Date Published: 07/07/2021
ARCHIVED - Beaches in Cartagena face a second summer without assisted bathing services
ARCHIVED ARTICLE The beaches in Cartagena face a second summer without assisted bathing services says MC Cartagena’s José López Martínez.
Cartagena's beaches face their second summer without assisted bathing services and whilst the Mayoress and other Cartagena City Council members attended a press conference on the urban beach of Cala Cortina on Tuesday, July 6 to showcase the investment of more than 850,000 euros into the regional beach rescue and surveillance plan, MC Cartagena’s José López Martínez chose instead to highlight the absence of accessible beaches and services for those with limited mobility or disabilities at a low key event on the same day.
As the Mayoress of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo spoke to the press at Cala Cortina surrounded by jet-skis, rescue launches and an array of expensive new tech equipment, José López posted a twitter video as he visited one beach with a wheelchair user who criticised the fact that again, for the second consecutive year, no accessible platforms have been made available for people with reduced mobility, disabilities and/or the elderly - despite the heavy investment into the beach surveillance and water rescue plan and into beach services (NB; some services are supplied by the regional government and others by the local councils).
José López said that “the beaches of Cartagena face their second summer without an assisted bathing service,” expressing his own opinion that the mayoress, “who is responsible for Social Service,” is “incapable of facilitating bathing on the beaches for those who need accessible areas.”
Not only do people with reduced mobility, disabilities and/or the elderly have no accessible platforms, which are designed to allow those using them an opportunity to enjoy the sea safely, they also have no accessible toilets, which “is a burden for the people who need them and a terrible image for tourism,” Mr López stated.
Although certainly not known for his tact and having run into hot water himself on multiple occasions during his time within the municipal corporation, it's certainly a sore subject for those with reduced mobility who have enjoyed the free assistance and services supplied to those unable to push a wheelchair across a sandy beach alone in previous years, never mind lift an infirm elderly bather into the water.
NB: Sr. López actually gained the most votes at the previous election but was blocked from taking office by a pact between the PSOE and PP who joined forces to keep him out, a pact which concluded with the former PSOE Mayoress being kicked out of her party for pacting with the PP, although she went on to serve her 2 years regardless. The first 2-year-term has just concluded and the PP candidate, Noelia Arroyo, has just taken over for her 2-year period.
On July 5, it was announced that new bathing platforms had been introduced to improve accessibility into the sea on two beaches in the smaller municipality of Los Alcázares.
Only a short car ride away.