Playa Flamenca and Cala Capitán in revolt over municipal “approval ratings”
Orihuela’s latest attempt at citizen engagement has backfired spectacularly. The city’s new Public Opinion Observatory claims residents overwhelmingly support municipal projects, from historic center renovations to road paving and cultural events. But locals on the coast are calling the results misleading and out of touch.
The first of three surveys, conducted by the University of Murcia, is supposed to guide city planning through “evidence-based” citizen feedback. A dedicated website even allows anonymous participation on topics from beaches to public services. But critics say the survey fails to reflect the realities of Orihuela Costa.
“We don’t know how many coastal residents were actually surveyed, or even if any were,” said the neighbourhood association Unidos por la Costa. “The results are meaningless for us. Just look at the facts: bins from the last renewal still broken or missing, asphalt oozing leachate, green areas abandoned, and broken streetlights and railings still litter Playa Flamenca and Cala Capitán. It’s impossible to say the public approves of this administration.”
The association concluded bluntly: “Under no circumstances can the Costa endorse the management of this city government team.”
As Orihuela pushes ahead with digital citizen participation, locals warn that without proper representation, surveys risk becoming yet another Orihuela PR exercises rather than genuine tools for accountability.
