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Govt again fails to get beaches ready for summer, says party
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Eastern Beach arguably one of the most popular of our beaches has been cut back in size to accommodate the new changing rooms and a new two storey restaurant in order to build the new access road / tunnel to Spain and the new terminal. These works, which should have been programmed to be completed in time for the bathing season, are already causing great inconvenience, says the PDP.
At present the road is closed to vehicular traffic therefore people have to lug all beach equipment from the car park to wherever they choose to set up along the beach. The PDP would ask Government if drop off points will be made available in the interim?
Catalan Bay is normally packed but will more people flood this beach due to the problems at other beaches? If so, the party would like to know if there are enough facilities to cope with the possible influx or if Govt has any plans to provide extra facilities?
They add: Sandy Bay is without doubt the saddest and most startling case of this Government's inability to maintain our beaches. This once beautiful beach has been allowed to disappear despite constant appeals from regular beach users and the residents of Both Worlds, whose foundations are being pounded by the sea thereby putting the integrity of their building in jeopardy. This beach has always had many people frequenting it in the summer months. Where will they go? Despite expert reports on the effect of dredging offshore, our Government does not seem to be doing anything to halt this dramatic erosion, the PDP would ask why not?
Rosia Bay, a beautiful and historic site, has been totally abandoned yet this could make an excellent bathing area, as was once the case for MOD personnel in the past. Has Government any plans to try to restore this great historical area the mole there being in danger of disintegrating completely? The PDP would ask if not, why not?
Western Beach has many of the parking spaces taken up by boats awaiting alternative moorings after storms destroyed the pontoons and the Government has failed to find alternate moorings for local boat-owners. The PDP would ask how soon this problem will be resolved by Government?
Westview Park Promenade, which was substantially damaged by the storms this winter, has not yet been repaired. This is yet another area unavailable for people to enjoy this summer. The PDP would like to know if and when will Government carry out the repairs? Have the Government any plans to do them in such a way that provide a lasting sea defence?
Camp Bay and Little Bay, on a positive note, seem to be the only beaches ready for this season.
It is plain to see how the authorities just across the border have been dredging sand a few metres from the shore at the Atunara and putting it onto the beach thereby increasing the size of the beach. Unfortunately our Government has been doing the reverse that is, dredging sand just off Sandy Bay to fill No 4 Dock thereby exacerbating the dreadful erosion at this beach and possibly undermining the foundations of the Both Worlds complex.
In Government, the Progressive Democratic Party would undertake an environmental impact assessment in order to build protective groynes at Sandy Bay and then import sand thereby restoring the beach and avoiding further damage to the Both Worlds complex.
The PDP would ensure that all beaches enjoy an all year round maintenance / cleaning programme. Gibraltar has very few open spaces and our beaches, including toilets / changing facilities, need to be accessible all year round for locals and tourists alike, they say.
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