PSOE criticises Málaga for turning Pedregalejo promenade into a 'franchise environment'

PSOE in Málaga accuses the City Council of transforming the Pedregalejo promenade into a 'franchise environment' and calls for urgent measures amid the chaos of the works.

The municipal socialist group has attacked the Málaga City Council for its management of the works on the Pedregalejo promenade, accusing it of turning the area into a 'franchise environment' that erases the maritime identity of the neighbourhood. In a statement, spokesperson Mariano Ruiz Araujo denounced the "deep neighbourhood discontent" due to constant delays and structural damage to homes.

Endless works and loss of identity

Ruiz Araujo, accompanied by councillors Mari Carmen Sánchez and Lorena Doña, toured the area to gather complaints from residents. "The works on the Pedregalejo promenade also represent a missed opportunity," he stated. According to the spokesperson, the project should have enhanced the traditional character of the neighbourhood, but instead, it is generating a homogeneous and soulless space.

"They are turning this promenade into a franchise promenade," lamented Ruiz Araujo, who criticised the "disconnection of the district councillor, Carlos Conde, from the reality of the area." Residents, like Juan Manuel Morales, express their "desperation over the constant inconveniences" and the lack of progress: "The problem we have is very serious. Because the work is stuck, they finish nothing, they start on one side, finish on another."

A city model in question

For PSOE, this situation is "a real shame that the City Council should correct and yet has flaunted. A showcase city that does not care for its symbols or its identity." The socialist spokesperson believes that the project reflects a city model that prioritises image over the real needs of the residents.

Residents of Pedregalejo, a neighbourhood with strong fishing roots, see how their environment is transformed into a space without personality. "The City Council is wasting an opportunity to highlight what makes this place unique," added Ruiz Araujo, who called for "urgent and more agile" action to resolve the problems of the works.

Community reactions and next steps

The residents' complaint focuses on the continuous delays and damage to adjacent homes. "They finish nothing, they start on one side, finish on another," complains Morales, reflecting the general sentiment. PSOE has demanded that the governing team halt the current project and reopen a citizen participation process to redesign the promenade while respecting its essence.

Meanwhile, local traders and residents hope the City Council will address their demands before the promenade permanently loses its maritime character. The works continue without a clear completion date, and uncertainty grows among those affected.