The Association of Concessionaires of the Algarve Seafront (AISCOMA) contested this Tuesday the clarification of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), according to which bathers can place umbrellas in front of beach concessions. The association argues that this possibility “could put security at risk”.
“What is not right, in our understanding, is for the general population to place umbrellas in front of concessions […]because it is an area that must be free, it is an area that lifeguards, if there is any situation, […] they must be free to be able to act under appropriate conditions and not put anyone in danger”, said the president of AISCOMA, Artur Simão, in statements to the Lusa agency.
At issue is the APA’s technical clarification on the occupation of non-concessioned areas on bathing beaches. The entity informed that bathers can install parasols in front of the concessions, areas for private use that “cannot exceed 30% of the useful area of the beach, nor 50% of the beach front”.
In the technical clarification released this Tuesday, the APA reinforced that, “in Portugal, beaches are spaces for public use and free access”.
Dealers warn of risks on the beachfront
Representing the concessionaires of the Algarve Seafront, Artur Simão said that “everything is correct” regarding what has been defined in relation to bathing facilities, but expressed concerns regarding the permission to place parasols in front of beach concessions.
“We think it’s not right, because it’s never been like this, and I think it’s very popular, it’s very popular to say that ‘yes sir, that people can put their umbrellas in front of the concessions’, but then, in practice, it can cause some hassles and can put people’s safety at risk,” he declared.
On the other hand, the president of AISCOMA highlighted that there are beaches that are “desilted” this year, including in the Algarve, and what happens is that people “often” put their hats on the wet sand and, if a strong wind comes, they can injure other bathers.
Artur Simão argued that in the entire area in front of the beaches “people must move freely”, highlighting that lifeguards also need space to work, including with watercraft: “Everything must be free, the entire front of the beach, so that they can circulate and that people’s safety is not at risk.”
“We know that the space is public, but what is certain is that the entire beachfront must be free. It must be free so that there is movement, whether for people walking and who are not about to sit, or for lifeguards to move around freely and who are not going over umbrellas and, in some emergency situation, which puts everything in danger and everything at risk”, he reinforced.
APA advocates balance between private use and public access
Indicating that the occupation of maritime public domain areas by concessionaires is permitted when there is a valid license, the APA highlighted that these areas are subject to the limits, conditions and obligations defined in the respective licenses, depending on the morphological characteristics of each beach, territorial management instruments and the authorities’ determinations.
In the technical clarification on the occupation of areas of public maritime domain on bathing beaches, it states that the Coastal Planning Plans and the Maritime Beach Management Regulations in force establish limits for the occupation of beaches by bathing facilities, “ensuring a balance between private use and public use”, and these occupations “cannot exceed 30% of the useful area of the beach nor 50% of the beach front”.
Thus, “areas not covered by a license or concession remain available for public use and can be freely used by users, especially for placing beach hats, windscreens or other private bathing equipment”.
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