The deterioration of the enclosure advances while waiting for the second phase of its recovery
The abandonment takes its toll on the main complex of the Cárcel Vieja. In recent months, the nucleus of the old prison complex, on Primo de Rivera avenue, has suffered new subsidence, worsening its state of conservation. The most alarming damage is apparently located in the “heart” of the building, where the panopticon was. There have been more landslides that have affected the upper floor, as shown by the accumulation of rubble and metal beams. In some rooms, such as the left isolation module, the cracks cross the walls from top to bottom.
The central part of the old prison, which housed the cell galleries in addition to other facilities, such as the school, the dining room and the barbershop, is pending rehabilitation, within the second phase of the project designed by the City Council. The objective is its transformation into “a multipurpose cultural enclave”, with an investment of 7.5 million euros, according to initial calculations. However, there is still no start date for the works, which will cover an area of almost 3,700 square meters.
While waiting for these recovery works to be carried out, the impression is that no maintenance has been carried out to stop the advance of deterioration, as shown by the images taken by the Murcian photographer Carlos Schevelenbos (@chembos on Instagram) who, in his work in defense of heritage, has documented with his camera how this example of prison architecture has been deteriorating. His last foray into the old prison was yesterday.
The intention is to open to the public in the middle of next week the first building of the old prison
For at least 48 hours it has been possible to access the enclosure through a side door, in the right wing –next to the Post Office headquarters–, which has remained open without anyone noticing it. Despite the bustle of recent days in this area, due to the preparations to inaugurate the building intended for the administrative part of the prison and which has been rehabilitated in the first phase of the project, the City Council had not realized that it was possible Enter the main building through that door.
After the notice of THE TRUTH, municipal technicians sent by the Department of Public Works moved to proceed with its closure. In principle, it is considered that the door has been forced “in an act of vandalism.” So instructions have been given to secure and reinforce that entrance in order to prevent anyone from entering.
At the same time, the Heritage service was notified, as it is a municipally owned asset, to verify if, as a result of this action, “damage or graffiti could have been caused inside,” according to the councilor and deputy mayor Mario Gomez. It will be then when Patrimony will decide whether to file a complaint for these events with the Police. In the images captured by Chembos there are no signs that the door has been forced.
Regarding the progress of the deterioration, the mayor of Fomento points out that «the intense rains of this spring may have influenced. In any case, the entire building has to be cleaned up when the second phase works begin.” Gómez hopes to present this part of the project within a maximum period of two weeks. The plans will be exhibited in the property already recovered with the intention of collecting “any last suggestion from citizens or entities.” His goal is to get everything ready for the tender “before the summer holidays.”
The government team is still waiting to obtain European funds from the ‘Next Generation’ program to complete the rehabilitation of the Cárcel Vieja. «But if they don’t arrive –says Gómez– we will undertake the work with the City Council’s own resources; because our commitment is to recover municipal assets to put them in value and at the disposal of the citizens».
The municipal forecast is to open to the public in the middle of next week the first phase of the rehabilitation of the old prison, carried out following the ‘Ethereal Walls’ project, winner of the contest organized by the City Council in its day. An exhibition, which shows the entire rehabilitation process, is being assembled and other exhibitions are planned for the coming months.
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