El Campello accessibility investigation launched over broken beach equipment

The Síndic de Greuges has launched an investigation into the lack of functional amphibious chairs and accessibility resources at Muchavista Beach in El Campello. The inquiry follows a formal complaint by Natalia Velilla, a Madrid magistrate, acting as a mother to her 21-year-old daughter who has 91 percent cerebral palsy.

Regulations require at least two amphibious chairs at adapted bathing points to assist people with disabilities, reduced mobility, or the elderly. However, at the Muchavista accessibility point, only one chair is operational because the other sinks during use. This equipment failure has led to service overloads and long wait times, forcing users to wait in extreme heat or cold for approximately 20 minutes per session.

Velilla reported the situation to both the Síndic and the State Attorney General's Office, noting that the El Campello City Council failed to replace the faulty equipment despite her requests. The complaint highlights a violation of universal accessibility principles, particularly as the neighboring San Juan beach in Alicante maintains superior resources and a Blue Flag status.