Chiringuitos are usually synonymous with relaxation, vacations and pleasant times to the heat of the sun, with a cane and a good skewer in front. In Malaga, however, they have begun to raise something different: a controversial sound that It has mobilized to the neighbors and unleashed a rifirrafe between administrations on the distribution of competences, legislation and urbanism. All with the everlasting debate about the privatization of the coasts As a backdrop. The reason is simple. There, in full Malagueta, residents They denounce that you want to expand several picnius to turn them into megachiringuitos.
“The beach is going to run out of horizon,” They warn.
Malagueta earrings. Last year the hotels of Malaga hosted 6.3 million of travelers. And it is not unreasonable to think that the vast majority (at least among those who came to tourism) went through La Malagueta, one of the most popular neighborhoods in Andalusia, famous for their beach, their restaurants, stores … and beach bar. In recent months, however, some of these food and drink stalls have unleashed Criticism from neighbors. The reason: your remodeling plans.
The focus is centered on several beach bars between Antonio Martín restaurant and the military residence. As revealed Already in September the newspaper SOUTH, The Junta de Andalucía and the City of Malaga have processed an in -depth reform of three chiringuitos to gain height and volume. In one of the cases there was even the demolition of the original beach bar to change it.
The complaints of the neighbors. The idea has not convinced the neighbors of the neighborhood, who have been on a war stand for months. The reason? They denounce that the locals will give a considerable stretch, going from being simple beach picnic to large chiringuitos, which will “eat” Arenal.
“La Malagueta Beach is going to run out of horizon (…). Three beach bars will be built to renew those that already exist that triple the space of occupation on the beach and duplicate in volume,” lamented in December The president of the Association in the SER. “A very important volume is being built that leaves the stretch of the walk, and with the project of two more similar.”
Will they change so much? In the case of the most advanced reform, that of the beach bar that will move slightly west of the beach, the change is evident. Being a modest picnary, with a small construction, bar and awning has become a broader structure With glass, wood and a dark roof with wavy shape.
As needed SOUTHthe new construction reaches 4.1 meters high from the sand and measures 24 m long, following the promenade. According to The Andalusian newspaperwill occupy in total 286 square meters, including both the 216 m3 of the main block, with kitchen, bar, bathrooms and terrace covered and the 70 m2 of the open and removable terrace.
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And the controversy arrived. The works in La Malagueta started months ago and have advanced under the watchful eye of SOS Malagueta, which regrets that they are building “True Armatetes” in “an already saturated area”.
The neighborhood association He has collected signatures To protest the expansion of the pixtures of the Paseo Marítimo, they have taken advantage of topographs, architects and lawyers to study the case and have even claimed the stoppage of the works. “It cannot be expanded and these projects have triple space and double volume”, He insisted on autumn its president, Mari Ángeles Ramírez in statements to Malaga’s opinion.
And since then? The situation has not broken down. At the end of April the Malagueta neighborhood platform critical In the municipal plenary, the “systematic privatization of the beach for the exclusive benefit of tourism and the hoteliers” and the issue has also been present in municipal policy: in February the municipal Vox group demanded explanations to the Councilor for Urban Planning for the construction of the beach bars, which, which, which, which, which, which, which, which, which, which He denounced“They have disproportionately occupied the beach.”
From the Malaga town hall It insists In the legality of permits and it is remembered that concessions can reach the 300 m2. To complete the mess, it makes A few weeks It was ordered to withdraw an access for beach trucks related to the work.
The background debate. Although the focus has been put in the Malagueta beach bars, the background debate actually goes beyond and connects with a key debate, such as I recently remembered Toni Morillas, with Malaga: the “privatization” of the beach. It’s not Something exclusive From the Andalusian city and the same theme has also generated discussion in other parts of Spain, but in the case of Malaga coincides with a second crucial debate: the Tourist.
The City Council itself He has recognized in A report That the town supports “unprecedented tourist saturation levels”, and warns: “This phenomenon causes certain areas to exceed its load capacity, negatively affecting both residents and visitors”, which ultimately can lead to “expulsion” from local trade.
Image | Sputnik Mania (Flickr)
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