CalpeNoticias EN

Calpe Town Council has closed the 2025 fiscal year consolidating a growth trend in terms of its cultural offering. According to data collected in the annual report prepared by the Department of Culture, a total of 33,839 people attended its programmed activities in 2025, representing an increase of almost 26% compared to 2024, when 26,924 users were recorded.

This increase has been supported by a significant strengthening of the programme promoted by the Council. Throughout 2025, a total of 264 activities were conducted, a figure that exceeds the 227 proposals of the previous year and is well above the 151 programmed in 2023. In just two years, the cultural offering managed by the Council has increased by around 75%, translating into almost 10,000 more attendees than two years ago.

In terms of analysis by type, last year's programme stood out for its variety and the notable boost in the performing arts, with 49 theatre performances, doubling the 22 performances recorded in the previous year.

The rest of the programme was completed with the organisation of 52 music concerts, 15 film screenings, 10 dance performances and 138 other activities, including exhibitions, conferences, institutional events, and guided tours.

At a press conference today, Calpe Town Council presented the new organisation of its departments and the update of its councillors' responsibilities, with the aim of offering more efficient, specialised management that is closer to the public.

ANA SALA FERNÁNDEZ

TERRITORY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRATEGIC PROJECTS

Urban planning, granting of planning permits, environmental and opening licences, business park and strategic projects.

GUILLERMO SENDRA GUARDIOLA

CULTURE, MOBILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Culture, old town, historical and monumental heritage, cultural centre, municipal library, museums, public safety, local police and civil protection, traffic, emergencies, taxis, urban mobility and the 2026-2036 Urban Transport Plan.

XIMO PERLES PÉREZ

SPORTS, HOUSING, ECONOMIC AND TOURISM PROMOTION, INTEGRATED WATER CYCLE AND INTERNAL REGIME

Sports, domestic drinking water supply, sewerage, water treatment and sanitation, procurement, heritage, municipal inventory and internal regime.

PAQUI SOLIVELLES SENDRA

FINANCE, AUDIT AND TREASURY, SUBSIDIES, HUMAN RESOURCES AND OAC

Budgets, tax collection and treasury services, human resources, approving public job offers, hiring Corporation staff, municipal staff discipline, employment plans, Citizen Services and Registry Office, subsidies and Consortium for the Economic Recovery of the Marina Alta (CREAMA).

MARIOLA MULET RONDA

EDUCATION, SEA AND FESTIVALS

Education, nursery and primary schools, Silene Nursery School, IES Ifach, IES Les Salines, University Campus, EPA, Pla Edificant, Festivals: popular heritage and traditions, productive sectors ‘de la mar i de la terra’ (from the sea and the land) and ports.

REBECA MERCHÁN DÍAZ

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, SENIOR CITIZENS, YOUTH AND INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS

Citizen participation, transparency and open government, institutional communication, defending citizens in their relations with the City Council, associations, Civic Centre, senior citizens, relations with other public administrations.

ITZIAR DOVAL CÁMARA

SOCIAL INCLUSION, EQUALITY AND FAMILY

Social services, equality, gender violence, family, childhood, adolescence, LGTBI community, non-governmental organisations, Day Centre, Maite Boronat Centre, Health Protection, health centres and second health centre.

PEDRO MOLL LEUCHTER

ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE

Green areas, beaches, promenades, environment, Agenda 2030, sustainable development goals, climate change, Les Salines Natural Park, solar streetlights, animal welfare, fire prevention and extinction.

MARCO BITTNER

SPECIAL DELEGATE FOR SUBSIDIES, INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS, EUROPEAN RELATIONS, IT AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, INTERNATIONAL TOURISM PROMOTION, TWINNING AND THE PARK OF ETERNAL REST.

IT, modernisation of the administration, information and communication technologies, SmartCity, use of artificial intelligence, international tourism promotion, twinning and the Park of Eternal Rest, and grants. Special delegate for the Wanderlust project, Edusi and Next Generation Funds.

MIREIA RIPOLL

SPECIAL DELEGATE FOR TOURISM PLANNING, HOUSING, CLEANING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND URBAN SIGNAGE

Tourism planning, housing, urban signage and cleaning of public buildings. Municipal housing plan 2026-2030.

