The residents of La Graciosa will demonstrate this Thursday, December 29, against the closure of one of the island's roads as it passes through Playa Lambra. The organizers want society to "become aware of the outrage that the application of protection figures often implies without a real citizen participation process in a consolidated population and to achieve the commitment of the closest Public Administrations to stop the closure.
The action of the cut is being carried out within the work of repairing the island's roads, executed by the Autonomous National Parks Organization (OAPN).
According to the organizers in a statement, the reasons why they are protecting themselves to cut off traffic on this road is compliance with Law 22/1988 on Coasts, which prevents traffic on roads that are within the easement space. They point out that "there is evidence in the cadastre office of the Teguise City Council of the existence of the road with aerial photos from 1958, so this area of passage for vehicles was used on the island prior to the approval and application of the Coasts Law." In addition, they add that "in 2006 the Government of the Canary Islands in the approval of the Rector Plan for Use and Management of the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, recognizes this road as one of the roads within the Park."
For the people of Graciosa, "it is not understood that today they restrict a passage route that has historically existed not only for the use of tourists but also of residents; and that the OAPN itself fixed in 2009 within the Plan E strategy, without this implying its cut." The people of Graciosa regret this "so unpleasant" situation and consider that "their rights as a consolidated population on the island are violated before any protection figure that has been applied in La Graciosa."
The demonstration will start at 11:00 a.m. leaving from the Virgen del Mar Parish in Caleta del Sebo.
