Playas de Orihuela school has had its gas supply restored after 153 days without heating and 41 consecutive days of protests by the school community. Families had also launched a petition campaign to press for action.

Despite the reconnection, the school is still waiting for the town hall to repair the boiler, which has been broken since March 2024. The Association of Pupils’ Families has said that if there is no solution by Thursday, it will continue taking weekly photographs in protest. It stressed that heating remains a basic necessity and that the issue is about ensuring dignified conditions all year round.

In response to wider complaints about maintenance in local schools, the council presented a structural plan last month worth 6,615,776 euros, running until 2030. It covers 19 schools, the CRA Azahar, the public special education centre Antonio Sequeros and two municipal nursery schools.

An initial “shock plan” of 639,200 euros will address accumulated deficiencies, followed by five years of preventive and corrective maintenance worth 5,976,575 euros. The council has also put out to tender a 94,847 euro fuel supply contract for public schools, alongside a temporary ‘bridge’ contract awarded to Gas Natural Comercializadora to guarantee heating during colder months.