Por Redaccion 
The Principality commits to increasing support for Oviedo’s European cultural capital status, and the City Council requests one million for 2026
The Asturian Government will begin next week the demolition works of the old Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, starting with the cleaning of the interior and exterior of the buildings.
This was announced by the spokesperson of the Principality and Minister of Finance, Justice, and European Affairs, Guillermo Peláez, at the end of the meeting between the Mayor of Oviedo, Alfredo Canteli, and the President of the Principality, Adrián Barbón.
The minister explained that currently, the regional administration is finalizing the coordination and security contract to, from that point, sign the layout act «in the coming days» to start the works.
The works will start with the cleaning of the exterior and interior of the plot and buildings, focusing especially on the removal of asbestos. «The company will have to draw up a safety plan to remove that asbestos, because the most important thing when removing that product is to guarantee the safety of the people,» he pointed out.
Other issues discussed at the meeting include the Principality’s desire to attract the State Agency for Public Health to Asturias once its creation is approved in the Congress of Deputies this week. Mayor Alfredo Canteli reiterated the offer of the castle of the old weapons factory in La Vega to locate it.
The Trubia bypass, a project shelved when the war in Ukraine drove up costs, has also been brought back. The City Council has asked the Principality for «help» to make it a reality in order to prevent trucks from circulating through the town center. From the Principality, the spokesperson explained that they agree to develop that bypass or alternatives, but emphasized that the City Council «must get involved» to achieve a «joint» solution.
On the other hand, Canteli has urged the president to start the construction of the special education center in Montecerrao before the end of the year and to carry out the improvements needed in the current Latores center in response to complaints from families.
Likewise, the mayor has raised demands such as the construction of the Northern Ring Road, considering it «essential» for the municipality, although in this regard, he has only obtained from the president a commitment to «study» possible alternatives.
OVIEDO REQUESTS ONE MILLION FOR THE BOOST OF THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
During the meeting, the mayor of Oviedo also asked the Principality to continue supporting the project for Oviedo to be the European Capital of Culture in 2031. This year, the Principality has budgeted 200,000 euros, and the mayor has requested that one million euros be allocated in 2026 to give it a greater boost in case the candidacy passes the cut at the end of 2025.
The spokesperson minister, on his part, has ensured that the president has committed to «continue supporting» that future capital status and has indicated that, «as the city progresses through the different stages,» the idea is to «increase the financial support from the Government of the Principality of Asturias.»
Peláez explained that the candidacy is progressing through a series of stages, and as the city of Oviedo moves towards the expected result, «the commitment of the Principality of Asturias will be increasing.»