The Junta de Andalucía has sent the draft for their Plan de Playas Seguras to the relevant coastal town halls.

This plan will come into effect once the Central Government gives the go ahead; i.e., once all of the region reaches the appropriate phase of the quarantine wind down.

The said plan consists of reducing beach occupation down to 50% with beach-access controls and reserved areas for those over 65. Furthermore, there will be opening and closing times, yet to be specified.

The draft document also reveals that it will be local authorities (town halls) who will have the final say in how many people can be on a beach at any one time. In fact, some town halls are already working on this with municipal surveyors drawing up reports.

Disinfection will be key – although not the type that one town hall used on one of its beaches, effectively wiping out natural flora and fauna. We’re talking about access steps and railings, which will have to be treated three times a day.

Obviously, when beaches have already reached their maximum occupation capacity then there will be queues where safety distances will have to be observed.

There will be no off-shore diving platforms allowed and when the waves reach further up the beach to where people’s towels are, they will have to abandon the beach rather than find another spot – it will probably be the first time bagging a spot closest to the water will actually be something to avoid.

What else? No beach games such as frisbees, bat & ball games or anything of that kind. Town halls are also advised not to open toilet, shower and changing-room facilities, or permit beach beds for hire.

So, what financial help can coastal town halls expect from the Junta? Well, they are going to earmark 10.5m euros to help fund the necessary changes. We’re talking about getting a thousand kilometres of coastline ready for the 25th of May, should all go well.

(News: Andalucia)