PSOE Demands Action Over Seven-Year Delay to Oriol Care Home

The Socialist Party of Orihuela (PSOE) has launched a coordinated effort demanding immediate action to resolve seven years of delay in constructing the new Oriol residential care home. The municipal group has submitted a motion for discussion at the upcoming council meeting, while regional deputy Silvia Gómez plans to introduce a non-legislative motion in the Valencian parliament.

Families were relocated to a Generalitat-run facility in Torrevieja following damage to the original Oriol site in El Palmeral during the September 2019 DANA. Despite purchasing the former asylum building in Orihuela for €4 million in 2022, construction has yet to commence. The regional Social Services Department issued an urgent bid in January 2026, with a budget of €5.95 million and a projected construction period of 14 months.

The bidding deadline passed in February 2026, but the contract remains unawarded, and no timeline has been announced. PSOE councillor Juan López emphasized that the seven-year waiting period violates residents' rights to information about the project's status, the reason for the contract's delay, and the Generalitat's construction schedule.

The PSOE motion urges the regional government to expedite the tender process, award the contract, and provide definite start and completion dates. Additionally, it demands regular updates to affected families and guarantees that the allocated €4.06 million will not be reduced, lost, or delayed due to the project's postponement. The regional deputy stressed that the families have waited too long and require answers from the Generalitat, emphasizing the need for transparency and a clear construction timeline.