Calp City Council will allow the terraces of cafeterias, bars and restaurants to be expanded where possible to boost business and compensate for the economic losses caused by the COVID-19 health crisis. In this way, it will be possible to enlarge the terraces on the pavements where possible since they must be passable by pedestrians with the appropriate clearance measures.
According to the Territory Councillor, Juan Manuel del Pino, the City Council will not follow the criterion of 50% occupancy of the terraces, but the obligation to guarantee a minimum distance between tables of two metres, so that where this extension is carried out, there will be space for a higher occupancy.
The enlargement of the terraces will be carried out by occupying parking spaces. In addition to the approval of the municipal technicians, the approval of the local police is required, as the terrace must not obstruct road traffic.
In addition, the pedestrian area of several streets is being studied, such as Pintor Sorolla, Blasco Ibáñez, a section of Corbeta Street, and Plaza Colón, where the largest number of cafés, bars and restaurants are concentrated, in order to allow the expansion of these terraces.
On the other hand, Juan Manuel del Pino has assured that new aid will be examined for all those establishments that cannot benefit from this measure, in order to avoid favouring individual restaurants. "We want to help the whole sector, but we also cannot allow everyone to suffer because they cannot all benefit from a measure," he said.
He also said that the city council will check that the two-metre distance between tables is respected and that tables and chairs are disinfected whenever they are free, and appealed to the responsibility of hoteliers in this regard. "If we make a wrong move and have an increase in infections, we have to close again" and has recommended that users of bars and restaurants should wear a mask.
Suspension of road tolls
On the other hand, in last Monday's plenary session, the City Council approved an amendment to the tax regulation that regulates the fee for the occupation of public streets with terraces and auxiliary structures and their management, so that this fee is not charged.
The City will refund the fee corresponding to the period during which these premises could not be opened due to the alarm condition and will only charge 50 percent of the part corresponding to the period during which the premises were opened until the fee suspension comes into effect.