Regional government refuses to fund recovery of San Javier beaches after DANA Alice
San Javier is taking legal action against the Ministry for its “indifference” and “contempt” following the October floods
Murcia’s coastal authority and the Ministry for Ecological Transition is refusing to foot the bill for repairing San Javier’s beaches after DANA Alice, according to mayor José Miguel Luengo, who said the authorities are showing nothing but “indifference” and “contempt for the residents of San Javier.”
Mr Luengo wants the regional government to assume responsibility for recovering the municipality’s beaches, which were churned up and covered in debris during the wind, rain and swells that hit last month.
On November 14, the mayor met with the Councillor for Beaches, Estíbaliz Masegosa, and the Councillor for Urban Planning and Environment, to discuss the state of San Javier’s shorelines. Both representatives categorically stated that they would not be carrying out any repairs.
Mayor Luengo called this decision “a true affront to the residents of the municipality.”
“At a time when citizens most need collaboration between government bodies, the State Coastal Authority has proven to be a useless institution for the Region of Murcia,” he added.
Their refusal does seem to fly in the face of the regional government’s earlier commitment to support the towns affected by the DANA. And the resources are there to tidy up San Javier’s beaches, since the authorities maintain a team of one hundred people on weekdays and twenty on weekends for the removal of biomass. They have already extracted more than 1,500 tonnes following the storm, in addition to the 400 personnel who have been working on the recovery of the area from the very first minute.
San Javier Town Council has already repaired the areas that were least affected by the recent damage, but attention will now have to turn to the sections that have been completely devastated. The Council is committed to carrying out the necessary restoration work, although the mayor reiterated that these areas fall outside its jurisdiction.
The council’s legal department has prepared an initial report confirming that beach restoration is not the municipality’s responsibility. As a result, any work would require explicit authorisation from the Coastal Authority to ensure the Council has the necessary permits. At the same time, San Javier Council plans to take legal action against the Ministry for Ecological Transition, seeking reimbursement for the costs it may incur while undertaking work that is not legally its responsibility.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
