Laurence Dollimore
MARBELLA and Mijas are set to open their beaches and promenades this weekend to coincide with the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
The Costa del Sol towns have decided to open up the walkways and shorelines from Sunday, although bathing on the beach will continue to be prohibited, reported Diario Sur.
Policia Local and the Proteccion Civil will be on patrol to ensure that social distancing measures and other restrictions are kept to.
Access to the beaches will coincide with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on children.
From Sunday, children under 14 nationwide will be allowed to take walks, accompanied by an adult.
Marbella town hall said crowds must be avoided, advising that the more space between people the better, hence the opening of beach areas.
Mayor Angeles Muñoz said: “It would not make sense for people to crowd on the promenade while the beaches remain closed.”
She added that the promenades and beaches should be used ‘responsibly and with common sense.’
“We must trust the maturity that people are showing,” she said.
Only those who are permitted to leave their homes will be allowed access, i.e. those covered by the lifting of restrictions on children.
People walking on the beach or promenades must live within 1km of the area.
In theory, residents who need to use the walkways to access supermarkets, banks, tobacconists or their workplace can also do so.
Marbella closed its 27km of beaches at 10am on March 14 in a bid to halt the growth of COVID-19.
It has the power to open and close them when it sees fit.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said the opening of beaches was restricted to promenades, but beaches will also be opened in a bid to avoid people crowding while taking their daily walk
