Alhaurín de la Torre moves closer to an open shopping centre for local traders

Alhaurín de la Torre has taken another step towards becoming an officially recognised "open shopping centre" (Centro Comercial Abierto, or CCA), a designation aimed at supporting traders in the town centre. According to the Ayuntamiento (town hall), its Junta de Gobierno Local, the municipal governing board, has approved a proposed collaboration agreement with the local CCA association and the business federation Fedelhorce.

Key facts

• Who: the town hall, the Asociación Centro Comercial Abierto de Alhaurín de la Torre and Fedelhorce, described as the area's business federation.
• Duration: the agreement runs for four years and can be extended.
• Support: the town hall says more than 200 businesses have joined, free of charge.
• Next step: the mayor, Joaquín Villanova, is now authorised to sign the document.

What the agreement does

The town hall says the agreement is a necessary step towards official CCA recognition from the Junta de Andalucía, the regional government. It sets up a public-private cooperation structure to promote local shops, hospitality and services.

According to the council, this would allow the municipality to gain preferential access to future subsidies and public aid for the sector.

The town hall lists four main elements of the agreement:

• Shared governance: a joint monitoring committee, the Mesa Mixta, to coordinate events and campaigns to boost trade.
• Free membership: open to businesses and professionals in the designated area, with no compulsory fees.
• Improvements to the surroundings: work on signage, accessibility and street furniture for shopping areas.
• Municipal space: processing of the paperwork to provide an information point or headquarters for the CCA.

Support from traders

The councillor for Commerce and Industry, María del Mar Martínez, said that "el proyecto nace con el respaldo de más de 200 establecimientos adheridos de forma gratuita, lo que nos permite activar la Mesa Mixta de seguimiento y diseñar un Plan Anual de Actuación adaptado a sus necesidades". In English, that means the project has the backing of more than 200 businesses that joined free of charge, which lets the council activate the monitoring committee and draw up an annual action plan tailored to their needs.

The town hall describes the deal as a strategic alliance with traders to modernise the urban centre, energise the local economy and make the town a more competitive open commercial space.

The designated area

The CCA zone covers the main shopping and service routes of the municipality. The town hall names the avenidas Cristóbal Colón, Reyes Católicos, Isaac Peral, Ceuta, de la Vega and del Mediterráneo, along with central streets including San Sebastián, Álamos and Málaga, among others.

Coverage also extends to the first 50 linear metres of every adjoining street that connects to this main route.

What happens next

The town hall says the formal signing between the council, the local CCA association and Fedelhorce will take place in the coming days. Official recognition as a Centro Comercial Abierto would then depend on the Junta de Andalucía.

For shop, bar and service owners inside the designated area, membership is described as free and open. Further details are available from the Ayuntamiento de Alhaurín de la Torre.