ÁLEX COCA MALAGÓN

SPECIAL DELEGATE FOR YOUTH, ECONOMIC PROMOTION, URBAN QUALITY, COMMERCE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

Economic promotion, employment, commerce, sedentary sales, non-sedentary sales, consumption and Consumer Information Office (OMIC); urban developments; urban quality and image works and services; street cleaning; waste collection and treatment; public lighting, road painting, parks and gardens. Youth, Youth Information Centre, Punt Jove and Youth Information Point.

This week, reconstruction work began on the access road to the Balcón de Bernia residential area. This is the road whose retaining wall collapsed because of the rains in 2022. The road is currently completely undermined in the area where the wall collapsed, although a reinforced concrete wall has been built by the community of owners of the residential complex. However, the services are in a precarious state, with temporary connections and completely exposed to the elements.

The work, which began with clearing tasks, will consist of demolishing the road surface affected by the collapse of the wall, filling in the wall, compacting the fill, aligning the curbstones, and replacing the existing services. Subsequently, the asphalt gravel layer will be laid, the pavements will be rebuilt, and the road will be painted.

The supply network, which is currently laid provisionally, will also be replaced, a new drain grate will be installed at the lowest point of the road to improve drainage in the area, and work will be carried out to channel the low-voltage underground line.

This part of the work was awarded to the company Vives Dalmau for €190,271, with a completion period of three months.

The mayor, Ana Sala, said, ‘We want to restore normality to that area of the Empedrola residential area, which affected the owners and caused considerable concern on the part of everyone due to the rains that caused a lot of damage and forced the residents to evacuate.’

This morning, Calpe Town Hall experienced a fire outbreak caused by an electrical short circuit, forcing the preventive evacuation of municipal staff and citizens who were inside the building.

The incident occurred shortly before 12 noon, when smoke was detected coming from one of the ceiling panels on the third floor, as well as melting plastic on the affected ceiling panel. Following an inspection by the municipal electrical brigade, a small flame was confirmed above the ceiling.

The local police extinguished the fire using two CO₂ extinguishers. Members of the Provincial Fire Brigade went to the Town Hall and confirmed, using thermal cameras, that the fire had been completely extinguished. Civil Guard officers also participated in the operation and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene.

The rapid response of all the security and emergency services and agencies involved meant that Town Hall staff and members of the public were able to re-enter the building at around 12.40 pm.

Álex Coca Malagón has been sworn in as councillor for Calpe Town Council, representing the Somos Calpe municipal group, at the extraordinary plenary session held this afternoon. Coca replaces Juan Manuel del Pino, who resigned as councillor at the plenary session in December when the municipal budget was finally approved, following his decision to leave political life.

The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, presented him with the insignia and institutional medal and welcomed him to the corporation and to the new stage he is beginning in the service of the public interest. In her speech, Sala highlighted Álex Coca's youth, enthusiasm and eagerness to take on challenges.

The delegations that the new councillor will assume are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Friday, 9:

• 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guided tours to Banys de la Reina. (Tour in English at 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays, in French on Wednesdays). Registration at cabdelareina@esatur.com.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church. Until 11 January.
• 6pm-7pm - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish Church. Until 11 January.

Saturday, 10:

• • 10am, 11:30am and 1pm - Guided tours to Banys de la Reina. Registration at cabdelareina@esatur.com.
  • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • 6pm-7pm - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • 7:30 pm - Concert ‘Una visión a dos pianos’ (A vision for two pianos), by pianists Rosa Blanco and Javier Otero Neira. Free admission. Auditorium.

Sunday, 11th:

• • From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene of the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Exhibition of the Nativity Scene of the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. - Guided tours to Banys de la Reina. (Tour in Valencian at 12 p.m.). Registration at cabdelareina@esatur.com.

Calpe Town Council, through the Jaume Pastor i Fluixà Cultural Centre, will offer live opera and ballet from the Royal Opera House in London this season thanks to an agreement with The Royal Ballet and Opera. Through this agreement, the council will broadcast five productions from the prestigious British institution free of charge, bringing some of the major international performing arts events to the municipality.

