Locals in the Canary Islands are said to be furious as one of their best-kept secret beaches is going to be transformed into a tourist hot spot. Playa de Santa Águeda, located in San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Maspalomas), Gran Canaria, is due for a makeover with the development of a new sports marina aimed at attracting more holidaymakers. Pablo Rodríguez, the Councillor of Public Works for the Government of the Canary Islands, recently emphasised the importance of this development.
It comes after the Canary Islands Port Authority definitively rejected the extension of industrial use rights for the Santa Águeda port, which has been used by CEISA (Cementos Especiales de las Islas Canarias) for cement production since 1957. While the decision has been praised as a step towards diversifying the region's economy and boosting its appeal to international visitors, not everyone is happy. CEISA's general coordinator, Claudio Piernavieja, has announced plans to challenge the decision in court, promising to exhaust all legal avenues to overturn the outcome.
"We will take this matter to every judicial instance necessary; we are determined to see this through to the end," Piernavieja told Canarian Weekly. The decision has sparked widespread anger among local residents, who see the industrial use of the port as a vital safeguard against the spread of mass tourism.
Many view the move as a betrayal of their way of life, with the platform Salvar La Bahía y el Pueblo de Santa Águeda taking a leading role in opposition efforts. "This is a sad day for our community," stated representatives from the association. "The cement plant has been the only entity to extend a helping hand to this village. We will fight alongside CEISA to protect our environment and preserve the beach as it is.".
