Alex Trelinski
BENIDORM is making life much easier for people with mobility issues to have a swim at the beach.
The popular Costa Blanca resort has installed a special hoist at its Accessible Beach point at Levante.
The equipment allows people to get into the water in a more comfortable and relaxed way rather than needing the help of at least two lifeguards.
READ MORE:
- Benidorm introduces beach recycling point: Tourists can leave umbrellas, towels and other items at the end of their holiday
- Benidorm police use famous Shakespeare line to discourage Brit tourists from buying drinks from illegal beach sellers
- Tourists left up to 540 TONNES of rubbish on the beaches of Spain’s Benidorm last year, figures show
The operation can now be carried out with just one assistant and with no sudden or awkward movements for the user.
Benidorm mayor, Toni Perez, said: “We were pioneers in bringing accessibility to our beaches so that they could be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their physical condition.”
“The hoist will make our Accessible Beaches even more comfortable, more inclusive and more accessible for everyone, ” he added.
The equipment has been provided by the company RA Benidorm who have a management contract with the council to manage the city’s beaches.
Benidorm set up the first Accessible Beach point in 2000, which was expanded to the current three- with two at Poniente and the other Levante.
Visitors with physical and functional issues can take advantage of access ramps which run to the sea.
There are also adapted changing rooms, toilets, shaded spaces and windproof tarpaulins, as well as special chairs and crutches of different sizes.
Over the last year, the Accessible Beach service had a total of 16,155 users.
Benidorm City Council is looking for a grant from the Valencian government to make further improvements to the three points including roll-up walkways, new railings, and chairs.