This initiative positions the Casa de Cultura de Calpe, and by extension the Town Council, as a pioneering space in the province, offering world-class performances in real time and with completely free access for the public. The municipal objective is for the residents of Calpe to be able to enjoy an artistic experience comparable to that experienced on the stage of Covent Garden, without having to travel abroad.

The agreed programme includes two ballets and three operas from the current London season. In the ballet section, the innovative piece ‘Woolf Works’, inspired by the work of the writer Virginia Woolf, will be screened, as well as the romantic classic ‘Giselle’, one of the benchmark titles in the international repertoire. As for opera, the planned programme brings together three masterpieces: Giuseppe Verdi's ‘La Traviata’, “Siegfried” —part of Richard Wagner's ‘Ring Cycle’ tetralogy— and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's ‘The Magic Flute’.

Calpe Town Council is confident that this new offer will be enthusiastically received by regular classical and opera music audiences and that it will also help to attract new spectators, thanks to the spectacular high-definition broadcasts and the unique opportunity to watch live productions from the Royal Opera House.

The sessions will be free of charge until full capacity is reached. To check the dates and times of each performance, those interested can visit the Casa de Cultura itself or consult the programme on the website and on the official communication channels of Calpe Town Council.

This Friday, 9 January, Calpe will host the conference ‘Sport as a driving force for tourism on the Costa Blanca’, an event that aims to analyse the role of sport as a strategic tool for tourism and regional development.

The conference is organised by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board and the Institute for Spanish Sports Quality (ICDE), in collaboration with Estimar Hotels, Hosbec and Calp Town Council, and will bring together institutional representatives and professionals from the tourism and sports sectors at the Hotel Estimar Calpe Suitopia. It will also include the official presentation of the Spanish Sports Quality Seal to the Gran Hotel Sol y Mar and the Hotel Estimar Suitopia, making them the first hotels in Spain to achieve this certification of excellence.

The meeting is aimed at institutional leaders, hotel chain executives, facility managers, sports tourism companies, tour operators, event organisers and sports professionals.

The Second Vice-President and Minister of the Presidency of the Valencian Regional Government, Pepe Díez, will open the conference, which will begin at 4 p.m., and the Mayor of Calp, Ana Sala, will close it.

The round table discussion ‘Sport as a driving force for tourism on the Costa Blanca’ will be the central event of this meeting. Moderated by the Director General of the Alicante Tourist Board, José Mancebo, it will feature the participation of the President of the Spanish Sports Association (ADESP), José Hidalgo, the Director General of Sports of the Valencian Regional Government, Luis Cervera, the Provincial Deputy for Tourism of Alicante and Mayor of La Nucia, Bernabé Cano, the President of the International Institute for Excellence and Sports Certification (IINS) and Director General of the Institute for Spanish Sports Quality (ICDE), África Álvarez, the Secretary General of Hosbec, Nuria Montes, the Soudal – Quick Step Team cyclist Mikel Landa, and the Commercial Director of Estimar Hotels, Sergio Baudot.

After the round table, the Spanish Sports Excellence certifications will be presented to the two hotels in Calpe.

The Tourism Department has already designed its calendar of tourism exhibitions for the first quarter of the year, marking a strategy that combines promotion in traditional markets with the opening of new key markets in order to maintain current occupancy levels and also to de-seasonalise the tourist season.

The calendar kicks off in January, from the 15th to the 18th, with the Matka 2026 Exhibition in Helsinki, a exhibition at which Calpe will have a significant presence and at which the municipality is scheduled to make a presentation as part of a cycle dedicated to the Costa Blanca. It is the most important international exhibition not only in Finland, but in all the Nordic countries. The number of visitors increases substantially each year and in 2025 there were more than 56,000 visitors.

The Tourism Department will also be present at Fitur from 21 to 25 January. The Madrid Exhibition is a traditional event at which Calpe presents the latest developments for the tourist season.

