The last time that Motril, Salobreña or Almuñécar received any funds from the Regional Government to help maintain their beaches during the summer was three years ago. Since then they have been making ends meet.

So, how much does it cost to keep the beaches in a ‘pleasing condition’ for tourists and residents? Almuñécar, for instance, spent 220,000 euros last year on removing large pebbles and stones from its beaches, so they don’t look like rubble tips and another 80,000 euros sifting rubbish out of the water. When you’re spending that sort of money on keeping the beaches clean, there is logically little left over for beach equipment, such as walkways etc.

Motril, on the other hand, received over half a million euros as a grant from the Junta in 2007 – long gone is this sort of subvention, when municipal funds could be spent elsewhere because of this generous grant. Motril spends 90,000 on safety and lifeguards and 20,000 on buoys for marking out the approach lanes for small craft. In the meantime, everything like wooden walkways has to be patched up and recycled. Come San Juan, those wooden boards will be kept under lock and key…

As for Salobreña, the first beaches that you come to after you leave the A-44 Granada-Costa Tropical autovia belong to this town, yet Salobreña does not possess much beach material – this, the Mayor claims, is because the previous administration dedicated little to such things. Fortunately for Salobreña an agreement with its chiringuitos means that these beach businesses have agreed to fund the wooden walkways.

Keeping with Salobreña, this year the Town Hall will probably opt for making the paseo into a Zona Azul area – the municipal coffers need the money, which is the prime reason, rather than the reason offered by the Mayor that it will improve the parking arrangement.

This year will also be the first year that the bylaw concerning BBQ’s, bamboo shelters and pets on the beach will come into effect.

Last year, explained the Councillor in whose area the beaches fall, Manuel Guirado, there was a campaign to inform beach users about this new bylaw – having been warned, this year the fining will commence! There is a chance, even, that Salobreña will apply the “Beach Umbrella Restriction,” meaning that you will not be able to turn up at the crack of dawn to stake out a prime spot with a beach brolly and then wander off until later. Almuñécar was the first coastal town to use this norm.

The question is, can these seaside towns manage to hang onto their Q-de-Calidad categories for much longer with funds being so tight?

(News: Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)