The reports drawn up by the delegatees of the artificial and natural beaches of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins include the financial results, the quality of the service provided and the fees paid to the City, owner of the premises. On the financial side, even the elected Solidarity Left, ecological and democratic opposition, Michèle Muratore, is reassured.
On the other hand, she notes that the beach controller indicates a lack of respect for free passage on private beaches. “More serious in my opinion, there are problems concerning the obligation to supervise swimming”she adds.
Jean Leonetti quickly evacuated this “false debate”. “Antibes and its seaside resort now have more than 50% of public beaches on its artificial part and more than 80% on the natural beach side*. You still have to have a curious behavior to insist on standing on a piece of public beach in front of a concessioned beach”replies the mayor of Antibes.
Prices too high?
Michèle Muratore also points out maximum prices which would not be respected. “I read 32 euros instead of 22. We far exceed “she cites as an example, without specifying the product or the beach.
The reports would also highlight a drop in turnover for certain delegatees. However, the mayor repeated it again and again: business is going well. To the point that all of the work carried out on Boulevard Baudoin, on La Pinède and on La Garoupe is almost self-financed by the operators. “I often hear that they are financed by the taxpayer. No, it is a balanced budget that we are presenting here. This is also why beach operators have a concession period of 18 years, in order to so that they can make investments”explains Jean Leonetti.
In fact, the development of natural beaches costs 20.8 million euros. Thanks to entry fees and royalties paid by concessionaires, the City pockets 20.2 million. But, remember: work in the Pinède sector was stopped due to an appeal filed by a local resident. The Council of State having rejected it, the site should resume at the beginning of January. Objective: for most beaches to be active this summer.
“We are not going to stop water skiing in Juan”
As has been the case for 45 years now, the Antibes town hall has applied for its own succession to be the delegatee of Ponteil beach, which belongs to the State. It then wishes to sublicense its proper functioning to a third party, as currently. A system approved by Michèle Muratore who, however, requested, to preserve biodiversity and allow residents to walk by the sea, that this beach be open eight months a year, and not twelve. “Or only leave the concrete part open all year round, but not the part on the sand”she suggests.
“If we can continue an activity in winter, which we know is mild here, it keeps tourism going and it brings money to the City. I don’t see why we would deprive ourselves of it,” replies Jean Leonetti. Before remembering that the aforementioned famous strip of sand is not occupied in winter. “I would understand your concern if we were in the same situation as before, with a seaside resort without a public beach. This is no longer the case today,” he maintains.
Ponteil beach also hosts leisure activities. On this point, Michèle Muratore reiterated her opposition to any motorized nautical activity. Jean Leonetti assures that his City is vigilant on this point and that it has also limited this type of activity. “But hey, we’re not going to ban water skiing in Juan-les-Pins. It would be like banning cinema in Cannes”quips the mayor.
*The natural beaches extend from the Courbet pontoon in Juan-les-Pins to the limit between Antibes and Villeneuve-Loubet. The rest of Juan’s beaches are called “artificial”. Some are managed by the City, others are delegated to service providers.
