Lanzarote has obtained seven blue flags for its beaches this year, thus maintaining the same number of awards as in 2018, although distributed differently. This time, Playa Blanca has been left without a blue flag, while Puerto del Carmen has recovered the one for Playa Chica (Pila de la Barrilla), which had not been recognized in the previous edition. In addition, Puerto Calero has also revalidated the award in the ports category, and for the first time the Barranco del Quíquere has been distinguished as a blue path.
Precisely, the coast of Tías is the one that accumulates the most awards, adding five in total (four on its beaches plus the one for Barranco del Quíquere), since the blue flag of Playa Chica is added to those of Matagorda, Los Pocillos and Playa Grande. For its part, Teguise has revalidated those of Las Cucharas and El Jabillo, while Arrecife has managed to maintain that of El Reducto, which was recovered in 2018, after 16 years without obtaining this recognition.
Regarding the loss of the blue flag of the small beach of Playa Blanca, the City Council assures that "in no case is it due to the loss of services or poor quality of its waters", since they defend that "it still has lifeguard service, showers, footbaths, cleaning, maintenance and a walkway and shaded area for people with reduced mobility, among other services."
According to the City Council, the problem is that "one of the updated requirements to hold said award is to have a rescue and lifeguard module on the beach or in its perimeter." In this regard, they point out that "taking into account the reduced area of the beach", the City Council "proposed that it be in the area near the public toilets to avoid loading the beach with more furniture (it already has a lifeguard tower and shaded area), in order to reduce the visual impact." However, for the moment they have not reached a "consensus" with the entity that grants these distinctions. Now, they anticipate that as soon as that agreement is reached "the City Council will proceed to resolve the demand to recover the distinction."
Satisfaction in Tías and Teguise
For its part, the Tías City Council has celebrated its five awards, including the recovery of the blue flag for Playa Chica. "Having a tourist municipality like Tías with a balance of 5 blue flags is a great guarantee of the environmental management of a destination that is the most awarded in Lanzarote and the Canary Islands", they have highlighted from the City Council, which emphasizes that the Barranco del Quíquere has also been recognized for the first time as a blue path.
"These awards, which are joined by the Eco Playa in Playa Grande, recognize the great investment effort and public services to provide Puerto del Carmen with added value to its beaches and coastline", defended the mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, who praised the "teamwork" of his government group and especially that of the Councilor for Beaches, Nerea Santana, who after the next elections will leave municipal political activity in the City Council.
Also the mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort, has celebrated the two blue flags that will fly again in his municipality. "In an edition in which many beaches have lost this distinction throughout Spain, we have the satisfaction of revalidating this award that rewards the work that has been done from the City Council, and from the Beaches and Security area, to maintain a seal of quality for another two years on two very touristy beaches in the town of Costa Teguise", declared the mayor.
