The Los Silos Town Council has recently submitted a new application to the regional government’s Directorate General for Coasts and Management of the Canary Islands’ Maritime Space for the recovery of the municipal swimming pool. This request seeks to obtain the administrative concession of the maritime-terrestrial public domain from the regional authority, which is now the relevant body, to renovate and utilise the public bathing area sheltered from the waves.
The concession has been sought for a duration of 30 years, and to facilitate this, the council has put forward a new project for the renovation and enhancement of the space, integrating the pool into the coastal environment. This aims to create an open, eco-friendly, and accessible area. In the report accompanying the document, the objective is highlighted on multiple occasions: “Swimming in the sea safely within that same space, relishing all the phenomena and sensations that accompany this, such as sea views, a refreshing breeze, the sound of the waves… utilising the existing sheltered facilities built in the 1960s.”
Additionally, the rationale behind this bathing area is addressed. “It cannot be compared to a traditional swimming pool located outside the public maritime-terrestrial domain, as this would undermine its fundamental purpose.”
The new initiative proposes that this bathing area be available for public use and free access. In summary, the planned actions for the adaptation and utilisation of the project include enhancements to traffic and access; plumbing connection for washing filters and emptying vessels with the sewage system; and the integration of the coastal edge space with changes to the paving around the bathing area along with minor renovations.
Concerning access rights, the existing entrance door is set to be removed to allow unrestricted entry. Furthermore, at the opposite end of the site, there are plans to demolish part of the facilities building to facilitate the movement of individuals from one side to the other.
From a legal standpoint, it is important to note that this new concession has been initiated under the Coastal Law and the General Coastal Regulations. Pertaining to the first regulation, the project is grounded in article 31 of the law, which pertains to the use of a public bath and free access, thereby also aligning with article 2.
The mayor, Carmen Luz Baso Lorenzo, articulates that with the submission of this new concession, a significant step has been taken in the municipal strategy to reclaim these iconic facilities of Tenerife. “I am confident that all the relevant administrations will endorse the initiative and take the necessary decisions, resolutions, and agreements to realise the vision that, in Los Silos, our people can once again enjoy their coastline,” she assures.
