Supreme Court Ruling Paves Way for Demolition of Private Punta del Hidalgo Coastal Facilities
Following a definitive Supreme Court ruling, La Laguna authorities are moving to demolish private facilities at Punta del Hidalgo to restore the coastline for public use after 60 years of private concession.
The restoration of the Punta del Hidalgo coastline has reached a turning point following a Supreme Court ruling that prevents any further extensions for the Piscina Charco de la Arena Recreational Society. La Laguna City Council and the Canary Islands' coastal authorities are now working together to urge the Ministry for the Ecological Transition to demolish the private facilities and return the land to public use.
This action follows a final court decision on March 4, which rejected an appeal from the private organization. The ruling ends a long-standing legal battle over the site, which has been under private concession since 1964. Over the decades, the site faced numerous issues, including reports of unauthorized expansion and complex ownership transfers that have been under investigation since the 1990s.
La Laguna Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez and Urban Planning Councilor Adolfo Cordobés have met with regional coastal officials to finalize a plan for the site. The proposal includes demolishing the private structures and integrating the area into the local urban landscape. Key plans include restoring the San Juanito path to ensure public access and improving the area's environmental health.
Once the demolition is complete, the regional government will ask the Ministry to certify the return of the land to the state. The goal is for the state to then transfer management of the area to the La Laguna City Council. Officials hope this coordination will speed up the process, finally opening up a stretch of coastline that has been privately held for 60 years and aligning it with modern environmental and public access policies.