|
Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
| Published: Friday, 13 June, 2008 by Henrik Sandback
|
|
|
 |
The Mayor of Orihuela, Monica Lorente, called a press conference last week to announce that the Orihuela Costa has just been awarded prestigious blue flags for six of its eight beaches.
The Mayor of Orihuela, Monica Lorente, called a press conference last week to announce that the Orihuela Costa has just been awarded prestigious blue flags for six of its eight beaches. The flags were awarded to Flamenca; Cala Capitain; Barranco Rubio; Cabo Roig; Campoamor and Mil Palmeras beaches and the Mayor was delighted. The only two beaches not to get a flag, Punta Prima and La Zenia, had significant shortfalls, but Ms Lorente assured gathered media representatives that this would not be the case next year, announcing that measures were in place to ensure that these two beaches would be given a blue flag in Summer 2009.
Standards
The total number of blue flags awarded in Spain this year has fallen by 49, to 527. Blue flags are awarded to beaches and marinas that met stringent quality standards during the whole of the previous bathing season. The blue flag status is awarded by an independent and non-profit making organisation known as the Foundation for Environmental Education, responsible for a number of environmental programmes and initiatives worldwide. The foundation has awarded blue flags to some 3,300 beaches and marinas worldwide, ranging from Canada to South Africa and the criteria for obtaining a blue flag requires compliance with strict standards in relation to 29 detailed criteria, covering environmental and educational aspects, water quality, environmental management as well as safety and services.
Improvements
A much sought after accolade, the blue flag is a strong indication that high environmental standards are being maintained at any beach or marina which flies the flag. One of the beaches that did not receive a blue flag is La Zenia beach. This particular beach has frequently been the site of deluges of dirty water and raw sewage following heavy rain, due to the poor drainage system in the area. However, the Mayor denied that was the reason for its lack of a blue flag. Ms Lorente told Round Town News that the reasons behind La Zenia beach not getting its flag was down to building planning inconsistencies on the part of a nearby hotel. The Mayor, along with her Councillor for the Coast, Pepe Aniorte, announced 327,000 euros worth of plans made by the Orihuela Town Hall to make sure that all their beaches next year get a blue flag.
Accessibility
The Punta Prima beach, the other beach in Orihuela Costa not to get a blue flag, was not awarded one due to its inaccessibility for disabled bathers. So, the first of the Town Hall’s projects is the installation of a lift and ramps to facilitate accessibility. Over 115,000 euros will be spent on the installation of these practical necessities and they should assist the Punta Prima beach in meeting the criteria for a blue flag during the coming season. They also intend to refurbish and replace, where necessary, the steps and embankments on the beach at Punta Prima at a cost of 48,000 euros as well as upgrade the protective railings on the Paseo Maritimo.
Conservation
The Town Hall also has stated that it intends to improve the accessibility to all beaches, increase the number of parking spaces for the handicapped on the beaches, place new signs and information panels on all of the beaches and resurface all the different pathways to the beaches in the area of Campoamor, as well as increase the daily attendance hours of the Red Cross on the beaches. The Mayor announced plans to develop part of the coastline from Campoamor to Cabo Roig into a maritime conservation area so that the surrounding reefs’ plant life and fish can be protected. She hopes that a team of marine biologists will soon be in place to facilitate this project. |
|
 |
|
|
|
Please select your preferred project to view the latest progress
information.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Construction headlines |
 |
|
|
09.07 - Trivee |
|
The building of fase 1 of Trivee in Villamartin iis progressing very well and on schedule. The properties are due for completion in october, but will be finished by the end of July. Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
|
28.06 - Trivee |
|
A fairly part of the properties in the first phase of the Trivee properties in Villamartin is finished with the exterior work. The construction of the communal pool and garden area has started now. Furthermore has exterior wall and the modern fence surrounding the phase been raised in front of several properties. Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
|
20.04 - Trivee |
|
The new properties from Trivee (Grupo Quara) is well under way. The very well located properties are due to be completed summer this year. Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
|
26.02 - Las Colinas de Campoamor |
|
The building is progressing as planned on Las Colinas de Campoamor. The work continues right now on the gardens and the properties. Las Colinas de Campoamor is going to start the process handling over the properties in May this year. Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
|
13.09 - Mar Menor Golf Resort II |
|
The properties are ready, the golf course is almost ready but the living licence is still missing. We hope that Polaris World soon is going to receive the licence and that the owners can start taking over their properties on this nice resort....... Mayor Announces Blue Flags for Beaches |
|
|
|
|