From 14 to 16 February, Calpe is scheduled to participate in Fiets en Wandelbeurs, the trade exhibition in Utrecht, which is a very important market for Calpe, promoting cycle tourism, hiking and the attractions of the municipality as a healthy destination. It is a market with a very specific objective and a high return on investment.

And from 20 to 22 February, Calpe will be at Ferie for Alle Herning 2026. The aim is to delve into the rapidly growing Danish tourism market, and this generalist exhibition also allows us to showcase the diversity of the municipality. Various workshops are planned with wholesale companies within MCH Travel Connect, a free professional meeting on the day before the exhibition opens, which is an excellent opportunity to optimise commercial contacts, strengthen collaborations and generate new business opportunities.

And in March, the unmissable tourism event is ITB Berlin, which takes place from 3 to 5 March and this year celebrates its 60th edition. This is one of the world's major tourism events and a business platform for global tourism: countries, cities and regions, tour operators, online booking portals and hotels, and many other service providers from more than 180 countries present their products and services there.

Calpe's aim at the Berlin Exhibition is to increase its visibility and prestige as a destination among a diverse international audience. To capture the attention and interest of potential customers, partners and the media for advertising campaigns in Germany.

Marco Bitnner, Councillor for International Promotion, pointed out that "this calendar of international exhibitions reflects our commitment to tourism that seeks excellence, not volume. Calpe should be recognised as a healthy place, both for those who visit us and for those who live here all year round.

We are committed to the sustainability that comes with de-seasonalisation and the prosperity generated by the diversification of our audience. We seek respectful visitors who value what we are: a destination where nature, indigenous culture and well-being coexist. The idea of a Calpe that looks to the future without losing its essence, that grows without losing quality of life, and that welcomes those who share our values with hospitality".

Calpe Town Council has installed an artistic railing entitled ‘Love of the sea... love’, which pays homage to Calpe's links with the sea and the fishing industry, the traditional driving force behind the municipality's economy.

The Mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, inaugurated the work this morning. It was designed and crafted in galvanised iron by the Xàbia sculptor Toni Marí and has been installed next to the low wall at the end of Castelló Street, which offers views of La Fossa beach.

The artistic railing represents the Posidonia meadow adorned with different marine species typical of Calpe, such as llampuga, sea bream, white prawns and octopus. It also features poems written by Joaquín Roselló, who was a deep-sea fishing skipper.

In addition to Marí and Roselló, the ceremony was also attended by the head of the Fishermen's Guild, Paco Catalá, and the former Councillor for Infrastructure, Juan Manuel del Pino, who promoted this initiative to mark the centenary of the Fishermen's Guild.

Calpe Town Council has launched a tender for a totem pole with a lifesaving system to be installed in Cala Mallorquí to prevent drownings in this area, where incidents have been recorded in recent years. In 2023, a similar totem was installed on the Princesa de Asturias promenade, opposite La Rocaplana. It is a fixed stainless-steel structure that is completely autonomous as it has a solar panel and battery, making it an active safety point 24 hours a day.

The intention is for this installation, like the one installed on the Princesa de Asturias promenade, to contain life-saving devices that inflate automatically on contact with water. The operation is simple. To use these devices, you must break the glass of the totem, pick up one of the lifesavers and throw it to the person in distress. The device inflates on contact with water in just a few seconds and is reusable.

In addition, when it is used, breaking the glass activates an acoustic and light alert system in the area, and the totem has two buttons that, when pressed, alert the local police or 112.

The tender for the procurement of this rescue system also includes its maintenance and that of the system already installed on the Paseo Princesa de Asturias for 36 months. The tender budget is €25,289.

Following the resounding success of the recent Opera Gala, which brought this year's calendar to a spectacular close, Calpe's Department of Culture has officially presented its proposal for 2026.

Under the premise of excellence and diversity, the municipality is reinforcing its position as a cultural benchmark in the province of Alicante with a programme that combines major international figures and cutting-edge performing arts.

Piano and opera: international pillars

Classical music will be the backbone of the new year. The Calpe Piano Festival is consolidating its position on the international scene with the participation of four top-level soloists: Jean-Paul Gasparian from France, Congyu Wang and Zee Zee from China, and István Székely from Hungary.

