Manresa hosts first PROXIMITIES Stakeholder Group Meeting

On July 23rd, the Cultural Centre Casino of Manresa welcomed the first Meeting of the Local Stakeholders' Group for the PROXIMITIES Project. Around 30 representatives from various social, economic, and environmental organisations attended the session to learn more about the projects goals, activities, and expected outcomes. The focus of the project in Manresa is on the city's Historic Centre and the Fàbrica Nova area.

Carles Garcia, Manresa's City Councillor for Urban Planning and Mobility, outlined the project's purpose and expectations for establishing a participatory group to co-implement the initiative. Following his presentation, attendees engaged in a discussion about the challenges and needs of the intervention area. This dialogue was led by Xavier Gironès, an expert from the Catalan Government, and was structured around the five key themes of the project: mobility, housing and green spaces, local economy, social cohesion, and governance.

During the session, participants identified several issues but also proposed solutions and ideas for improving the area with community involvement. In addition, a preliminary proposal showcasing seven Good Practices was presented, offering examples to be shared with regional and local partners of the Proximities project. Attendees were invited to suggest additional successful cases and vote on the three practices they found most relevant. Based on the poll results, the city council will select 3 to 5 Good Practices to feature during a study visit scheduled for the first half of next year.