L’AQUILA – “The Municipality of L’Aquila and the Gran Sasso Tourist Center first minimized it and now in front of the Fonte Cerreto cable car stop, they continue to show sloppiness and it is a so-called ‘patch’, and not even very colourful, that of the replacement shuttle bus service, active from May 1st, which will not solve the problem, because in fact only a maximum of a hundred people can be transported to Campo Imperatore on public holidays”.
To affirm it is Rita Innocenzicandidate for the regional elections on 10 March for the Democratic Party, among the promoters of the public assembly “The future of Gran Sasso” on 7 May which took place at the Multifunctional Center of Camarda, a hamlet of L’Aquila, which recorded a full house of citizens and mountain workers.
Meeting which among the topics at the center of the debate obviously included the stop to the cable car rides that connects Fonte Cerreto to Campo Imperatore, from May 1st and for the next few months. Closure made necessary by the replacement of the four ropes, at a cost of 4 million euros, as imposed by the National Agency for the safety of railways and road and motorway infrastructures (Ansfisa), following further checks prompted by a complaint. The Municipality of L’Aquila and the CTGS appealed to the TAR against the stop, which was however rejected, and we are now awaiting the outcome of the appeal to the Council of State. Now at risk are the 21 jobs, and the accounts of the Ctgs, which without the cable car expects a loss of between 306,000 euros and 450,654 euros until December, and as highlighted by the sole administrator, Dino Pignatelliit will be essential to obtain, even without the cable car, 920 thousand euros which the Municipality should pay for the in-house management of the cable car’s public transport service.
Therefore, entering into the merits of the shuttle bus service guaranteed by the AMA for a cost of over 200,000 euros until the end of September, Innocenzi observes: “It is clear to everyone that two trips in the morning and two in the afternoon from Monday to Friday and five trips in total for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays they are insufficient to say the least. In fact, each ride has a capacity of 21 seats, as it is certainly impossible to travel standing for a journey of that type and lasting approximately an hour in ideal conditions and therefore in the absence of traffic, and therefore they can be transported at most from 80 to around 100 people in total per day, compared to the hundreds and hundreds who went up to Campo Imperatore with the cable car on summer days”.
Among other things, rides are paid, 8 euros on weekdays, and 9 euros on holidays, plus 3 euros if you also bring your bicycle with a price that is absolutely not competitive compared to using your own means of transport.
“I can already see the poor driver who, when leaving for the last ride, will have to explain to the tourists waiting at the Fonte Cerreto stop that he cannot get on because the seats are full. The result will be that in fact Campo Imperatore will be reached by cars, which will be parked everywhere, there will be traffic jams and inconveniences, and the tourist destination will be less attractive, as the operators who are fully aware of this and who , based on their experience, have clearly outlined the scenario that awaits us.”
Furthermore, the sole administrator Pignatelli in his economic report explained how it is essential, to avoid the collapse of the Ctgs, to be able to continue to receive the 920 thousand euros of the local public transport contribution and urges Innocenzi, “we must ask to Pignatelli if we realized that with these choices this providential contribution can only go elsewhere…”.
They took part in the Camarda meeting Stefano Arditojournalist and writer, Emanuele De Simonefreelance tourism professional, Igor Antonellifounder of Live Your Mountain, Federico Cioccaamong the founders of the Cammino del Gran Sasso, Ilaria Ianni of VadoLibera Asd and through his written contribution Emanuele Valeri, co-founder of NeveAppennino, the portal dedicated to winter sports lovers. The journalist moderates Alessio Ludovici.
“It will only be the first of other events – assures Innocenzi -, and having recorded a very high participation is already excellent news. We didn’t just talk about the cable car, but about the many ways of experiencing the mountains, departing somewhat from the classic discussion which focuses solely and exclusively on ski facilities and skiing in the traditional sense, a sport which has also become elitist and difficult to practice for many families due to the costs to be borne and not only due to climate changes which have certainly made it different from what it was years ago. In the debate we cannot continue to ignore the many different activities that work and create jobs, but which are never talked about. We can no longer allow decisions and positions taken to continue without being aware of the problems, without listening to those who work in the mountains and the active citizens who live there every day”.
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