The PSOE of Antequera has reported that the City Council has suspended the deadline to complete the execution project of the Teatro Torcal pending reports from the Junta and Firefighters.
The Teatro Torcal of Antequera adds a new chapter to its long wait. The local PSOE alerted this Thursday that the City Council has suspended the deadline for delivering the execution project for the rehabilitation works, further delaying the reopening of the emblematic cultural space, which has been closed for years.
The socialist spokesperson, José Luis Ruiz Espejo, explained that the reason for the halt is the lack of two mandatory reports: one from the Culture Delegation of the Junta de Andalucía and another from the Provincial Consortium of Firefighters. Both agencies must provide their opinions on the basic project, which was submitted on May 6.
A project stuck since November
The drafting of the execution project was awarded on November 28, 2025. The initial deadline for its completion was June 1, 2026, after a first extension was granted in March. Now, with the suspension, the clock has stopped indefinitely.
Ruiz Espejo wanted to make it clear that the architect in charge of the drafting is not to blame for this new postponement. “He submitted the required documentation and is waiting for the evaluations,” he pointed out. Once the reports arrive, the drafter will have approximately a month to complete the project.
The socialist has expressed concern about the timelines of the Culture Delegation, recalling that other heritage projects in the city, such as those of the Collegiate Church of Santa María or the walls of the Alcazaba, took years to obtain approval.
Lack of transparency and community frustration
The PSOE has criticized the PP government team for not publicly informing about this suspension. “The public deserves to know the situation of an action that has already accumulated too many delays since the closure of the Teatro Torcal,” Ruiz Espejo stated.
For the residents of Antequera, the Teatro Torcal is a cultural symbol that has been closed for years, and each delay represents a new blow. The reopening, which seemed close, is once again fading into the horizon. Meanwhile, the cultural activity of the city is suffering, with a space that could host theatre performances, concerts, and events, but remains an empty shell.
The socialist spokesperson has urged the City Council to prompt the Junta de Andalucía to expedite both this file and the other pending heritage authorizations in Antequera. “We cannot allow bureaucracy to paralyse key projects for the city,” he concluded.
So far, there has been no official statement from the City Council. The reports from Culture and Firefighters are the last hurdle before the execution project can be completed and subsequently put out to tender for the works. However, recent history invites caution: deadlines have been missed on several occasions.
The Teatro Torcal, inaugurated in the 1960s and closed due to safety and accessibility issues, needs a comprehensive rehabilitation. The project, budgeted at several million euros, is one of the major pending tasks for the city. Meanwhile, the people of Antequera continue to wait for the seats to be filled with an audience once again.
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