Icod de los Vinos Council Pledges San Marcos Beach Repairs Following Public Protests

Public pressure has forced local authorities in Icod de los Vinos to take action regarding the state of San Marcos beach. Following a campaign by a local neighborhood group, the City Council—led by AI and the PSOE—has promised to carry out maintenance on the pier and beach access points before the summer season begins. While this is only a temporary fix, it offers some relief while the long-delayed, decade-old coastal rehabilitation project remains stalled.

This commitment follows a May 16 protest outside the Canary Islands Government headquarters, where nearly 500 people gathered to demand action. The neighborhood group reports that the council has agreed to clear pebbles, install wooden platforms, and improve the pier to help elderly swimmers, who have struggled to enter the water due to the buildup of stones on the shore.

On Tuesday, the municipal council will meet to discuss urging the General Directorate of Coasts to fix the beach’s showers—a task that can be handled immediately without waiting for the larger recovery plan. Despite these small steps, the neighborhood group remains frustrated by the lack of communication from other government bodies. They have criticized Coalición Canaria for their "administrative silence," noting that there has been no update on the environmental impact report, which is a key requirement to move forward with the permanent restoration project.

While there has been talk of reviving the Beach Recovery Council, which dissolved in 2020, the group believes the focus should remain on securing a viable plan for the beach rather than restructuring committees. The activists have stated they are open to talking with any political party, but they intend to continue their protests until they receive a clear roadmap to end years of neglect and uncertainty on the Icod coast.