Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz signed yesterday the agreement which will make the undertaking of this project possible, within the framework of Plan Qualifica. It will be co-financed by the regional and local governments.

Plan for comprehensive remodelation of Marbella Marina will involve recovering a public area of 6500 sq.m. and the “restoration of value in a privileged tourist enclave”

Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz has declared that the draft is already prepared. She’s confident that the project will be finished by next year.

Marbella, July 15th 2008.- Marbella Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz has presented today the project to be carried out on Marbella Marina aimed at “revitalizing Marbella city centre” and restoring “a privileged tourist enclave”, by means of an ambitious comprehensive plan.

The project, to be developed within the framework of Plan Qualifica, will involve recovering a public area of 6500 sq. m. (the marina’s upper terrace) and other improvements.

According to Muñoz, the measures included on the project will put an end to the permises’ waterproofing problems. The paving will be renovated, as well as the handrails, and pergolas will be installed to create shade areas. Other improvement works will be carried out regarding lighting, painting and ornamentation.

Budget allocation amounts to 1.8 million euros, and also includes the installation of solar panels on the business premises and the construction of a bandstand with removable stands, a new stage for the city.

As a previous step, the kiosks and stalls will be removed starting from September. The execution of the plan will also improve access to the port installations and reorganization of traffic and parking spaces.

Meanwhile, the Mayoress has mentioned the necessity of setting in motion as soon as possible the enlargement project of Marina La Bajadilla. This project is seven years behind schedule, dating back the initial document to the year 2000.

Muñoz has indicated that the municipal government wants it “to become a reality within this political term”. In order to achieve that, a round of meetings with the different organizations involved (Dirección General de Costas, Agencia Pública de Puertos de Andalucía and Consejería de Obras Públicas) is being held in order to boost such an important project for the municipality and the whole Costa del Sol.

She has highlighted that “the project is feasible from an economical point of view” because the financing of the works would not depend on the regional administration, but it would come from the private sector after putting it out to tender.

Nevertheless, the Mayoress has said that “we already have the approval” and that she hopes the City Council’s alternative proposal of 700 new berths (instead of the 400 considered in the project) will be accepted. Muñoz thinks that this enlargement would allow Marbella to become a prestige destination for medium-sized cruises (between 300 and 500 passengers).