Beach Department Announces Another Successful Summer Season

Safety and lifeguard services report very few incidents even despite the large numbers of jellyfish this year

This summer’s bathing season has drawn to a close, and Manilva’s Council Department responsible for the municipality’s beaches is delighted to report that, yet again despite an increase of visitors over last year, users of Manilva’s beaches have been able to enjoy improved levels of cleanliness, safety, facilities and activities, and once more the award of the prestigious Blue Flag for the beaches of Sabinillas and Duquesa.

The beach cleaning and maintenance teams, who operate all year round, were supplemented during the summer months by temporary staff which meant that Manilva’s 8km of beaches were covered by 21 operatives, divided into two teams, whose responsibility was the cleaning of the beaches along with installation and maintenance of all beach facilities such as showers, footbaths, boardwalks, toilets and safety equipment. Employment was also provided for local fishermen during the closed season who were kept busy cleaning and tidying the beaches as well as the river and stream outfalls.

This season also saw the addition of new equipment to add to the department’s existing fleet of modern specialist machinery which includes three tractors, two seaweed gathering machines, a motorised rake/stone gatherer and two trailers. As a result of an in-depth study of the local tides and prevailing winds, and considering the easterly aspect of the area’s beaches the Joint Community of Western Costa del Sol Municipalities (Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental) will provide a cleaning boat designed to intercept the seaweed before it reaches the beaches.

Many of these improvements have been made possible due to the allocation of 107,882 euros by the Junta de Andalucia’s Provincial Delegate for Tourism, Commerce and Sport which added to the already generous budget from the local coffers has also meant the refurbishment of footbridges and access points as well as an increased number of bins, green areas, showers, footbaths and signage.

On March the 5th the Town Council issued a list of By-Laws (Decree No. 149) to regulate the use of the Manilva’s beaches and ensure the enjoyment and safety of all beach users, as well as complying with the conditions of the Blue Flag Award. These rules and regulations are available to anyone who wishes to read them.

The security and safety of beach users has been the responsibility of the Civil Defense department which this year employed a total of 20 lifeguards and first-aiders based around three rescue points: One in Sabinillas; one on Las Gaviotas beach next to the port; and one in Castillo. These positions are equipped with first aid medical cover as well as equipment such as amphibious wheelchairs, floats and sand crutches to enable disabled beachgoers to get the full enjoyment from their visit. These facilities along with the seven watchtowers and inshore rescue boat has meant that this year has passed with very few incidents and even the plague of jellyfish that has dogged the Malaga coast this year has had little affect locally.