A chiringuito in Andalusia

Andalusian chiringuitos owners don’t give in

The owners of Costa del Sol’s beach restaurants, so called chiringuitos, held a meeting on 14 April and decided to give one week to the officials of Andalusia to create a list of suggestions for solving problems caused by the Coastal Law. An elaboration of compromise settlements was promised by Manuel Chaves, an ex-president of Andalusia. However, he had left his post and became a Minister in Madrid recently.

According to the new Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) an area of chiringuitos mustn’t be more than 150 square meters, restaurants have to be situated not on the sand, and the distance between adjacent restaurants is allowed to be 200 meters minimum. The law has caused deep resonance. After all, work of more than 30 thousands people is linked with chiringuitos, which in common turn over about 900 millions euro a year. Many Andalusian chiringuitos were opened more than even 50 years ago and have become family businesses.

The owners of chiringuitos are going to ask customers to sign a petition, which probably will induce the ministry to change their minds. If the compromise is not been found in few weeks then the restaurants owners are ready to stage a demonstration in Madrid.

Photo is published under the public license: sunshinecity.

Date: 16/04/2009