Tenerife’s PSOE has condemned this Friday the “irresponsible and unacceptable” management of the Insular Government led by Rosa Dávila (CC) and Lope Afonso (PP) regarding the environmental crisis that has resulted in Playa Jardín being closed for over ten months. Simultaneously, they lament the “complicit silence” of the municipal government of Puerto de la Cruz, which “has failed to demand solutions.”
The socialists highlight that, despite having approved action plans since June 2023, “almost two years ago,” the Cabildo has not declared an emergency for either the replacement of the submarine emissary or the expansion of the regional refining company, which has obstructed their implementation. This inaction, notes the PSOE, stands in stark contrast to the Water Emergency Declaration on the Island made in May 2024.
The latest decision from the Cabildo has been to extend the deadline for the execution of the treatment plant work by 13 months, concerning the project definitively approved in June 2023 by the previous socialist government. “Neither Rosa Dávila nor Lope Afonso are taking seriously the largest environmental catastrophe affecting Puerto de la Cruz and the island of Tenerife. The outcome is a closed beach, stalled projects, and a frustrated population,” explained Aaron Afonso, the socialist spokesperson in the Tenerife town hall.
Afonso further cautions that this extension of the treatment plant’s timeline may lead to the tender being abandoned again, similar to what occurred in March with the emissary due to a lack of an updated budget for 2022. “Persisting in this error and failing to adjust prices to current realities can only result in more setbacks,” he warns.
For his part, Marco González, the socialist spokesperson in the City of Puerto de la Cruz and former mayor, particularly criticizes the municipal government’s stance: “Regrettably, the mayor is not proactive in demanding that the Cabildo take serious action. Puerto de la Cruz requires answers, not excuses, and the City Council has failed to fulfil its institutional role as representatives of the city and defenders of the rights of the citizens of Puerto.”
González also calls attention to the contradictory messages from different administrations regarding the potential reopening of the beach. “Some claim it will open in the summer, while others deny this and provide no timeline. Moreover, there is no clear roadmap or plan of action, and there is still no information about which public health protocol is being applied to lift the bathing prohibition,” he states.
Additionally, the PSOE reminds that both the Cabildo and the Insular Water Council have delayed for over two months the authorisation for the disconnection work concerning the flows from Vera and Adelfas, which would alleviate pressure on Playa Jardín. “These inexplicable delays demonstrate a complete lack of commitment to an action that was already agreed upon with the Canarian environmental protection agency in April 2024, even before the beach closure,” they assert.
The PSOE of Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz insists on the immediate declaration of emergency for outstanding works, urgent tenders, and the necessary institutional coordination to reopen Playa Jardín with all guarantees. “We cannot continue to witness negligence, disarray, and institutional silence while one of the island’s most important natural and tourist assets suffers degradation, leading to considerable detriment to the tourism and commercial sectors of Puerto de la Cruz and the northern part of the island,” they conclude.
