Each year, the Pratdip Town Hall receives a subsidy of nearly €300,000, granted under the Plan de Desarrollo Socioeconómico del Entorno Nuclear. This aid comes from ANAV (Asociación Nuclear Ascó-Vandellòs), to compensate for the proximity to the Vandellòs nuclear power plant.
This public funding is not a gift. It has a clear purpose: to protect and improve the living conditions of people exposed to nuclear risk. And among them, Planas del Rey is on the front line, just a few kilometers from the reactor.
Planas, the great forgotten one
And yet, this subsidy, which is supposed to improve safety in high-risk zones, brings no benefit whatsoever to Planas del Rey. No evacuation plan, no warning sirens, no adapted infrastructure. Nothing.
For decades, this subsidy has been granted to the municipality. The streets of Planas could have been renovated several times, alert systems installed, and safety equipment deployed. Instead, residents still live on degraded roads, with insufficient public lighting and no prevention systems in case of nuclear accident.
The Pratdip Town Hall allocates all these funds to the central village alone, deliberately ignoring the hundreds of families living in Planas, who are much closer to the nuclear plant.
A political scandal in the use of public funds?
This blatant misuse of the subsidy’s purpose raises a serious question: is the safety of residents being sacrificed for political favoritism?
Let’s remember that these public funds are meant for all exposed citizens, not just a selected few. By focusing the aid solely on the village, the town hall uses a strategic subsidy as a political tool, at the expense of equity and safety for the rest of the municipality.
Unworthy evacuation routes for a nuclear risk zone
In the event of an accident at the Vandellòs nuclear plant, two routes allow the inhabitants of Planas del Rey to flee the area: Exit A towards Vandellòs i l’Hospitalet de l’Infant and Exit B towards Pratdip.
Both routes pass through a forest area with high fire risk. They include sharp bends, narrow lanes, and bridges too narrow to allow smooth evacuation traffic.
Exit A, although marked and partially lit, remains insufficiently equipped for an emergency. It lies within the territory of Vandellòs i l’Hospitalet de l’Infant, but no major works have been carried out to make it a secure evacuation route.
As for Exit B towards Pratdip, it lacks any lighting or markings, and its narrow bridge is a serious bottleneck.
Despite the €300,000 annual envelope specifically intended for nuclear risk areas, nothing has been done to secure these access roads.
And in case of fire? These roads, surrounded by vegetation, with no secondary exits or waiting zones, would quickly become deadly traps.
Exit A
Exit B
Conclusion: demand accountability and end the injustice
It is unacceptable that the most exposed and most populated area of the whole municipality is entirely excluded from this vital support. This is no longer an oversight: it is deliberate neglect.
We demand that the Pratdip Town Hall be held accountable for the use of the €300,000 it receives each year and that these funds finally be distributed fairly. Planas del Rey deserves:
- Alert and evacuation systems in case of a nuclear incident
- Clear and visible signage across the area
- Upgraded infrastructure suitable for risk management
- Transparent and ongoing communication for residents
The residents of Planas del Rey are no less worthy than those in the village of Pratdip. It’s time for that to be reflected—in actions and in budgets.
What we ask is not a privilege: it is fair treatment.
Association Vecinos de Planes del Rei (SOSPlanes)
Update
A resident of Planas reported that, in response to concerned messages from neighbors, the Town Hall stated that tests are underway “to ensure everything works in case of emergency.” These tests are reportedly being conducted by Civil Protection, PENTA, and the municipality. However, no official information has been communicated to the population of Planas. Once again, transparency and consultation are lacking.
