On Friday, chaos ensued at the Lucus Augusti Institute in Lugo, when a young boy dressed as the famous Shaolin monk from the television series Kung Fu brandished a plastic katana. The disturbance occurred around 2:30 PM, as students were leaving school for the day. The mock attack caused alarm among parents waiting outside for their children, prompting some to call the police. Reports indicated students were frightened by the incident, which quickly escalated as they sought help from the National Police officers patrolling nearby.
Upon arrival, the police spoke with the boy dressed as the character and confirmed the katana was not a real weapon, which de-escalated the situation. Fortunately, the incident did not lead to any serious problems, reinforcing the need for students to understand the differences between harmless fun and genuine threats.
This lively incident was not the only police response recorded on Friday. Just one hour prior, police were alerted to another young person behaving erratically at the Rosalía de Castro Park. This individual was reportedly hitting tree trunks with a stick. Officers were dispatched and managed to identify this individual before any significant damage was done.
These disturbances occurred on the Friday leading up to the Entroido festivities, when students traditionally don disguises and celebrate. This year's events sparked some controversy, reminiscent of previous years when students would throw paint and eggs, creating disturbances for passersby.
Meanwhile, the City of Lugo has marked significant progress on environmental and urban development projects aimed at improving flood safety and city infrastructure. The construction intended to reduce flooding risks surrounding the Serra de Meira roundabout has officially been concluded. The completion of this work allows for the advancement of projects related to the longstanding Paradai development plan, which had been dormant for years.
At the formal completion ceremony on Friday, Mayor Paula Alvarellos and José Antonio Quiroga, president of the Miño Sil River Confederation, celebrated completing the riverbed work around the Rato River. The initiative cost approximately 597,000 euros, supplemented by around 177,500 euros from the city council, and aims to open up possibilities for planned urban development within the Paradai area.
Alvarellos urged the Galician Government to expedite projects for the Serra de Meira and Calzada das Gándaras, emphasizing the city's readiness to assist as the necessary land has been available for these works since 2011. She highlighted the importance of these developments for the urban planning of the city, particularly concerning the Paradai area.
According to Territoriy delegate Javier Arias, the Xunta has been working for years on the Serra de Meira project and is prepared to implement it once all required permits are obtained. He elaborated, stating, "If the work isn't done yet, it’s because the recent flood mitigation measures took longer than anticipated."
The project for Serra de Meira will involve widening the road and creating additional parking spaces as outlined in the PXOM, Lugo's urban planning document. The construction site will stretch between the Adolfo Suárez roundabout and the entrance to Infanta Elena.
Notably, the delays for implementing the Serra de Meira project arose from the need for prior flood reduction strategies after the roundabout's construction, which resulted in penalties imposed on both the Xunta and the city council. Arias assured the public, saying, “We need to accomplish this project without facing more penalties like those from the Rato River improvements due to inadequate management of hydraulic public domain permits.”
For the implementation of the Serra de Meira project, walls will be built on public domain land, necessitating city approval and the confederation's licensing. Arias explained the Xunta would reach out to the city council immediately to set the plan in motion.
Should the city council lack the required authorization for work on these public lands, it may necessitate adjusting the project or even altering the PXOM to accommodate different plans than originally proposed.
Alvarellos confirmed the city council is prepared to review the Xunta's updated construction proposal to verify its compatibility with pre-existing urban planning requirements. She concluded, stating, “We expect no restrictions to prevent the project from commencing.” On another front, the Calzada das Gándaras project, which has faced heavy traffic issues since the establishment of the nearby industrial estate, demands attention, as it poses significant safety risks due to frequent speeding incidents. Although progress is less advanced on this front, Arias noted the city must also provide land for the finalization of this project.
Overall, the measures taken to widen the Rato River and heighten flood resilience contribute to Lugo’s future sustainability efforts, as highlighted by Alvarellos. With foundational work now complete, these infrastructural improvements will lead to more efficient communication and navigation within the city.