Errenteria Town Hall has been fined €37,500 by the Basque Water Agency for replacing the mobile cover of the Fanderia swimming pool with a fixed structure. The Agency has opened disciplinary proceedings, deeming that current regulations regarding coastlines have been violated, despite technical explanations provided by the Council.
The Governing Team decided to completely renovate the cover in 2022, after a prior technical report indicated safety risks associated with the mobile cover. The works, which began in September 2023 and concluded in February 2024, have allowed the pool to operate normally year-round.
The Town Hall states that the decision to change the cover type was based on technical and safety criteria. The previous mobile cover suffered significant damage due to the pool's climatic conditions and chemical products, rendering it unusable. Consequently, a more durable and sustainable solution was chosen, while maintaining the pool's open-air nature.
In response to the Basque Water Agency's disciplinary proceedings, Errenteria Town Hall filed an administrative appeal. Within this procedure, on May 26th, a court provisionally suspended the order to restore the cover to its previous state pending a final resolution of the case. However, this measure does not affect the imposed fine.
As the fine is final through administrative channels, Errenteria Town Hall has decided to proceed with its payment. Nevertheless, it will continue to defend its actions in court and protect the interests of its citizens.
