Antigua seeks urgent authorization from Costas to repair damages in Pozo Negro

The Antigua City Council is requesting permission to intervene in Pozo Negro after storm Therese caused damage, facing bureaucracy after a previous sanction.

Image of a damaged seafront promenade on the coast of Fuerteventura.
IA

Image of a damaged seafront promenade on the coast of Fuerteventura.

The Antigua City Council has urgently requested authorization from the General Directorate of Coasts to repair damages caused by storm Therese in Pozo Negro, Fuerteventura, where the storm left sinkholes in front of coastal homes.

This situation highlights an ongoing conflict between administrations regarding the management of public maritime-terrestrial domain, especially in coastal areas lacking clear regulations. The damage in Pozo Negro, an old settlement of frontline coastal homes, poses a risk to residents and the many families who frequent the area, as reported by the Council.
The mayor of Antigua, Matías Peña, stated the impossibility of direct intervention without Costas' approval. He recalled that the City Council itself was sanctioned by the General Directorate of Coasts approximately a year ago for undertaking similar emergency repairs. In light of this, the Council has reiterated its request to act in the affected area.

"We cannot intervene directly without authorization from Costas. The local City Council was reported by the General Directorate of Coasts after undertaking similar emergency repairs, approximately a year ago."

Matías Peña · Mayor of Antigua
Antigua's request has also been forwarded to the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, covering not only Pozo Negro but also other coastal settlements that suffered damage during the recent storm. This petition follows a series of recent meteorological events, including storm Therese and a strong calima episode, before the arrival of more stable and sunny weather for Easter Week.
The City Council has assured that, once authorization from Costas is obtained, it will proceed urgently with the necessary repairs, using municipal resources and funding. This action responds to complaints from Antigua residents who usually spend their holidays in Pozo Negro and found the damage upon arriving at their usual resting place.
The previous sanction and the development of coastal settlements like Pozo Negro on the frontline, often without adequate administrative control, have been a constant source of conflict between administrations and the population over recent decades. The Government of the Canary Islands, after assuming powers over Costas, has announced measures to regularize the planning of these areas, although significant progress has yet to materialize.