The Alhaurín el Grande Town Hall has begun the demolition works of two modules at CEIP Emilia Olivares due to the worsening of structural cracks. The mayor criticises the Junta for not taking responsibility.
The Alhaurín el Grande Town Hall started on Wednesday the demolition of two modules at CEIP Emilia Olivares, an intervention funded by municipal resources due to the structural deterioration of the building. The decision, made by the governing team led by Anthony Bermúdez, responds to the need to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The works focus on two two-storey modules that house four classrooms, which have been affected by cracks and fissures since 2022. According to technical reports, the structure shows continuous movement, prompting the council to act urgently without waiting for the Junta de Andalucía to assume its responsibility.
The mayor, Anthony Bermúdez, stated that the Town Hall is "facing the cost of the demolition alone," which adds to the demand for the replacement of the spaces and new equipment for the centre. "We will not allow an administrative dispute or the lack of political will from the Junta de Andalucía to indefinitely prolong a situation that affects an entire educational community," he expressed.
A Structural Problem Detected in 2022
The first fissures were detected in September 2022, and in November of that year, technicians from the Andalusian Public Agency for Education (APAE) already warned that the building was degrading rapidly, estimating the repair at around 200,000 euros. In January 2023, the municipal architect confirmed that the structure could be in motion and that the necessary works were not ordinary maintenance.
In July 2023, a report from the municipal architect estimated the replacement cost at 313,806.05 euros, which represented 63.73% of the building's value, a percentage that, according to regulations, would obligate the Junta to carry out the replacement. However, the Territorial Delegation of Education in Málaga maintained in January 2023 that the action fell under municipal conservation duties.
The situation worsened in September 2023, when installed monitors recorded an increase in cracks of between 10 and 20 millimetres. In May 2024, a geotechnical study commissioned by the Town Hall concluded that the old foundation did not meet current regulatory requirements and showed damage incompatible with the expansive soil problem. This report was sent to the Junta in July 2024, without any effective response.
A Similar Precedent in 2020
The mayor recalled that in 2020, CEIP Emilia Olivares and CEIP Carmen Arévalo in Villa del Guadalhorce suffered similar damage, and the Ministry of Education then took responsibility and acted in both centres. "There is no regulatory change that justifies this," Bermúdez emphasised, attributing the current refusal to "a lack of loyalty and political will."
Meanwhile, the demolition works are already underway. The Town Hall has assured that it will continue to demand the Junta replace the demolished modules and construct new facilities for CEIP Emilia Olivares, a demand that directly affects families and staff at the centre, who are hoping for a definitive solution for the next school year.
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