Orihuela Town Council meeting - 31st March 2009

At the full monthly meeting of the Orihuela Town Council (Pleno) held on Tuesday 31st. March 2009 the following points which affect Orihuela Costa were discussed.

Bye-law for the Beaches of Orihuela Costa

The governing PP party presented a bye-law for the beaches of Orihuela entitled “Ordenanza Municipal de Seguridad en el Uso, Disfrute, Aprovechamiento y Conservación de las Playas del Litoral Oriolano” (bye-law for safety in the use, enjoyment, commercialisation and conservation of the coastal beaches of Orihuela) for its initial approval.

Manuel Gallud, Los Verdes Councillor, proposed a series of improvements to the bye-law as follows.

• On the matter of the chiringuitos and kiosks on the beaches that all the food is to be of the 'fast food' type, cold sandwiches wrapped in plastic, along with chips and other foods inadvisable for good health. Councillor Gallud asked where is the Spanish Mediterranean diet?

Los Verdes understand that this problem is not strictly part of the bye-law but insist that this aspect of the regional cuisine is a powerful advertising incentive for tourists.>

• The Los Verdes Councillor called for more consideration for people with disabilities regarding access to these beaches. Indeed, Los Verdes have identified in our campaign "Dignity for the Disabled," deficiencies in the access ramps on the promenade of Agua Marina and also in other beaches.

The PP Councillor for the Coast, Clr. Aniorte promised as a matter of urgency to modify the access to the Agua Marina promenade and then gradually the other accesses that do not conform to the law.

• Having regard to the construction of the promenade which runs along side the beaches, such as the Playa de la Glea at Campoamor, Los Verdes have found that debris is thrown onto the beach from the promenade, because of the lack of bins along its total route.

Councillor Aniorte has recognized this deficiency and promised the installation of litter bins along the path.

• Los Verdes propose a beach or part of a beach protected from onlookers for naturists and their families to swim. We believe that there is a tourism demand in this regard. In the view of Los Verdes we think it is necessary to regulate this type of activity, which the bye-law does not include, so as to then avoid trouble for the users.

Councillor Aniorte promised to study the issue.

Overall the PP answered positively to the requests of Los Verdes, so despite the shortcomings of the bye-law there was a unanimous vote in favour of this new regulation.

Now the government of the PP has to fully comply with the beach bye-law, and that it is not left in the drawer!

Los Balcones connection to Los Altos.

A further matter of interest to residents of Orihuela Costa that was discussed was the opening to traffic of a connecting road between Los Balcones and Los Altos thereby giving direct access to and from Orihuela Costa.

Three weeks previous a petition signed by a hundred or more residents of the area was presented to the Town Hall in Orihuela Costa requesting that a road connection be opened for the reasons of security and convenience, allowing easier access for the essential public services (police, ambulances and fire brigade).

Los Verdes, in support of the petition, made a request for a connection road to be opened.

Los Verdes reiterated the proposal we made to the 2009 Budget for investment for this work to improve the traffic access on this part of Orihuela Costa.

The PP government promised to reply in writing.