Political Dispute Erupts Over San Marcos Beach Restoration Plans
Political tensions in Icod de los Vinos have intensified as local officials clash over whether to prioritize a long-term regeneration project for San Marcos beach or implement a temporary restoration using volcanic sand.
The management of San Marcos beach in Icod de los Vinos has become the center of a heated political dispute. According to Diario de Avisos, the debate focuses on whether two different coastal recovery plans can work together: a comprehensive regeneration project, which received technical approval in January 2023, and a proposal to bring in volcanic sand from La Palma.
Francis González, the mayoral candidate for Coalición Canaria (CC), has challenged the current local government’s narrative. The CC argues that Mayor Javier Sierra’s administration is creating a false choice between a permanent solution and an emergency fix. During a plenary session last Tuesday, the council—including all five CC members—unanimously agreed to prioritize the comprehensive plan, provided that any temporary sand supply does not delay the larger project.
The conflict stems from conflicting interpretations of municipal technical reports. While the local government wants to protect the main project from any outside interference, the CC argues that using volcanic material—supported by the Canary Islands' Vice-Ministry of Infrastructure—could allow the beach to reopen within six months without abandoning the long-term structural work.
Political tensions rose further when the mayor refused to postpone a vote to convene the San Marcos Beach Council. CC spokesperson Mercedes Vera argued that this council would have allowed for a more thorough technical review and consensus. The opposition believes the government is using confrontational tactics to avoid clarifying its true stance on the use of volcanic sand.
This situation highlights the ongoing struggle in the Canary Islands to balance environmental regulations with the urgent need to restore public beaches. The CC is calling for better coordination between government bodies to ensure that long-term projects remain viable while still considering temporary measures to help the beach in the meantime. The debate remains unresolved, underscoring a deep divide over how best to restore this vital local asset.