Orihuela Striving to Reopen Beach Bars in Punta Prima, Cala Mosca, and Cala Estaca

As the summer of 2024 approaches, residents of Orihuela’s Punta Prima, Cala Mosca, and Cala Estaca beaches find themselves without the bar services they once enjoyed. The local council is taking steps to remedy this situation, as recent efforts to reopen beach bars have faced multiple hurdles.

Background of the Situation

For two consecutive summers, the lack of beach bars has left these popular coastal areas desolate, causing a significant impact on both residents’ experiences and the local economy. The previous municipal government, a coalition of the PSOE and Ciudadanos, initiated a contract termination in January 2023 without publishing new bids until November 2023—long after the first summer without operations.

Now, under the current PP-Vox administration, a new strategy was adopted to boost bids by splitting contracts into manageable lots, allowing smaller businesses a chance to participate. This move aimed to maximize competition and, consequently, potential earnings for the municipality.

Current Bidding Process

The latest round of bidding presented four companies vying for the first lot encompassing Punta Prima, Cala Mosca, and Cala Estaca. According to the information released on the State Contracting Portal, the top three bids (from Taberna Garcana, Agustín Muñoz e Hijos, and Hostelería Ghequiere) were ultimately excluded due to failure to provide required documentation.

Consequently, the fourth company, which had initially been overlooked, also faced exclusion as of this past Tuesday. Insiders comment that the Punta Prima beach bar is a significant earner compared to its counterparts along the Orihuela coastline, stressing the necessity of a functioning establishment in that area.

Implications of the Exclusion

It’s not uncommon for companies to be excluded from the bidding process, and the responsibility lies with both the municipality and the firms themselves. The division of contracts into lots carries the inherent risk of leaving some lots unfulfilled, yet it has yielded positive financial results for the council.

The municipality’s efforts have doubled their revenue from beach bar concessions—from €900,000 in 2022 to nearly €2 million currently. Moreover, similar situations have been observed in neighboring Pilar de la Horadada, where the local council is also facing challenges in filling beach bar vacancies.

Looking Ahead

As the community awaits the resolution of the tendering process, locals remain hopeful for the reopening of their beloved beach facilities in time for summer. Establishing a successful bidding outcome will restore much-needed amenities to Punta Prima, Cala Mosca, and Cala Estaca, enhancing the summer experience for residents and tourists alike.

For more detailed information, visit the source article on La Verdad.