The City Council of Motril and Cotas dug the grave over Playa de Poniente’s parking lot. This was after several attempts to block access from different points. After the protests against parking on the sand were stopped, the council met to discuss the restoration of the beach. This was after 40 years of road traffic. It is a process that leaves little to be done. Summer has brought out the worst of the shortage of parking, and it has opened the wound.
The Local Police sanctioned drivers who left their car incorrectly parked at Playa Granada’s entrances. Some parking areas were saturated, and Luisa Garcia Chamorro did not realize that bathers who visit Poniente must park their cars away from the arena if there is enough space.
“I will keep repeating it. I agree with this opinion. The municipal technicians and me also believe that Poniente Beach’s beach area can be used in conjunction with a parking space. The area is 100m wide. I don’t understand why it isn’t allowed to create car parks with green areas, as in Playa Granada. These car parks are environmentally friendly and are regulated. She adds that the council must disburse and rent land to allow parking at different locations on Camino del Pelaillo, if there is enough space. She reiterates that cars in Playa Granada can park 20m away from the beach, while cars in Playa de Poniente are prohibited from parking 80m from the coast.
Garcia Chamorro points to last summer’s proposals to create car parks with green spaces, “always without the refusal of Costas”, and that Motril won’t give up its car park adjacent to the promenade.
Jose Lemos, Councilor for Tourism and Beaches points out that PLA-1 and PLA-2 will be the final solution to parking shortages. This is the land of Playa Granada and its marina. We will need to wait for a solution in a few years.
“They made us a toy train that has led to our current problems almost forty years later.” PLA-1 and PLA-2 will make Playa Granada more livable. It will also be possible to add more services, such as stable parking lots, a new golf course, and increase the number of homes by up to 2,700.
The Motril City Council is also preparing a project to completely alter the beach layout. It will unify them into a new promenade from the port to the limit Salobrena. In several stages, the council will increase the number parking spaces by creating an underground car park with 1,000 spaces. It will also create new green areas, such as beaches that will have new dunes. The council will also try to integrate Villa Astrida, which is the Belgian royal residence, to lessen the visual impact.
If the council receives a subsidy of 2.5 million, the first phase of this plan which involves the construction of a green street, could be completed.
