The Mayor of Manzanares, Julián Nieva, has outlined the progress of his third term leading the City Council, to whose Presidency he was elected in 2015, emphasizing what is to come, such as the addition of another million square meters of industrial land to continue growing economically and the desire to achieve a stop for the high-speed railway line, elements with which the municipality will ultimately shape itself to «have all the axes to make Manzanares a city in service of a land, not just for those from Manzanares.»
In an interview with Europa Press, Nieva has pointed out, regarding the gain of industrial land, that he has the commitment of the regional government of Emiliano García-Page to add that million square meters in what will be called Sector 6, «to develop large plots,» a preliminary step to the next project with the central government to develop more land in the Sepes industrial estate.
«We want to be much more important and useful than in the local sphere, and if we generate employment for thousands of people from other towns, that is important,» assures Nieva, who does not forget the importance of getting the high-speed train to stop in the municipality. «It has to stop in Manzanares, in Alcázar, and in Valdepeñas because it would complement a provincial, regional project. Without a doubt, we cannot be disconnected from the capital of Spain.»
«RECOVER THE CITY TO RECOVER THE PEOPLE»
His government, after a decade in power, started with «a commitment to recover the people» in the first place; to continue with the recovery of the city in the second instance after a period in which the town «had suffered a lot.»
And it is, as he remembers, in the term between the years 2011 and 2015, with the PP in charge of the City Council, «three important projects in the city were aborted» such as the construction of the Divina Pastora school, the opening of a sports pavilion, or the closure of the public television, in addition to the «intention» to privatize the Virgen de Altagracia hospital, «a folly of Cospedal that brought out 10,000 people to the streets.»
Once assuming the leadership, Nieva found «more than 2,400 unemployed, with a rate above 24%,» a reality that «has been completely reversed today, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the region and an unstoppable economic reality.»
«Around 4,000 men and women from nearby towns come to work in Manzanares every day thanks to industrial estates that provide hundreds of jobs; and we have an increasingly powerful agri-food sector,» celebrated the Mayor of Manzanares.
All this in a municipal area «with around 48,000 hectares» that is progressing «unstoppably,» being a leading municipality in, for example, the installation of photovoltaic solar plants. «We generate the energy consumed by three-quarters of Castilla-La Mancha residents at a residential level.»
An ecosystem that places Manzanares in «a good moment and in the best conditions,» with plenty of industrial land available to expand its economic muscle and located «in the best communication hub that can be designed, in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and in the north-south-east-west transversal axis,» making its location «a true strength.»
CULTURAL REFERENCE
Julián Nieva has proudly highlighted the great cultural catalog that his city offers, «with five museums, four of them public and free,» with «a commitment» that leads to programming more than 250 annual events, «all different» and at an average of «five per week.»
Added to this is a great «sports reality» after «having grown a lot,» a point in which he is confident in achieving the title of European City of Sports, for which the town will be evaluated in September.
An evaluation that he faces with optimism after renewing «important sports facilities,» from the two football fields – José Camacho and Blanca Romero Moraleda – or having four pavilions available «in excellent condition.»
The jewel in the crown in this area is the Manzanares Arena, «not only because of the need to have a facility in line with having a futsal team in the top national category.»
The success of their main sports team, which plays in the first division of Spanish futsal, brings «the most important clubs in Spain» to Manzanares, making the city «transform every 15 days» to welcome a new team playing at home.
The municipality has even become the venue for important events, such as the recent international women’s handball tournament, a discipline that is growing in the region and has seen a 40% increase in federation memberships.
CHALLENGES AND SUPRAMUNICIPAL AID
While Julián Nieva believes that the city has been successfully recovered, he points out that to continue developing, they also need to work hand in hand with other administrations. Thus, he emphasizes the construction of a new health center thanks to «a huge effort» and an investment of over 15 million euros from regional funds.
Furthermore, the city’s hospital «now has the best radiodiagnostic equipment» after incorporating a magnetic resonance imaging machine worth over 3.5 million euros, as well as a «state-of-the-art» laboratory.
«There can be no development without economy, without industry, without employment, without culture, without sports, without health, and without education,» stated the Mayor of Manzanares.
However, he assures that «there are still things to be done,» such as a new health center between Prensa and María Zambrano streets; in addition to the expansion of the Los Jardines nursing home, a reference center, as it did not record any deaths «during the worst of the pandemic.»
The adult education center will also be completed this year, allowing them to «fulfill a broad electoral program» that also includes other aspects with the collaboration of the State, such as the improvement of the Civil Guard barracks, «with around two million euros so they are in the best conditions.»
The courts have also been improved «and a significant reform is being carried out at the Renfe station,» as highlighted by the Mayor of the town. «Manzanares is an ideal city to live in, to start a family, to work, and to develop,» he concluded.