Santa Cruz Flea Market Modernization Stalls After Tender Fails
The modernization of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s flea market faces further delays after a public tender for new stalls was voided, forcing the city to restart the procurement process.
Plans to modernize the Santa Cruz de Tenerife flea market have hit another administrative roadblock, leaving vendors in a state of uncertainty. The city’s project to provide 401 standardized tents has stalled after the 268,254-euro public tender was declared void.
The tender failed because none of the three bidding companies met the required technical standards. As a result, the City Council must now restart the process through a private negotiation. This delay means vendors will remain on the Avenida Marítima, where they were moved from the area surrounding the Nuestra Señora de África Market due to safety concerns. Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Strategic Planning, maintains that the original site had operational issues that made it impossible to properly manage the market.
The relocation has sparked political debate. The Socialist group claims the new site lacks basic infrastructure, such as shade, and has caused a drop in vendor revenue. In response, the local government plans to audit the market by reviewing tax documents and licenses. They intend to compare current earnings against past figures to determine if the move has truly caused a financial decline.
The flea market costs the city 463,000 euros annually for cleaning, security, and administration. To better manage the sector, officials plan to reform municipal regulations after the summer. This will include creating a "Flea Market Board"—a representative body similar to those used in the taxi industry—to give vendors a direct, democratic voice in future decision-making.