Located in Plaça Progrés, Plaça Mercat, La Rambla, Plaça Joan Carles I, Plaça Espanya and Porta de Sant Antoni, the future of the newsstands was threatened when the company with the concession, Nova Área, announced in July 2022 that it would not enter a new tender process.
After twelve years as the concession holder, the company argued that the newsstands were no longer financially viable and it was critical of the town hall's unwillingness to negotiate new conditions. As the concession was due to expire in August 2022, the town hall responded by saying that it would process a new tender as a matter of urgency. Nova Área agreed to maintain the service on a provisional basis while new specifications were drafted and on the understanding that the matter would be resolved as soon as possible.
A year on, and the new administration at the town hall says that the newsstands are a priority and that the new specifications and tender will be published before the end of the summer. These specifications will include lower charges to the winning bidder and permission for a range of services/products that at present cannot be offered. Among the possibilities are the sale of drinks and prepared food, ATMs and the display of advertising.
Nova Área hasn't as yet confirmed that it will bid when the new tender is raised, but the town hall is confident that it will do so, noting the company's "extensive experience".
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The reading of the newspaper is dying rapidly along with the mainstream media. They continue on a path to write sensationalism and fake news to attract some form of an audience (a tribe), in doing so don't realise you would have to be an idiot to be listening to the propaganda being pushed from all angles. There are far more credible names in alternative media actually informing people properly with facts and data driven. So true not conspiratorial. The shame is that if you're part of a tribe facts and data don't matter. It's becoming a sad world.