ALTEA TO INTRODUCE BEACH FOR DOGS

Photos of dogs playing in the sand and enjoying the Mediterranean waters are rare indeed, certainly during the summer months when the legislation regarding their situation on the beach is strictly enforced, but all that may soon be changing, certainly in the Costa Blanca resort of Altea where, following a petition consisting of 150 signatures, and a further 161 gathered online, the introduction of a ‘dogs only beach’ is being pursued by local resident Monika Klostermann.

The area that she is proposing for the enjoyment of dogs is adjacent to the chiringuito Arrecife de la playa de la Olla

Monika argues that it is an area of rocks which are filled with algae, adding that it is a part of the coastline that few swimmers use even in summer. "Every day there are many local residents who walked their dogs in the area and like everyone else we should all be entitled to enjoy nature," she says.

So on Monday last week Monika took the step of meeting with the councillor for Beaches Jaime Sellés.

Following the meeting which she called ‘productive’ Monika said that the mayor has stated that he will look favourably on the proposal which he called "coherent and workable."

Sellés himself said that he will now evaluate the request and see if he can reach an agreement with other local residents which, if they agree, will enable him to submit the proposal to the full council for their consent

But regarding one of the most controversial of subjects, animal waste and droppings, Monika is emphatic: "Many days there are two policemen in the area and that should continue. They must continue to monitor the pet owners and if they fail to clean up their droppings they must be prosecuted.

"I know that not everyone will be happy with the proposal," explains Monika. And I fully understand that we live in a town where tourism is extremely important so therefore in summer, and if necessary, we could limit the time allowing dogs to use the beach in the morning up to 10 o’clock and perhaps from 8 o clock in the evening.

This proposal is in addition to a number of others which were submitted in the past year in La Vila, Benidorm, El Campello and Gandia. These last two were launched last summer. The La Vila submission collected more than 500 signatures on a web based petition while the Benidorm appeal currently exceeds 1,400 signatures.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/43209/

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