Salobreña unveils major €1 million transformation « Euro Weekly News
Salobreña has officially opened a transformed section of its seafront after almost €1 million was spent turning a 338-metre stretch into a more pedestrian-friendly coastal space.
Work between the Salomar 2000 development and Calle Oleaje has removed much of the wall separating the promenade from the beach, creating a more open area with gardens, seating and new sports facilities.
Covering around 18,500 square metres, the project has changed an area previously more affected by an enormous amount of traffic. Visitors can now use spaces for beach volleyball, beach football and calisthenics, while new benches and bins, a stage and landscaped areas have also been installed.
The project forms part of Salobreña’s Plan for Tourism Sustainability at Destination and was paid for using Next Generation EU funding. Spain’s tourism ministry says these plans are designed to support more sustainable and higher-quality tourism infrastructure.
Road access still needs sorting
Mayor Javier Ortega said one of the first jobs now is to control access for service vehicles. Deliveries and rubbish collection lorries could cause damage if their movements are not properly managed. Local Police have been asked to prepare a report, with the council expecting to decide how access will work shortly.
More work is also planned to connect the promenade more effectively with cycling routes and public transport. Automatic public toilets are being decorated by local artists to make them less visually intrusive.
More changes planned for Salobreña coast
Salobreña Council sees the completed section as a model for extending similar improvements along the seafront towards the TH1 area. Official tourism information already describes Playa de La Charca-Salomar as Salobreña’s main urban beach, with its promenade, restaurants and visitor facilities.
Funding delays have caused some controversy, with the council insisting Salobreña will not have to repay the full €2.5 million PSTD allocation because the promenade works were around 80 per cent complete by the original deadline.
A further project planned for the Peñon will now be paid for by council funds after delays in obtaining the required permissions. In the words of one local resident, “It looks lovely, but it would have been nicer if they had completed it before the summer.” Another called for more shaded areas.