The controversy over the paralysis of a beach bar in Cala Gració in 2018 reaches the Provincial Court, where the preliminary hearing of the trial against the former mayor of Sant Antoni, the socialist Josep Tur Cires, and the former councilor of Urbanism, Cristina Ribas, is held. Both face charges of administrative malfeasance for the decisions that prevented the opening of the kiosk despite having initial permits.
The origin of the conflict: a kiosk that never opened
The case has its roots in the summer of 2018, when the developer Bambagás installed a removable beach bar with the authorization of the City Council and the endorsement of the Demarcation of Coasts. However, the opening was stopped by a decree signed by Cristina Ribas, which required a certificate of completion of work before starting the activity.
The promoter, who denounces an irregular action by the consistory, demands a 12-year disqualification sentence for Tur and Ribas, alleging that they had all the necessary permits to operate.
For its part, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has requested that the case be closed, argues that the decisions taken were supported by municipal technical reports and did not reflect any intention to harm the developers.
Tur and Ribas’ defense: decisions based on technical reports
The Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasizes that both the former mayor and the former councilor based their position on reports from the municipal architect and the Urban Planning inspector, who detected irregularities in the project and questioned its compliance with the permits granted. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, there is no evidence to show a deliberate intention to harm the developer. “The decisions were technical and not political,” has defended the defense of the defendants, who argue that the change of criteria sought to ensure compliance with the regulations and does not constitute a crime.
