Punta Brava Residents Protest Lack of Transparency in €20 Million Sanitation Project
Residents of Punta Brava are protesting a €20 million sanitation project, citing a lack of transparency, safety violations, and potential environmental damage from local authorities.
A €20 million project to expand sanitation infrastructure in Punta Brava has sparked a standoff between local authorities and residents of the Los Frailes neighborhood. The project, scheduled to take 37 months, has caused significant frustration, with residents claiming that both the Puerto de la Cruz City Council and the Tenerife Island Council have failed to communicate or visit the site to explain how the work will affect the hundred people living nearby.
The conflict centers on how the construction is being managed. Residents have reported several issues they believe violate municipal and environmental rules. These include construction crews starting work at 7:00 a.m. despite regulations requiring an 8:00 a.m. start, and the use of inadequate methods to control dust, which is causing health problems for those with respiratory conditions. Additionally, the installation of medium-voltage electrical equipment near homes without prior notice has raised serious safety concerns for local families.
Because the neighborhood lacks a formal association, residents have been forced to file individual complaints, none of which have received a response from officials. Beyond these daily disruptions, there are growing concerns about potential environmental damage. The Telesforo Bravo Foundation has raised alarms regarding the removal of native tabaiba plants and the dumping of debris on an embankment next to the treatment plant.
Jaime Coello, director of the Telesforo Bravo Foundation, has questioned the legality of these actions, noting that verbal approvals are not a substitute for proper administrative procedure. The foundation is now launching an investigation to determine if these activities are part of the official project or an unauthorized use of the land. Given the lack of transparency, the organization is demanding that the Island Water Council and the Puerto de la Cruz City Council take responsibility, clarify their procedures, and ensure the project complies with all environmental and legal standards.