The Yaiza Town Hall has begun maintenance work this week on the dirt paths leading to the beaches of Papagayo and the campsite. The mayor, Óscar Noda, reminds us that the island Cabildo has some responsibility for the care of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument.
The Yaiza Town Hall has rolled up its sleeves to fix the deteriorated access paths to the beaches of Papagayo. Using its own resources, the council is acting from the control point of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument to the entrance of the Playa Mujeres car park, as well as in other sections particularly damaged by vehicle traffic during the summer.
A conflict of responsibilities that drags on
The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, has been emphatic: “The island Cabildo has some responsibility for the care of the Natural Monument, so we continue to wait for them to assume their responsibilities.” This statement is not new, but it gains strength after almost a year since the Town Hall sent a detailed legal report to the presidency of the Cabildo.
This report, prepared by the municipal legal services, argues that the Cabildo, as the managing body of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument, has responsibilities and duties in its care and maintenance. The Conservation Regulations for this protected area, located in the south of Lanzarote, expressly state this.
The Yaiza Town Hall maintains that it has been carrying out work that is not its responsibility. Therefore, it is once again requesting the administrative collaboration of the First Island Corporation so that each institution assumes its duties and provides the necessary technical and financial resources for the conservation of Los Ajaches.
Maintenance that accumulates
The dirt paths of Papagayo are a very busy route, especially during peak season. The continuous passage of vehicles causes potholes and unevenness that hinder access to the beaches and the campsite. This summer, the deterioration has accelerated, and the Town Hall has decided to intervene with machinery and its own personnel to prevent greater problems.
But repairing the paths is not the only item on the list of demands. The Council is also demanding the renewal of the signage for the Monument, its cleaning, and the maintenance of the facilities in general. “We do not shy away from our responsibilities,” Noda emphasized, “but we demand that the Cabildo also fulfill its obligations.”
For the residents of Yaiza and tourists visiting Papagayo, the situation is a recurring annoyance. Drivers venturing into the dirt paths encounter sections in poor condition that force them to reduce their speed to a minimum. The lack of proper signage also creates confusion, especially for those visiting the area for the first time.
A proposal for dialogue on the table
The Yaiza Town Hall has already proposed a technical-political meeting involving various government areas of the island Cabildo, the Biosphere Reserve Council, and all political groups represented in the Cabildo. The goal: to discuss the present and future of the conservation of Los Ajaches.
The ball is now in the Cabildo's court. Meanwhile, Yaiza continues with the maintenance work, demonstrating that it is not willing to let the deterioration progress. However, it hopes that next time it won’t have to do it alone.
The current work will continue throughout the week, according to municipal sources. Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution in the sections under construction and to follow the indications of the provisional signage.
You may also like
