It will be Justice that, finally, decides what will happen to the settlement of shanty towns and tents that has been forming on the beach next to the César Manrique Maritime Parkin Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the City Council yesterday activated the eviction procedurea long process that guarantees this space in the public domain.
The best of the options to recover a place of these characteristics is the voluntary one, since it is the only one that guarantees a certain efficiency. Neither the local Corporation nor any other public administration can dictate the eviction without having a court order. And so it will be in at least half of the cases.
A total of 25 booths with around thirty occupants are concentrated in this space, according to data held by the municipality itself, which yesterday carried out an informative operation whose objective was precisely the voluntary abandonment of the occupants and in which In addition, it was used to identify the campers.
Of the aforementioned 25 booths, a dozen were dismantled voluntarily, according to information provided by the City Council. The owners of 13 shacks and huts decided to stay in place, occupying the public domain.
As for the profiles of those who were there, there was everything: homeless people, yes, but also passers-by, who planned to move to other municipalities, and those who, having a home, have decided to spend a few days next to the Palmetum and the old refinery
From the Corporation it was assured yesterday that all those who needed it have been offered housing alternatives in some of the resources available to the social services, although they have not opted for them.
The beach located next to the Maritime Park, below what was the capital’s landfill, is a space in which bathing is prohibited.
Accompanied by cleaning staff
Prior to the presence of the Local Police of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, port and National, the Mobile Approach Unit (UMA) had approached the place, with the aim of verifying their social situation.
Once this procedure was completed, the agents made an appearance, accompanied by the municipal cleaning company, to remind the campers of the prohibition to meet in that place, as it is in the public domain, in addition to offering them help to take their belongings and leave ready the beach, free of other objects.
The 12 who dismounted voluntarily had the support of the UMA to take their things.
A record was drawn up of all this, especially of the 13 cases that were held in this place and, in which case, it will be the court that finally decides on the eviction. From the City Council it was confirmed that, indeed, this order will be requested from the Justice to recover the public domain.
The lack of housing has multiplied the phenomenon of informal settlements throughout the Island, where the beaches are one of the preferred spaces.
