From this summer, Sitges has its first two smoke-free beaches. On the beaches of Sant Sebastià and La Fragata, you can only smoke on the terraces of the beach bars and up to the entrance to each beach. The use of electronic cigarettes or vaporisers is also prohibited on these two beaches.
The measure, which was originally launched to coincide with Holy Week, is now included in the official beach ordinance, and is in addition to other actions planned by Sitges Town Council to keep the beaches and the natural environment in the best conditions, while promoting healthy habits.
Awareness campaigns are being launched in order to ‘encourage beach maintenance and prevent waste from ending up in the sea’, said the local councillor for Environmental Action and Ecological Transition, Carme Gasulla.
In relation to the sand itself, the councillors for Beach Maintenance and Services, Environmental Action and Ecological Transition, Image and Public Ways, and Projects and Works have been meeting to coordinate an action plan that includes measures to improve the sand condition.
A focus group day is also planned to address ‘the stabilisation of the beaches of Sitges’, which will take place after Santa Tecla (15-24 September). The council is also ‘in contact with other municipalities to analyse projects such as SCORE (Smart Control of the Climate Resilience in European coastal cities), and to work on the effects of climate change and socio-economic analysis, as well as measures to protect the coast’.
The council invites ‘all sectors related to the beaches, both economic and environmental, to work together’, stressing ‘the importance of these spaces for Sitges’.
The council allocated a budget of 2.4 million euros for the maintenance of the beaches in Sitges for 2023.
ALSO READ: Barcelona seeks to ban smoking on all beaches, after positive pilot scheme.
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