This line-up will be complemented by prestigious performances such as those by the Elysia Quartet saxophone group alongside Belgian maestro Simon Diricq, the Valencian Community Chamber Orchestra, the piano duo of Rosa Blanco and Javier Otero, and other shows featuring opera and zarzuela. In addition, thanks to a broadcasting agreement, citizens will be able to enjoy live operas and ballets from The Royal Ballet and Opera in London free of charge every month. Operas such as Verdi's La Traviata, Wagner's Siegfried and Mozart's The Magic Flute can be enjoyed at the Calpe Cultural Centre Auditorium.

Premiere of the Jazz & Blues Festival.

One of the big new developments in 2026 is the creation of the Jazz & Blues Festival, which aims to attract lovers of the genre with three unmissable events: the group Almaens Jazz, the British Big Joe and the virtuoso guitarist from Chicago, Toronzo Cannon.

The MADE IN SPAIN IV concert, part of the SONAFILM Festival, will continue to be the national benchmark for film music composed by Spanish artists.

The musical programme also includes the fashionable artist who is revolutionising the world of music, violinist Paco Montalvo, whose international tour will stop in the municipality. ‘We are proud to have included Calpe in his concert programme, alongside cities such as Milan, Paris and New York,’ says the Councillor for Culture, Guillermo Sendra.

National theatre and family theatre.

The theatre will also experience a qualitative leap with plays that are currently enjoying success on the national scene, such as ‘No me toques el cuento’, “Medea”, ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba’, ‘Ya me has tocado el cuento’, and the comedy ‘Corta el cable rojo’. The programme is rounded off with figures of the stature of Goyo Jiménez and Rafa Maza, who will return to Calpe with his popular character ‘Fabiolo’.

Finally, the Casa de Cultura has confirmed that children's theatre will gain prominence this year, ensuring an accessible offering for the little ones.

With this ambitious cultural offering, the Casa de Cultura de Calpe is preparing for a new year 2026 marked by diversity and artistic excellence, consolidating its cultural leadership.

The Institute of Coastal Ecology has sent Calpe Town Council its annual report on the state of the Posidonia oceanica meadows along the Calpe coastline, which shows that the meadows studied at the sampling stations corresponding to the Arenal-Bol, La Fossa, Cantal Roig and Cala Racó beaches are in good condition.

The study is part of the POSIMED programme, which aims to determine the state of conservation of the Posidonia oceanica meadows in the province of Alicante and to promote, through knowledge and participation, the need to preserve these habitats among the population.

The Posidonia oceanica meadow is distributed throughout the coastline of Calpe Bay, in the area between the port and Bol Beach, where it grows at a depth of between 10 and 17 metres. Beyond its upper limit, there is a mixed meadow of Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica, with a lower density, which is locally known as ‘vairassos’.

In the western half of the cove, up to Cabo de Toix, it grows from a shallower depth (4 m) and extends to 17-20 m. From Puerto Blanco to Morro de Toix there is a continuous and very well-preserved meadow. In the deepest part of this sector, some degradation has been detected due to erosion caused by illegal trawling. Finally, in the area north of Peñón de Ifach, the Posidonia meadows are well developed to depths of over 20 metres.

Density and coverage are used as parameters to analyse Posidonia meadows. The average density value of Posidonia oceanica during 2025 was 531.94 bundles/m², lower than in 2024 (593.06 bundles/m²) and 2023 (625 bundles/m²), although this difference can be considered normal and is caused by the natural variability of the species and the randomness of the sampling. The coverage of Posidonia oceanica was 60.49%, in line with the data for 2024 (55.64%) and 2023 (73.25%).

 These variations can be explained by the sampling methodology. Based on the data, the Posidonia oceanica meadow can are in a favourable state of conservation.

 Furthermore, based on the information on density, coverage and overall density index obtained over the last 23 years, the meadows at the Calpe station are in good environmental condition, with density showing a positive trend and coverage remaining stable. What is more, around Arenal Bol beach, meadow coverage is increasing.

The ecosystem formed by Posidonia oceanica meadows is protected at European level due to the great diversity of species it harbours and its ecological value. At the same time, it is an ecosystem that is very sensitive to changes in water transparency, salinity, mechanical erosion and anoxia.

