A CALL has gone out for more coastal facilities to be provided free-of-charge to members of the public with beach and promenade access.
Parliament is seeking an opinion from Bahrain’s three municipal councils – Muharraq, Southern and Northern – as well as the Capital Trustees Board in Manama, on a new proposal to protect and develop seafronts, alongside providing them with all necessary services.
The Muharraq Municipal Council unanimously approved yesterday the parliamentary proposal calling for the allocation of five public coastal areas in the Muharraq Governorate.
Muharraq councillors are now asking the government to officially register five seafronts in Hidd, Arad, Al Sayah (Busaiteen), Muharraq, Dair and Samaheej (one stretch) declaring them as ‘public property’.
“It doesn’t matter if the budget is unavailable now or later to develop them, let us have the deeds officially registered and announced in the Official Gazette,” said council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar.
“Muharraq is the second highest inhabited island after the Bahrain mainland, yet in reality there are no public beaches that people can freely use, and that I find is an embarrassing situation,” he added.
“It is true that people are now going to the dry dock seafront but, in reality, it is owned by Asry and could have access blocked at any moment.
“So, basically, there are no coastal places that we could consider permanent for swimming, chilling out and having barbecues – a place that people can look for solace from the stresses of everyday life.”
Under statistics provided to the council for the Muharraq Governorate, 4.2 per cent of the seafronts are designated as ‘special projects’, 5.1pc used as jetties, 16.7pc as walkways or parks, 24.3pc are unused, and 49pc can’t be allocated due to possible reclamation projects.
“So people are cornered from every side by future developments, private properties and a lack of financing taking up their recreational spaces,” said Mr Al Naar.
“Why does anyone have to pay to enjoy the seafront or book a room or chalet to enjoy the sea?
“That is an option for the wealthy, but for many people it’s financially impossible.”
Council vice-chairman Saleh Buhazaa believes Bahrain, an archipelago of 33 islands, should do better with such limited public access to the seaside.
“It is not anyone’s fault they can’t afford it, while the rich can go to the beach,” said Mr Buhazaa.
“Marassi Beach was at first free but then charges were introduced. Normal families that believed they had a place to enjoy their time found their dream destination becoming a nightmare because of the cost.”
Meanwhile, the council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Ahmed Al Meghawi said there were several spaces that could be used but possible reclamation projects featured in the Strategic Master Plan 2030 thwarted any plans to earmark specific places for public access.
“People are fed up with temporary solutions, they want a free beach that they can use regularly, without fear of it being locked up at any moment.”
Officially, the complaints appear ill-founded. Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) board of directors’ chairman and former minister Essam Khalaf told the Shura Council earlier that a plan to designate public access seafronts across Bahrain was underway.
He added that the Strategic Master Plan for Bahrain already stipulates that 50 per cent of all coasts remain open for the public.
Mr Khalaf also told MPs earlier that Bahrain had 34 public coastlines stretching up to 41.83km, while seven more registered coastlines, stretching up to 10.225km, were under development.
The coastlines under development include around 2km in Galali, 1.029km in Dair, 940 metres in Samaheej, 1.034km in Abu Sobh, Duraz, 119m on one side in Karzakan and 234.5m on the other side, and 4.871km at Bilaj Al Jazair.
Seventeen other locations have also been identified covering a distance of 123.7km including a 49km stretch around Tubli Bay.
The government has managed to target around 6km of coastal spaces from infrastructure division of private plots.
The Shura Council has voted against a suggested law that would have forced investors carrying out projects on coastal plots to allocate 50pc of the seafront for free public access.
“An island with no free sea access is really heartbreaking and Parliament should force a change, an immediate one, because people are fed up and angry,” claimed Muharraq Municipal Council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Fadhel Al Oud.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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