Ourense heritage demolition triggers legal investigation

The demolition of the Casa de Baños in Ourense, a building protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), has entered a judicial phase. The association Apatrigal has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office, requesting an investigation into whether the Ourense City Council disobeyed orders from the Dirección Xeral de Patrimonio to halt works.

Critics, including the Daniel Vázquez-Gulías Cultural Center, have accused the local government of negligence, noting that historical elements like bathtubs and stair components were left abandoned and unprotected for hours during the process. While the Mayor defended the partial demolition as an urgent measure due to stability risks, opponents argue the destruction was a consequence of the council's failure to maintain the property since acquiring it in 2016.

In separate local news, the Xunta de Galicia and the Ourense City Council have begun implementing an urban climate refuge project on Otero Pedrayo Avenue. This initiative, part of a larger 4-million-euro regional strategy, aims to reduce perceived surface temperatures by at least three degrees through the installation of shaded areas and greenery.