On Thursday 26 March, the municipal executive of Vila Nova de Famalicão approved a proposal to enter into an inter-administrative cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Internal Administration and the National Republican Guard, which will enable the local authority to undertake renovation work on the current GNR premises in Famalicão and the village of Joane.

The GNR building in Famalicão has structural problems that were identified several years ago, namely water ingress, which require urgent repair work. The project includes the refurbishment of the roof, the electrical system and the walls, and is budgeted at around 421,000 euros.

As for the GNR station in Joane, the work will be simpler, focusing on the refurbishment of a façade with water ingress problems. The estimated investment is around €21,000.

Both projects stem from an application submitted by the GNR, with the support of the Municipal Council. According to the contract approved today, the Famalicão municipality will assume the role of ‘project owner’, taking responsibility for launching the tender procedures, overseeing the works, as well as for site supervision, coordination and safety.

It should be noted that the need to resolve the infrastructure problems currently faced by the GNR in Famalicão – whose premises do not meet the minimum requirements for serving the public, nor do they provide decent conditions for its personnel – led Mário Passos to meet recently with the Secretary of State for Internal Administration.

The mayor emphasised to Telmo Correia the urgency of constructing the new premises for the Famalicão National Republican Guard, reaffirming the local authority’s willingness to also take on, in this process, the launch of the tender procedure for the works, the preparation of the detailed design and the contractual role of project owner. It should be noted that the municipality has already identified the site for the new GNR facilities in Famalicão, on municipal land located in Lugar dos Queimados, in the Union of Parishes of Famalicão and Calendário.

“We are working on a permanent solution for the GNR in Famalicão, but until that happens we must resolve the most urgent problems with the current building and improve working conditions for GNR personnel, enabling them to carry out their duties with dignity and motivation,” says the mayor.