The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz conducted the initial session of a trial on Monday against the former manager of the kiosk Strasse Park located in the park Garcia Sanabria. They are accused of unlawfully transferring the concession without notifying the new proprietors of the illegal electricity connection, which had amassed debts nearing 90,000 euros, a figure that has since escalated to 150,000 euros.
One of the recent owners expressed during the session that they were unaware of the illegal connection or the outstanding debts, as well as the requirement to undertake works to rectify the situation. It was only shortly thereafter that they received a call from the Town Hall informing them of the circumstances.
The previous owners had devised a project to implement the installation, which had an estimated cost of 29,000 euros, but it contained specific shortcomings that were never addressed.
The execution of this work was projected to have a minimum budget of 70,000 euros. However, as the kiosk is situated in an area designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), they needed to await approval from the Cabildo.
Guillermo Díaz Guerra, the current urban planning manager and former head of Municipal Services, recounted how the concession purchasers were informed about the kiosk’s true status, including the debts incurred and the necessity of carrying out the required works; otherwise, their utility supply would be disconnected.
The former councillor noted that the businessman’s reaction was striking—“he froze, he didn’t even blink”—and explained that it was at that moment he insisted on payment since he was advocating for energy conservation and was taken aback by the substantial bill from the park.
Upon learning of the actual conditions surrounding the Park kiosk, the buyer stated he was stunned, particularly by the amount they would have to pay and that he had not been informed prior to the acquisition.
The other partner mentioned that had he been aware of such information, he would not have proceeded with the purchase or would have done so under significantly different terms, highlighting that the contract contained a clause confirming there were no existing debts.
The new owners reported that the concession ended last September, and they are currently awaiting a new one to be established. They indicated that the business has remained profitable at all times except during the pandemic, although they subsequently received subsidies amounting to 71,000 euros.