The Government of Puerto de la Cruz, comprised of PP, ACP, and CC, criticises the former socialist mayor, Marco González, for “not taking any action” to address the sewage discharge issue at Playa Jardín. During an extraordinary council meeting yesterday, which was exclusively focused on the closure of the three coves due to pollution, coinciding with the six-month mark of this decision, the municipal governing body refrained from providing a timeline for when the primary bathing area of Puerto de la Cruz might reopen. Instead, they highlighted the previous councillor’s inadequacies in managing the sanitation system.

The Portuense Citizen Assembly (ACP), previously an ally of the PSOE in the local government and now partnering with PP and CC following last summer’s motion of censure, was particularly vocal in its criticisms of Marco González. “Playa Jardín was closed for bathing in February 2020, May 2021, and August 2022,” remarked David Hernández, the Urban Planning Councillor and ACP leader, adding, “All these closures were determined by the previous mayor and were known to the Services department, which managed the integral water cycle. However, neither the former mayor nor the competent department took any action or initiated necessary projects. The mayor seemed keen to oversee everything except this issue.”

The Finance Councillor, Pedro Antonio Campos (PP), commented during the extraordinary session: “The current government has achieved more in these last few months [since the change in September due to the motion of censure] than the PSOE did in five years at the council. This achievement has resulted in both internal and external investments, alongside a strategic plan to address the Playa Jardín crisis, including a set of financial measures that are already benefiting the community.”

The plenary session was convened by the socialists to, among other issues, urge the Cabildo of Tenerife to “take action and tender for the necessary works” to expand the Punta Brava treatment facility, which serves Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, and Los Realejos, as well as to repair the underwater outfall from this facility.

“It is imperative that these works are executed urgently to facilitate essential solutions so that Public Health can allow Playa Jardín to reopen,” stated Marco González, who expressed confusion over why the Cabildo and the Canary Islands Government have stalled these projects for a year and a half. González clarified that his governmental team “did indeed” make significant progress in improving the municipality’s sanitation network.

Mayor Leopoldo Afonso (PP) reminded those present that “since this administration began its work, fully aware of the pressing issues affecting Playa Jardín and the entire sanitation system in our municipality for years, we have consistently collaborated with the Cabildo of Tenerife, the Canary Islands Government, and other pertinent institutions. We understand the concerns of residents and business owners, and we wish to emphasise that we have implemented substantial measures to tackle this situation,” he asserted.

Among the initiated measures, Afonso mentioned the new sanitation system for the Punta Brava neighbourhood – situated adjacent to Playa Jardín –, the legalisation of all pumping stations, and commitments made with the Cabildo and the Canary Government to explore a long-term solution.