Without Trees, Shade, or Benches: The Ordeal of Residents and Tourists at One of the Entrances to San Juan Beach

The Playa de San Juan neighbourhood association has called for a refurbishment of Cataluña Avenue. The reason is the absence of trees, which prevents shaded areas, and the lack of benches to sit on. In fact, both circumstances turn this road, with its long slope, into an ordeal for its users because it is a more than complicated route, especially for the elderly, local residents, and tourists trying to access the beach areas or return to their homes.

The president of this neighbourhood association, José Caracena, emphasises that it is a "very long and completely desolate avenue, without a single tree or benches to rest on, so many people choose not to go down to the beach to avoid having to climb back up under the sun."

A situation that is particularly serious since this public road is the one that allows access to the bathing area for users of the Cabo Huertas elderly residence and the Port d'Alacant hotel. All, elderly and tourists, suffer the conditions of this tortuous route, especially in the months when the heat is intense. "The residents, the oldest from the residence, and the visitors are having a hard time. Some even complain that a tourist city like Alicante does not consider something as basic as creating shaded areas to relieve the high temperatures recorded," says Caracena.

The residents' spokesperson assures that they have sent several complaints to the City Council, including one included in a general document about the deficiencies in the beach area. However, they report that, so far, they have not received any official response from the executive to hold a meeting. "So far, only Vox and Esquerra Unida Podem have met with us, but from the rest of the political groups, nothing," he laments.

The association is calling for urgent intervention that includes a campaign to plant trees, the installation of benches, and urban planning that considers people with reduced mobility and tourists visiting the area. "Alicante cannot afford to give this image in one of its most visited areas," concludes Caracena.

This entity has also long been demanding a Social Centre in the neighbourhood, although this demand was approved by the majority of councillors at the proposal of Vox in the last municipal plenary session.