The study by the Institute of Coastal Ecology, funded by the Provincial Council, is part of the POSIMED programme for monitoring Posidonia oceanica meadows, the only one in Spain that has been carried out continuously for the last 25 years.

Calpe Town Council has already begun work on installing a police checkpoint in Plaza del Mediterráneo, on La Fossa Beach, with the aim of reinforcing public safety on this stretch of Calpe's coastline.

The new facility is expected to be operational in time for the San José long weekend. It is a 15-square-metre module that will act as a strategic point for surveillance and citizen services in an area that receives a high number of visitors, especially during the summer season.

The checkpoint will enable officers to be closer to beach users and will be equipped to take reports and handle lost property.

With this measure, the council aims to consolidate the perception of public safety — which is already very high — among residents and tourists visiting the Calpe coastline.

The pupils of CEIP Oltà in Calpe will resume the school year on 7 January, after the Christmas holidays, in prefabricated classrooms set up for this purpose. The new facilities already have the furniture and materials sent by the Regional Ministry of Education, which arrived yesterday, and over the next few days the materials will be transferred from the current school to the temporary classrooms, so that everything is ready for the start of classes.

Likewise, municipal brigades and cleaning staff from the Town Hall are currently refurbishing the centre, together with the company responsible for assembling the prefabricated buildings and the teaching staff from the school itself. The Mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, together with the Councillor for Education, Mariola Mulet, and the Councillor for Culture and Public Safety, Guillermo Sendra, visited the complex this morning to check on the progress of the work.

The prefabricated classrooms are located on a plot of approximately 6,900 square metres, next to another plot where the temporary facilities of the new secondary school are located. Both plots have been ceded by Calpe Town Council to the Regional Ministry of Education with the aim of helping to reduce overcrowding in the municipality's educational centres.

What looks like a narrow alleyway in the heart of Calpe's old town has become, overnight, a must-see for art lovers.

The graffiti artist from Denia, Tardor Roselló, has once again left his mark on the town with a work on Calle San Roc that surprises passers-by with its location and detail.

The artist, who already has murals in cities such as Dresden (Germany) and Mumbai (India), continues to support his homeland. This new work, which cost €1,800, is a key piece in the Museu d'Art Urbà (Urban Art Museum) promoted by the City Council.

Guillermo Sendra, head of the Culture Department, emphasized that having an artist of Tardor's stature—internationally recognized by the website specializing in urban art, Street Art Cities—represents a qualitative leap for the tourist and cultural appeal of the historic center.

Tardor already has another work of great visual impact, “Un regalo para mi” (A gift for me), which he painted just over a year ago on one of the facades of the City Hall and which continues to amaze passersby.

Today's plenary session officially announced Juan Manuel del Pino's resignation as councillor, which he submitted a few days ago at his own request. During the current term of office, Juan Manuel del Pino has been deputy mayor and responsible for Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Urban Quality, Parks and Gardens, Water Cycle, Street Cleaning and Solid Urban Waste. In addition, during the previous term of office, he was responsible for Urban Planning and Territory, Water and the Environment.

Several weeks ago, the councillor announced his decision to leave political life after the final approval of the budgets, thus closing a six-year period in public administration to devote more time to his family and his profession.

The mayoress, visibly moved, praised Juan Manuel del Pino's management of urban planning and territory, water and solid urban waste management, stating that ‘you are one of the best things that has happened to this council’.

Juan Manuel del Pino said, ‘I came to Calp 40 years ago, I have always been interested in helping through my medical profession and then I was able to do so as a public servant. I have felt great satisfaction in working for my town, I have learned a lot from all of you, and I want to thank Ana Sala for the opportunity to experience this exciting adventure’.

Final approval of the 2026 budget.

The government team has definitively approved the municipal budget for the 2026 financial year, with a total amount of €45,867,550, with the opposition groups voting against it. The plenary session rejected the allegations presented by the Popular Municipal Group and the Defendamos Calpe Group.

