'River beaches' on the cards – but probably not for this summer

INLAND 'river beaches' are gradually being set up in La Safor, replacing overgrown, stagnant water courses that were a flood risk in winter and fire hazard in summer.

Villalonga is about to get 700 metres, or nearly half a mile, of 'beach' along the Serpis river in the Pas de la Guàrdia area close to the town centre – but work will not start on it until after the summer, meaning residents will have to wait until 2021 to be able to pop to the 'coast' without leaving their village.

A section of the Serpis has also been cleaned out in Potries, allowing locals to bathe in it once again.

A heat-trapping membrane is being fitted to the bed of the river Vaca through the Valldigna valley and the river Vernissa through Palma de Gandía, which has been shown to be an effective way of killing off weeds.

As a result, by next summer at the latest, Palma de Gandía and Simat de la Valldigna could have inland 'beaches' of their own.

Rivers were once a Mecca for locals during the sweltering heat in the days before travel to the nearest coast was easy and feasible for everyone, but the three main water courses in La Safor eventually ended up becoming too dirty and overgrown.

Finally, the Júcar river and water authority (CHJ) has started to clear up weeds, reeds and rushes so that residents of inland villages have somewhere to go for a dip.

For a long while, the CHJ was dead against bamboo canes being ripped up from riverbeds – even fining councils and individuals who did so – but it has now changed its approach and allows local authorities freedom to clean their rivers up.

In some cases, the CHJ is even willing to pay the costs of doing so, as long as the councils pick up the tab for ongoing maintenance.

The CHJ has started to recognise that rivers are crucial 'facilities' in summer and has begun working with local authorities to turn them into public leisure and relaxation areas.