The “Valle del Alto Henares” Association of Municipalities, which includes Cogolludo, Jadraque, and Espinosa de Henares, has officially been established during a ceremony held at the Cogolludo City Hall. This new supra-municipal entity combines a total population of 2,702 people, with the main goal of enhancing the efficiency in public service delivery, optimizing resources, and jointly addressing the challenges of the rural environment.
The event was chaired by Juan Alfonso Fraguas, mayor of Cogolludo and recently appointed president of the association. It saw participation from the mayors of the member municipalities: Héctor Gregorio from Jadraque and Eduardo Navarro from Espinosa de Henares. Fraguas highlighted that the idea to create the association emerged a few years ago, aiming at hiring a staff architect as, until then, they mainly depended on the Provincial Council, limiting their response capacity. With the association, they hope to provide faster and more effective services.
The purpose of this new structure is to foster collaboration among the three municipalities, promoting coordinated management of public services within a rural context that requires shared solutions. Fraguas emphasized the intention to expand services, like Civil Protection, already operating in the three towns, and underlined the importance of working together to address the common concerns and needs of the region.
Eduardo Navarro expressed that the association represents excellent news for the residents by improving the quality of services and reducing waiting times for building permits, thus facilitating personal project development. He added that this improvement in services is a way to ensure population retention and attract new residents to the area.
Héctor Gregorio described the day as historic, noting that the union of the three most representative municipalities of the Valle del Alto Henares would allow them to offer services they couldn’t manage individually. He highlighted that forming this association is a milestone not only at the provincial level but also regionally, and reaffirmed the commitment to work together towards improving the quality of life for their inhabitants.
The association also focuses on the joint provision of essential services, the improvement of local infrastructure, and the promotion of rural tourism and environmental sustainability. Its formal establishment concludes an administrative process that began in autumn 2024, after the creation of a Managing Commission and the approval of statutes by the Councilors’ Assembly.
With the establishment of this entity, the “Valle del Alto Henares” positions itself as an instrument of inter-municipal cooperation, aimed at strengthening territorial cohesion and enhancing the quality of life in this region of the Guadalajara province.
