A meeting was held this week between the City Council of La Laguna and the General Directorate of Coasts of the Government of the Canary Islands to discuss the progress of key municipal projects along the lagoon coast. Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, and General Director of Costas, Antonio Acosta, convened at the municipal offices along with councilors of Works and Infrastructure, Ángel Chinea, and Planning and Territory, as well as Urban Planning Management director, Adolfo Cordobés, and various municipal technicians.
One of the focal points of discussion was the necessity to advance the restoration project of the Camino de la Costa, or Camino de San Juanito, encompassing six distinct actions to reinforce the rejuvenation and preservation of the coast’s natural resources. This initiative requires an investment of 3.5 million euros to enhance the landscape and biodiversity values intertwined with the path.
Further planned interventions include the refurbishment and consolidation of the promenade pavement to enhance accessibility, the enrichment and reforestation of the inner edge with indigenous species, the undergrounding of a portion of the existing power lines, the enhancement of the space and environs surrounding the lighthouse, and the establishment of a small integrated square adjacent to the hermitage of San Juanito.
Other shoreline-related topics were also addressed, such as the imperative to commence the project for stabilising the Arenal beach slope or the potential for the City Council to undertake maintenance activities at certain points of Jóver, under the purview of the general management of Coasts.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez expressed gratitude towards the general director of Coasts for initiating this meeting “and for his commitment to unlocking several municipal projects impacting our coastline, outlining a roadmap to advance these public-interest initiatives.” “Direct dialogue with Costas was essential, and I appreciate the collaborative spirit demonstrated by the general director, a spirit which will continue in an upcoming technical meeting,” he added.
In response, Antonio Acosta stated that, “from the General Directorate of Coasts, we aim to engage with municipalities and collaborate with the Government of the Canary Islands to fulfil our coastal management duties effectively. We believe that proximity and dialogue are essential to enhancing and showcasing exemplary management and development practices along the Canary coast.”
Council Meeting
The city council and the General Directorate of Coasts have finalised arrangements for an upcoming meeting involving the technical teams of both administrations, with the Cabildo also seeking to participate. The agenda will cover matters falling under the jurisdiction of the island, such as the Tenerife and the Sea program, which significantly impacts the areas around the natural pool of Punta del Hidalgo and La Barranquera in the case of La Laguna.
