With the aim of converting it into the institutional headquarters of the Valencian Government's own Delegation in Alicante, the purchase has been formalised for a sum of around 4.8 million, as announced last January, although it would not have been executed until now in order to comply with fiscal and budgetary requirements.
At the time, the purchase had been delayed due to the need to reorganise the postal services that are still being provided in the central office of the public company, which entails the transfer of its staff to other branches. Specifically, this relocation is expected to materialise shortly, as it has been established that the building in the central square must be vacated by 31 January. However, the truth is that a first date for this relocation had already been anticipated - planned for 20 December, according to the unions - which, however, did not materialise.
At the very least, Correos awarded last November the contract for the refurbishment of its office located in Bono Guarner, next to the railway station, which would be necessary to accommodate at least part of the services and employees linked to the Gabriel Miró branch, although it is expected that there could be a redistribution to other branches.
According to Alicante Plaza, it will not be necessary to carry out major refurbishment work that will take a long time, as it has been verified that the building is in an optimum state following the refurbishment carried out by Correos less than ten years ago. Thus, all that would be required would be the refurbishment of the offices so that the ten or so workers assigned to the Delegation of the Consell can be incorporated, as well as the adaptation of the large assembly hall that is to be fitted out for the organisation of exhibitions, talks or conferences to bring the presence of the Generalitat closer to the citizens.
It remains to be seen whether, in parallel to the departure of the employees of the Delegation of the Consell, the relocation of the workers of the Advocacy of the Generalitat in Alicante will also take place. In any case, it is confirmed that the Europa Direct service, one of the centres attached to the Europa Direct España network which provides any type of advice related to the European Union (EU), will remain in the Casa de las Brujas.
The transfer of the Council Delegation to the Gabriel Miró building will also allow the emblematic building on Paseo de Doctor Gadea to be put to a new use as the institutional headquarters of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Science.
