A controversy has started in Cadaqués (Alt Empordà) over the concession of beach bars for this summer. The City Council has awarded the services for the 2023-2026 season and they have left out two of the historic businesses: the Xiringuito de la Mei on Ses Oliveres beach and Es Racó d’en Dani, in Portlligat, which had the concession since 10 years ago.
The main reason for controversy is the weight that the economic contribution has had, which has been 50%, above the score of the project, which has been 40%. This scale has meant that in two of the three contests those who until now managed the businesses have been left out, despite having a good score in the project. This is what has happened with the beach bars of Ses Oliveres and Portlligat.
On the other hand, the La Sal beach bar has been maintained, also in Ses Oliveres. In this case, the proposal presented had the best score in the project and together with the economic contribution presented, it has obtained more points than the other two that opted.
And it is that in the three batches of beach bars that have gone out to concession for the next four years, amounts of around 70,000 euros have been presented, well above the other years and above the proposals presented by those who until now managed business.
The mayoress, Pia Serinyana, explains that they have followed the law and that this implies that free competition must be guaranteed and not favor anyone. She also points out that the economic weight in the awards is well below the median of many Catalan municipalities.
Some of those affected criticize that money has been so decisive. In this sense, they complain that this has allowed companies from outside the municipality to win and that the award has been made at the gates of Easter, leaving them with no room for maneuver.
Serinyana attributes the delay in the process to processing issues. The mayoress also recalls that now companies have to present documentation and that, therefore, the process is not closed.
Criticism of this situation has flooded social networks in recent days criticizing that they are left in the hands of investment funds or “outsiders”. To denounce it, they have called a concentration for Saturday, April 1 in the afternoon. The slogan of the protest is ‘Nos amb nos’ and it affirms that Cadaqués is losing its identity”. “The town that sells itself for money, one day wakes up without a town and without money”, picks up the poster that announces it.
In recent days, posters have appeared in different parts of the municipality with the phrase “It’s come” and they have painted insults in some establishments run by Frenchmen.
