New insubordination in the making of Formentera’s chiringuitos (beach bars)

The clock is ticking, and faster and faster. However, the beach kiosks are still standing in Formentera, as if nothing. Thus, the concessionaires of the beach kiosks of the contest under suspicion are on the way to a new insubordination by not dismantling their structures this winter. The end, at this point, seems inevitable: the loss of the concession as a result of essential breaches of the title.

• “We are evaluating it”: the beach bars have not decided if they will dismantle this winter.

• End of the unity in the insubordination: the historic beach bar of Formentera that renewed the concession ‘in extremis’ begins to dismantle.

Just days before the legal deadline to have the facilities dismantled, everything seems to indicate that the beach bars are once again disobeying the regulations: this obligation is contemplated both in the General Coastal Regulations and in the concession title and the bidding specifications. Only one of the eight concessionaires (Bartolo) has started the dismantling, while the other seven have not started any work.

According to La Voz de Ibiza La Voz de Ibiza after a visit to the affected beaches, there are no signs of activity at the points where the kiosks are located, which should be completely dismantled before January 15 and -at least- until February 15.

No time

Sources familiar with the sector warn that, even if the removal work were to begin immediately, there is no longer any margin for meeting the deadline.

The lack of action anticipates a new insubordination as the one occurred last winter. This reiterated behavior could accelerate the proceedings being carried out by the Conselleria del Mar y Ciclo del Agua, after a devastating technical report and a legal document that leaves no doubt about the seriousness of these breaches.

• Now the Consell de Formentera recognizes the obligation to dismantle the beach bars.

• Neither Plan B nor express bidding: beach bars in the air for 2026 in Formentera

Both reports -which are in possession of La Voz de Ibiza- conclude that “essential” conditions of the granted title have been violated. Therefore, it immediately proposes to the “competent body to issue an agreement to initiate the procedure for the expiration of the concession CNC02/21/07/0045, for breach of essential conditions related to the seasonal and removable nature of the facilities, as well as their correct location and extension on the maritime-terrestrial public domain”.

The test

These images were taken this Friday, where it can be seen that none of the seven chiringuitos have started the dismantling process.

Sa Unió’s change of position

The overwhelming reports of the Govern have also left Sa Unió on the ropes, which in recent weeks has had a change of position after the complicities with the chiringuiteros were revealed .

After trying to avoid the obligation of dismantling and applying a derisory fine to the concessionaires for non-compliance during the last winter -aneconomic amountthat had even been proposed by the sanctioned ones- the Consell Insular de Formentera has hardened its discourse and pointed out that “compliance is not optional”.

“Compliance with the specifications is not optional and repeated violations have consequences,” stressed the first vice president and councilor of the area, Verónica Castelló, who is confident that the concessionaires act in accordance with the law, although she admits the difficulty of the schedule: “For a month they must be dismantled.

In addition, the Consell has confirmed that the awarded companies have already been formally notified and that the requirement is “independent of the sanctioning proceedings”, which are already underway .

Repeated history

This situation is not new. In the previous winter, none of the eight beach bars was dismantled, despite the fact that the specifications and the Ministerial Order that regulates the concessions expressly requires the removal during the first quarter for a month. Meanwhile, the Consell Insular had established the date between January 15 and February 15.

• Demolishing report: Formentera’s beach bars on the ropes

• A legal report of the Govern proposes to expire the concession of the beach bars of Formentera.

At the time, the infringement resulted in fines of only 1,500 euros per kiosk, a derisory amount compared to the cost of dismantling and reassembling the structures.

As La Voz de Ibiza reported , the situation caused the complaint of former concessionaires and the Government, which led to the opening of an informative dossier by the Conselleria del Mar.

Non-detachable structures: the crux of the problem

Part of the problem lies in the fact that many of the kiosks are not technically dismountable, something that had also been reported by this newspaper.

In addition, the Govern’s technical report indicates that at least three beach bars could not be dismantled without breaching regulations, and that two others could only do so under specific conditions.

• The seven serious irregularities for which they ask for the nullity of the concessions of the beach bars of Formentera

The kiosks of Es Pujols (lot 24), Es Migjorn (lot 43) and Cala Saona (lot 3) are listed as not removable, while Arenals (lot 35) and Es Copinar (lot 27) would be “with conditions”. Only three structures (Arenals lot 38, Es Marí lot 50 and Es Pujols lot 19) are apparently dismountable.

Three serious misdemeanors

The bidding documents also contemplate that, in the event of three serious offenses or their equivalents accumulated by licensees, the Consell has the power to withdraw the concession.

In case this new insubordination in the making materializes, several beach bars will be in this situation. As reported this week by the Consell Insular de Formentera, the following have been established 37 serious violations and 5 very serious violations (of the 72 sanctions imposed).

• Competition under suspicion: former beach bar concessionaires warn the Consell de Formentera of immediate legal action

This does not include last season’s and the non-compliance due to the failure to dismantle the previous season.

Thus, at least 80 violations have been recorded in just two years, at an average of 10 violations per beach bar.

The Consell has responded that “these procedures are first notified of the sanctions and there is a period of allegations. We are at that stage”.

Continue reading:

• The report that reveals the complicity of the government of Sa Unió in the Consell de Formentera with the concessionaires of the beach bars.

• Formentera’s ways to avoid a summer without beach bars

• Countdown for Formentera’s beach bars: refusal to dismantle is grounds for immediate termination of the concession

• New insubordination? The beach bars of Formentera question the dismantling this winter

• Formentera’s controversial chiringuitos are at stake after a summer of serious infractions

• Another serious offense of the beach bars under suspicion in Formentera: they set up a store of caps and hats.

• The dark future facing Formentera’s beach bars: the Govern stifles insubordination

• Cordoba says that the complicity of Sa Unió in the insubordination of the beach bars will have economic consequences for the Consell de Formentera.

• Chiringuitos agree with Córdoba: economic studies of the bids were out of date

• The ‘dismantling’ of a lie: a prestigious professor warned of the obligation to remove the beach bars included in the bidding documents

• Insubordination in Formentera: Verónica Castelló ignored an allegation against the dismantling of the beach bars that she now wants to avoid.

• Asier Fernández denies Sa Unió and the chiringuitos: “We asked the Govern in October and the answer was ‘we have to dismantle'”.