Local residents have blamed ‘sunbed overcrowding’ and “greater occupation” on the fact that the concessions have been “out of date for years” and now the local corporation’s government team is working to update them, especially with regard to the coastline, because on Palma’s beaches “there is less sand” than 20 years ago, which is why there is this feeling of “over-occupation”.
“The Town Hall is working against the clock to solve this problem, but there is no alternative to having fewer sunshades and sun loungers, given that these concessions have to be able to coexist on the beaches with the people who don’t use them, and they have to be able to move around.
Celeste pointed out that, following complaints from the residents of Cala Major, the council’s technicians went to check that all the beaches were complying with the terms and conditions of the concessions, something she said was happening, but as the permits were authorised years ago, now “the beach is different”.
In this sense, she complained that “all the concessions” are “expired” and Palma currently has a coastline that is “totally different to what it was 30 or 10 years ago. These expired concessions, which have had to be extended to provide service to beach users, do not correspond to the needs of the beach because of the current coastline,” she said.
Another of the aspects for which she stressed the need to update the specifications is accessibility because, in her opinion, the accessibility regulations during the previous term of office “were not complied with” and this is “extremely serious. The City Council has the obligation to make the beaches accessible to everyone and this is also one of the objectives,” she said.
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Lisa Julia"No wonder local people are turning on tourists - and it’s the councils greed that is stoking the flames." Precisely. So why don't local people turn on the councils? That would be the obvious move.
The sun beds are a major problem and a huge annoyance to local people on beaches and coves across the island. Everyone this year has noticed many more paid-for sun beds and they’re spread across larger areas of the beach. Pushing local people out … another infuriating money making exercise for the concessions and local councils. No wonder local people are turning on tourists - and it’s the councils greed that is stoking the flames. If they don’t curb this ‘beach grab’ it will seriously backfire on them. In the north of the island we are already seeing fixed wooden beach umbrellas being torched. Mallorcan's won’t just sit back and watch while their beaches are stolen. Councils beware!!!