A company that was awarded a contract for chiringuito services on Orihuela Costa beaches is taking legal action against the City Council. The company claims to have paid over €19,000 in fees after being declared the winner of the tender for Punta Prima, Cala Estaca, and Cala La Mosca. Despite this, the contract has not been approved, and the council intends to re-tender the service.
The 3 beaches have been without chiringuitos since January 2023, a situation that has impacted local businesses and residents. The council administration, a coalition of PP and Vox, inherited the issue from the previous PSOE-Ciudadanos government. They opted to divide the contract into lots and re-tender the service.
While other lots have been awarded, the process for lot 1 has stalled. The council has said that it plans to declare the tender void and re-tender the service for these three beaches. However, the company that was initially awarded the contract intends to challenge this decision in court, alleging irregularities in the tender process.
The company has submitted all required documentation and paid fees, including a fee for cleaning beach toilets, which is a responsibility of the chiringuito operator. They argue that these actions demonstrate their commitment to the contract and their right to the concession.
The company’s legal team plans to file an administrative lawsuit against the City Council, including relevant officials, to contest the council’s decision. They also allege irregularities in the awarding of other lots and intend to investigate these claims further.
The previous administration decided not to renew the chiringuito contracts in January 2023, leading to protests from local businesses. The current administration’s decision to re-tender the service was aimed at increasing revenue for the municipality.
While the legal battle unfolds, the beaches of Punta Prima, Cala Estaca, and Cala La Mosca remain without chiringuito services. The local community, particularly the Punta Prima Neighborhood Association, has also expressed concerns about the beach area allocated for umbrellas and sunbeds, a service that is also part of the chiringuito contract, but which it wants reduced. They have called on the council to address this issue in any future tender process.
