have warned of the risks of leaving a coastal area without direct cover that sees a marked rise in emergencies during these months.
