Guadalupe recovers its terraces | Today

Guadalupe recovers its terraces. The bars and restaurants of the town have begun to receive municipal notifications in which they are authorized to reinstall the tables and chairs that the City Council ordered to be removed a week ago for failing to comply with measures related to the accessibility law and for having expired the licenses. In this way, the town recovers one of its most typical photographs, that of the watchmen occupying the Plaza de Santa María de Guadalupe, located at the foot of the Monastery of the same name and which keeps the image of the patron saint of Extremadura, the reason for the pilgrimage of hundreds of people throughout the year and in particular on September 8 (Extremadura Day) and October 12 (Fiesta de la Hispanidad).

The controversy that left the town of Cáceres, a benchmark for religious tourism in the autonomous community, without terraces broke out seven days ago, as a result of the town hall resolution that ordered the nightstands to be raised. That decision gave rise to an unknown photograph, that of that place through which every tourist who arrives in the municipality passes without a single watchman. The mayor decided not to comment on the matter in the media, alleging that it is judicialized. The same position was taken by José Vázquez, a hospitality entrepreneur who a few months ago denounced the councilor for alleged breaches of the accessibility law.

One of the keys that explained the situation was in the ordinance on terraces and auxiliary elements, approved in April 2017. In one of its points it states that the licenses for watchmen are granted for one year, that they expire every December 31 and that they are extendable. If the permit has not been renewed by that date, the employer has three days to remove the tables and chairs. So far the theory. In practice, as occurs in other municipalities not only in Extremadura but in Spain as a whole, local administrations are lax in complying with this obligation, so that some businesses keep their terraces open until well into the new year despite not having authorization renewed. And this supposes a breach of that ordinance that was approved five years ago.

The reasons for the decision

Regarding accessibility, the possible infractions affected higher-ranking legislation and have to do with the lack of spaces that allow the pedestrian traffic of any neighbor. And between one reason and another (licenses and accessibility) it is explained why in Guadeloupe, the cane with the black pudding cover, the indisputable local gastronomic jewel, has had to be eaten for a week near the bar counter, indoors, and not on the street.

Last Thursday, the mayor announced on his Facebook page that he was “in a position to announce that the terrace renovation issue will have a favorable outcome in a matter of a few days.” Thank you, added the socialist Felipe Sánchez Barba, “to the work and perseverance with institutions and entities.” “As soon as the reports are officially received -the councilor anticipated-, the resolutions and notifications will be sent to the interested parties, to occupy the public thoroughfare in the conditions established in the municipal ordinance.” And that is what has begun to happen on Monday morning.