The local government of Pontevedra and the Socialist Party (PSOE) have announced a political agreement to secure funding for the structural renovation of the playing field at Pasarón stadium. Anabel Gulías, the city's Sports Councillor, and Iván Puentes, the PSOE spokesperson, confirmed the agreement, stating that the council is committed to supporting Pasarón and its fans.
Puentes accused the Popular Party (PP) of obstructing progress on this initiative, which was unanimously agreed upon by the council in March. He asserted that the project could have commenced eight months ago if not for the delays caused by the Xunta de Galicia and ongoing negotiations led by Rafa Domínguez, the PP leader.
“We are almost in November, with a new season already underway, and we still do not have the projects and work necessary for the construction of the new playing surface at Pasarón,” Puentes lamented.
He further claimed that the delay appears to be politically motivated, suggesting that Domínguez has been reluctant to release funds until just before the upcoming municipal elections. The agreement reached in March had called for the provincial government to cover the costs of the repairs, with the council and the Xunta each contributing a third of the total expenses.
Despite the PP's initial support for the motion in the council, Puentes highlighted their contradictory stance in the regional parliament, where they indicated they would not allocate any funds for Pasarón. He expressed scepticism about whether Domínguez would genuinely support the renovation.
Gulías explained that the council had previously allocated €75,000 for repairs in 2023, but as the seasons progressed, it became clear that the issues were more complex than simple patchwork fixes. A technical audit revealed that the problems were structural and required a comprehensive solution.
She noted that the council had sought collaboration from the Diputación de Pontevedra and the Xunta, but expressed disappointment at the latter's refusal to contribute financially. “The councillor told us that there would be no funds for Pasarón, while funds were allocated to Ferrol,” Gulías remarked.
In response to the recent commitment from the Diputación to provide €845,000, Gulías remained cautious, questioning the sincerity of their intentions without a definitive project plan in place. She emphasised that any structural renovation would be costly and time-consuming, urging patience from the community.
Currently, municipal services are working on drafting the administrative specifications for a public tender to develop the project. Gulías concluded by reaffirming the council's priority to expedite the necessary procedures and secure the required funding to provide a lasting solution for the stadium, the club, and its supporters.
