(Paseos Maritimos)

Blue flags and Q for quality beaches receive much attention and lend themselves to photo opportunities for Mayoress Monica Lorente. But she and her Popular Party Councillor responsible for the Coast should take a walk along the Orihuela Costa seaside and see some of the dangers and obstructions (which the flags conveniently ignore) – AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM!.

Beginning in Barranco Rubio beach in Campoamor, a serious rock fall took place in June. At first the fallen rocks were cordoned off by the local police because of the obvious danger of further falls. The deep fissures visible in the cliff face are a sure sign that further falls could be imminent. More than a month later, the police warning tapes have gone but nothing has been done to remove the rocks which make it almost impossible for people to enjoy the walk along the beach between Campoamor and Mil Palmeras.

June rock fall in Barranco Rubio

The next recommended walk would be on the unfinished sections of the Paseo Maritimo between Cabo Roig and Playa Flamenca. Monica Lorente was pleased to be photographed on the eve of the 2007 elections inaugurating the finished sections of this seaside walk which is a great asset to residents and visitors alike – if only it were finished. The extensive unfinished sections have been the subject of expropriation procedures which began years ago, before Monica Lorente became Mayoress She has kept very quiet about the inordinate time being taken to complete these procedures and to get work started on the many unfinished sections. Could it be that she does not want to upset important interests who would lose out in favour of the general public? For example, land will have to be made available to provide a six metre wide path to go around the Hotel La Zenia. To walk around the hotel now is potentially very dangerous. And there are no warning signs.

Part of unfinished seaside walk round Hotel La Zenia

And finally, the attractive seaside walk in Aguamarinas, should obviously link up with the Cabo Roig paseo which leads to the beach and continues right up to La Zenia. For the past 20 years, the urbanisation Bellavista 1 has effectively privatised a vital section of the seaside walk. The general public and in particular residents of Calas de Campoamor have been frustrated by this blocking off of public land which means that to access the beach at Cabo Roig (maybe 200 metres away) or the rest of the seaside walk to La Zenia, they are obliged to walk up to the N332 and then cross the main Cabo Roig urbanisation (maybe 2 kilometres away). The Town Hall are sitting on their hands and doing nothing despite streams of denuncias. Why?

Wall blocking off public seaside walk between Aguamarinas and Cabo Roig

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