The Yaiza City Council sealed off three nightlife venues in the Papagayo Shopping Center in Playa Blanca last Thursday after receiving several noise complaints, filed by the Princesa Yaiza hotel, as confirmed to La Voz by both those affected and the Local Police. The bars that have been closed are "La Jungla", "Sport Tavern" and "Cervecería Atlantis", which on a "good night" can serve more than 1,000 people.
Previously, these business owners had already received two letters from the City Council in which they were obliged to "moderate the noise", according to one of those affected speaking to La Voz. In addition, although he acknowledges that the doors of these premises are usually open, which would mean they are in breach of regulations, he defends the need to respond to the demands of the clientele, in an area that has become established as a nightlife center in Playa Blanca. "It sells to work outdoors, it sells to be on the terrace. It's summer, it's normal. It's like if they took away the outside area from San Miguel, in Puerto del Carmen", he argues.
According to this affected party, these complaints have been filed by the Princesa Yaiza hotel, due to the alleged inconvenience caused to its customers. The hotel, declared illegal by the Justice system, is about 150 meters from this Shopping Center. "It seems that the hotel is more important than the other premises", says this businessman, who states that "if four neighbors had complained", the City Council would not have paid "any damn attention".
Possible layoffs
The business owners of these premises are trying to carry out procedures with the City Council to be able to open these bars as soon as possible, because they don't even know how long this closure will last, which has come to them in the middle of summer. "They are ruining August for us. We are losing a lot of money and this is not recovered. The tourist is here now, not in October. It's our best month, but they've ruined it for us", he says.
Those affected could also have difficulties in maintaining the staff. "The business was already bad for some time, and we could have solved it in August, but no, bad again. In the end, we are going to have to lay off people, because we can't cope like this", he laments.