This will be the new schedule for Alicante's terraces

Alicante is a city that invites you to enjoy a drink while seated at one of the many terraces lining its streets and squares. This pleasure is enjoyed by tourists visiting the city as well as many residents who, for much of the year, prefer the open air to the indoors of establishments.

A custom that changes from this Thursday, as the Alicante City Council has approved the new Public Space Occupation ordinance, which, among other things, regulates the hours of operation for terraces.

The new regulation seeks to balance the residents' right to rest with the establishments' right to economic activity. Therefore, generally, from Sunday to Thursday, terraces must be dismantled before midnight, while on weekends and the eve of public holidays, they can remain open until 1 a.m.

With the arrival of summer and holidays, this regulation significantly extends the hours for terrace installations. From June 15 to September 30, the weekday hours will extend until 1 a.m. On Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of public holidays, terraces can remain open until 1:30 a.m.

Although the new schedule is more lenient during the summer period, the regulation also includes other periods when the summer schedule will apply, such as during the Christmas and Easter holidays.

In defence of the new regulation, the Councillor for Festivities and Public Space Occupation, Cristina Cutanda, stated that this regulation has involved public participation, accepting 31 suggestions from associations, residents, and entities. The councillor highlighted that this ordinance is deeply connected with the recently approved Festivities ordinance and the ongoing Noise ordinance.

Compromís also voted in favour. Its spokesperson, Rafa Mas, emphasized that they have been working with the government team for two years on a regulation that could guarantee residents' rest. "It wasn't that difficult, Mr. Barcala, to reach an agreement with the opposition, although it's easier for you to do so with Vox, your crutch," the councillor noted. Mas also stressed that it's not enough to approve the ordinance; it must also be enforced.

Meanwhile, the Councillor for Esquerra Unida-Podem, Manolo Copé, criticized Compromís's vote in favour. "We had the obligation to make a more ambitious ordinance than we did," he asserted. The councillor felt that the suggestions from associations and entities were not considered and called for the regularization of the 'hippies' situation on the Explanada.

From Vox, they also criticized that the PP preferred to make a pact with Compromís rather than extend the summer period for terraces and approve the regulation alone. "We would have considered abstaining out of consideration for the hospitality sector," Utrera stated.

Meanwhile, from the PSOE, Councillor Miguel Castelló reiterated the importance of this regulation being accompanied by the approval of the noise ordinance, which he believes "remains in a drawer." "More work should have been done to achieve consensus between residents and merchants," he insisted.

Finally, the regulation was passed with 16 votes in favour (PP and Compromís), 4 against (Vox and EU-Podem), and 8 abstentions (PSOE).