The recent firm backing by the Tenerife authorities for a bigger port in Los Cristianos has not taken long to produce reaction from community representatives in the town.
As reported here two weeks ago, Rosa Dávila, president of the island’s governing Cabildo, openly expressed her support for a bigger Los Cristianos port rather than the creation of an alternative port at Fonsalía on the Guía de Isora coast to alleviate the pressure on Los Cristianos.
Los Cristianos handled 2.3 million passengers and 500,000 vehicles last year but its limitations are apparent at peak times and Dávila considers a larger port to be a “matter of urgency” to address the current capacity issues.
Although welcomed by some sectors, including ferry companies using Los Cristianos, the plans have sparked a backlash from local residents and traders. Spearheading the opposition is Carlos Delgado, chairman of a local traders’ association, who has voiced serious concerns at the impact of a bigger port on the local community.
“We already suffer traffic chaos every day and it will only get worse. The whole life of Los Cristianos is conditioned by the port traffic” he complained. A further concern is the potential impact on the resort’s beaches, which are a major draw for locals and tourists.
According to Delgado, previous work to improve the port triggered changes in the sea currents, impacting negatively on Los Cristianos beach, and there are fears a repeat could occur with its other main beach, Las Vistas. The traders argue further that as a result of the changes the port is now shallower and cannot be used by larger ships, including cruise liners which would be an important source of revenue for the town, much more than the ferry passengers who use the port at present.
In an interview with the Diario de Avisos newspaper, Delgado urged Arona council to defend the interests of the resort town in the face of pressure from the island authorities, who – he says – are more concerned with the interests of the islands served by Los Cristianos’ ferry links (La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma).
Also critical of the extension plans is the Playeros residents’ association led by Miguel Toledo, who complains that, if not properly planned taking all impacts into account, the extension will just lead to “more boats, more cars and more traffic jams”.
“The actual benefits for the town are minimal and future ones will go to the usual pockets” said Toledo, who urges serious consideration to be given to the Fonsalía alternative as the solution to the persistent issues that plague Los Cristianos.
