Rivoltella community demands infrastructure, lake boost, and market relocation

The issues and demands of the Rivoltella community come back into focus. This community now has approximately 7,000 residents and openly and increasingly insistently calls for more attention to local proposals. Essentially, Rivoltella is asking not only for investments in so-called essential and service public works, such as expanding the cemetery and the aqueduct, but also for a decisive change of course so that, recovering lost time, other investments in infrastructure can be realized to transform the area’s appearance, boost the economy, and better exploit the lake and tourism.

The proposals are numerous. The main one concerns the project to enhance the lake area itself. On the table is the idea of the Comitato Piazza Grande to expand the port, create a large beach, a lakeside promenade, and many other facilities capable of attracting guests and tourists.

Moreover, traders, but also local committees, have requested moving the Sunday market to via Agello, occupying the stretch of the former state road between the parking lot of Villa Brunati and piazza Degli Alpini and diverting traffic in this area. The proposal has been signed, as mentioned, by the three citizens’ committees and by the Associazione commercianti (Trade Association).

The economic operators also ask for more security, the revitalization of the town center, and the opening of road connections between the streets of the historic center and those of the lower village towards the lake. “Things are moving forward in Desenzano, but not in Rivoltella,” states Ezio Breda, a majority councilor from the area, without beating around the bush. “If Desenzano decides to redo the lakeside promenade, they quickly assign the project to a designer, and works will begin in autumn.”

As for the project to enhance the Rivoltella lake area, the designer has not yet been appointed, and the commission has been delayed despite the funds being available for some time. The administration needs to change course and activate projects related to Rivoltella.

This is the case with the proposed relocation of the market, which we ask to be moved to via Agello, occupying the street and freeing up parking lots at Villa Brunati and piazza Degli Alpini. Via Agello should become Rivoltella’s lakeside promenade. Traffic can be diverted along via Dugazze to bypass the neighborhood and, from there, through via Giovanni XXIII, access via Colli Storici and rejoin the main road.

There is total dissatisfaction with the recent meeting with the Town Council, expressed on behalf of the merchants who adhere to the Comitato Piazza Grande by President Giordano Roveri. “It was the usual script with a lot of inconclusive words. The administration,” he says, “performed its usual game of permits, ongoing assessments, and bureaucratic delays.”

The issue of relocating the market, which sets up 72 stalls every Sunday morning, is summarized by the Commerce councilor Emanuele Giustacchini. “We are carefully evaluating,” he says, “the request, also because the current site does not seem the most suitable, especially due to safety issues. We have considered some solutions: using the parking of Villa Brunati has been discouraged by the police; the remaining option is the former state road.”

Traffic remains an unknown, while vendors only ask to keep the stalls together. I discussed the issue yesterday with the Commission for Area Management, and as soon as I have a response, we will make a decision. The effects of the traffic diversion remain uncertain, which is why we plan to carry out a trial before deciding.”

“I am especially worried about the repercussions caused by the traffic diversion in Rivoltella,” confirms Mayor Felice Anelli. “There are important commercial activities on the state road that could be left out. We need to carefully evaluate the problem and reflect before making decisions.”