Tenerife Beach Closures Sparks Political Tensions
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 25 September – Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, has attributed the recent beach closures in Tenerife, particularly at Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, to “isolated incidents.” She expressed her discontent with criticisms from the Socialist Party (PSOE), labelling them as “shameless.”
During an extraordinary meeting called by the PSOE, Dávila defended Playa Jardín as a “safe” and “open” beach that belongs to the local residents, not any political party. She accused the PSOE of failing to act during their administration, leading to a deterioration of water quality while hiding critical information.
Dávila highlighted ongoing efforts to address water quality, including the repair of a pipeline at Punta Brava and the construction of a new regional wastewater treatment plant, valued at over £17 million, which is expected to take 37 months to complete.
She commended her government’s “brave and responsible” decisions, insisting that issues did not begin with her administration. Dávila cited a significant improvement in water treatment, increasing from 52% to 86% and projected to reach 97% once all projects are finished.
The president also reported that, as of 2026, only 12 incidents of contamination had been recorded out of 60 monitored beaches. She urged for long-term responsibility instead of quick fixes, stating that many problems do not have straightforward solutions.
Political Back-and-Forth
Meanwhile, Aarón Afonso, spokesperson for the PSOE, critiqued the administration’s lack of transparency and the use of misleading data regarding the Punta Brava pipeline. He noted the president’s apparent nervousness and the internal disagreements between her and her vice-president, Lope Afonso of the Popular Party (PP), concerning the pipeline’s impact on beach contamination.
Lope Afonso described the situation as a collective issue for the island, calling for cooperation across parties to prevent project delays. He asserted that Playa Jardín is the “most monitored beach in the Canary Islands,” and recent beach closures were brief and not a public health threat.
José Miguel Ruano, the second vice-president, pointed out improvements in wastewater management and dismissed the pipeline fissure as the cause of contamination. He invited the PSOE to collaborate with the current administration to further advance the issue.
Ana Salazar, spokesperson for Vox, acknowledged local concerns about Playa Jardín and called for more rigorous management from the insular government to ensure it does not become a political liability.
