When the company, Blue Displays, abandoned the Almuñécar Aquarium it was in a ruinous state. Considering that it had only been built five years previously, it was just as much shoddy original construction work, as insufficient maintenance.

The Town Hall was left with the choice of leaving it to rot, permanently closed to the public, or spend a lot of money – in short supply – on patching it back up again, which is what they are about at the moment.

Sr. Benavides’ party, on the other hand, considers that the installation were in good working order when the present Mayor took office, in June 2011. The deterioration, the party spokesman points out, began in an accelerated manner in September 2012, when the installations ended up with no maintenance or aircon. Despite a warning from the workers there, he says, Mayor Herrera did nothing for six months.

Back to the present, Councillor Luis Aragón says that their intention is to have it open for Semana Santa; i.e., April, but there is still a lot to be done before then to have it half decent – and safe – for visitors.

The rusted floor supports of the lower level have been replaced with a more adequate material and now the huge task of sorting out the aircon is underway; the existing units have to be removed and replaced, because “they had never worked properly,” he explained. And all this doesn’t come cheap; sum 150,000 euros.

What about the resident sealife in the meantime? Well, a company was brought in to maintain their welfare but that contract is on the point of expiring, so another one will have to be drawn up. However, all the salty residents are in fine shape, apparently.

Well, let’s see if these installations open their doors in time for the Easter hordes…

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)