Calpe’s bad peak practice
Peñón visitors ‘ignore’ Covid rules
SELFISH visitors climbing to the top of the Peñón de Ifach the iconic high-rise landmark of the Costa Blanca - are ignoring safety measures designed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, say worried officials.
Walkers congregating at the peak of the famous rock and forced together on the ascent and decent are unable to maintain social distance - but many also abandon face masks.
The Peñón de Ifach is the region’s most visited natural park but according to regional Covid-19 laws, masks must be worn when people are unable to remain 1.5m apart.
The Valencia regional government invested heavily in making the path to the top safe and even in the notorious ‘Covid summer’ it remains a popular destination, commanding breathtaking views of the coast.
Even at night - when town hall staff are off duty - there is a stream of people taking on the challenge of the steep slopes; with lines of torches that can be spotted from the town.
There are signs warning of the need to wear masks, posters stressing coronavirus safety measures, and people at the entrance reminding visitors of regulations but social media photographs illustrate the actions of so-called ‘covidiots’.
Town hall consultant Carole Saunders believes one of the problems of health regulations is the ability of people to make their own interpretations to believe they were complying with the rules.
“Some people are completely ignoring the advice they are given by staff and the information displayed on warning signs,” she said.
“They are told they have to wear masks because there are places where you cannot social distance - unfortunately, they just don’t take any notice.”
Carole said people were always climbing the Peñón ‘even in the middle of the night using torches’.
“People think they are out in the country - out in the ‘campo’ and in a park - but when they are on stretches of paths and at the top of the Peñón de Ifach it is too narrow to maintain a safe social distance,” she added.
“And there are people who like to interpret the laws themselves in a way that best suits them.”
Hospitality sector attracts fines
Calpe's local police have been busy enforcing Covid-19 health safety rules, accusing bars and restaurants of flouting regulations during the busiest time of year.
Breaking the rules will result in fines after officers issued a string of official complaints as they monitor the hospitality sector’s compliance with moves designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.
And the police said the complaints were filed over nine days, from August 15 to August 24; a period covering the two weekends in the middle of the high season when the Marina Alta town sees its biggest influx of visitors.
Officers issued 16 complaints to bars and restaurants for having too short a distance between tables on terraces and inside the premises.
In addition, five ‘denuncias’ were made for establishments found to be still open after the 01.00 curfew; a measure introduced by the regional government on August 17.
Three premises were reported for breaching capacity limits - intended to allow social distancing between clients - and a further complaint was for having live entertainment without a licence or authorisation.