The budget proposal responds to a context marked by the return of fiscal rules and increased costs. The economic solvency of the Town Council has allowed it to open two interest-bearing accounts that will generate an expected income of €695,100 in 2026.

Fiscal measures that provide relief to families and businesses

The revenue budget preserves stability and maintains measures that favour local economic activity: the exemption from the business start-up tax is extended, as is the 95% rebate on inheritance transfers, the property tax rebates for the installation of solar panels and energy efficiency improvements, and the 5.04% reduction in the urban property tax rate is maintained.

In addition, €575,000 per year in revenue is incorporated from the new regulated parking contract, and fees for terraces and events in the low season are suspended as a measure to support commerce and the hospitality industry.

Efficient and service-oriented spending

Current expenditure is reduced slightly (-2.37%) but key services are maintained and even improved: street cleaning, beach cleaning, lifeguard services and urban maintenance. A budget item is included to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Moros y Cristianos” festival, and another to launch the 1st Calp Nationalities Fair.

In current transfers (subsidies), the budget is increased by 15.61% to 4.57 million euros, which will make it possible to strengthen areas such as housing assistance, the youth rental voucher, subsidies for hybrid and electric vehicles, property tax rebates for energy efficiency improvements and transport assistance for students. A line for social projects by local non-profit associations has also been added. The Public Transport Plan is included in this chapter with a budget of £460,000 for the expansion and reorganisation of routes and timetables.

A planned investment geared towards real needs

The investment chapter amounts to €3.6 million, compared to almost €13 million last year, representing a 72% decrease as this year's budget does not include the Pla Edificant actions corresponding to the new IES and the adaptation of the plot for the Gargasindi public CEE.

The investments include the adaptation of Vial J (€320,000), the Vial T urbanisation project (€100,000), repairs to the Calalga promenade (€100,000), Barranc del Quisi (€100,000), the reinforcement of lighting in residential areas (€154,000), the accessibility of pavements (€250,000), sanitation and storm drains (€1,106,134), the electrical connection of the IES Les Salines secondary school (€150,000), the restoration of the Pierre la Fleure mural (€60,000), the expansion of urban gardens (€45,000), the Manzanera dog park (€121,000) and improvements to the Ifac sports hall (€115,000). A budget has also been allocated for drafting strategic projects to be financed with surpluses, with priority given to housing initiatives.

In addition, multi-year projects are being consolidated until 2029 to ensure their phased and effective implementation, such as the renovation of the Fossa promenade, the improvement of the beach washing system, the renovation of the Plaza Mayor, the new 21st-century tourist office, and the new CRISOL (recovery centre for people with mental health problems).

The state of the municipality

Summary of Mayoress Ana Sala's speech in the debate on the state of the municipality:

"In 2025, 390 tenders and 515 minor contracts have been processed. And almost €1.9 million in subsidies have been obtained from other administrations, in addition to a Programme Contract in social services worth over €1.5 million, which will enable us to better sustain the services provided daily.

In tourism and economic promotion, Calp has joined the National Network of Smart Tourist Destinations, with a 66.5% compliance rate and an outstanding rating in sustainability. According to the mayor, occupancy figures confirm that progress is being made towards a seasonally adjusted destination: a new record in October with 80.68% occupancy, with increases in hotels, campsites and tourist apartments.

The Tourism Sustainability Plan has been rolled out with Next Generation funds, the Local Action Plan has been launched to mobilise up to £15 million in European funds, and the Pla d'Habitatge (Housing Plan) is being drafted to reconcile tourism with the right to housing.

Another initiative has been to strengthen our brand with the ONCE coupon, with the ‘Gamba Blanca de Calp’ brand, with participation in Alicante Gastronómica, FiraCalp, Fira Nadal and campaigns such as the Bonos Comercio or ‘El comercio de Calp te da la bienvenida’ (Calp's businesses welcome you), always in collaboration with AEMCO, CREAMA and the Fishermen's Guild. Calp has also been consolidated as a sports and cycling destination with the agreement with Soudal Quick-Step and our presence at the Networking Day in Brussels.

In terms of infrastructure and the water cycle, Avenida Felipe VI (Vial J) has been opened, a new strategic connection that improves mobility and alleviates traffic in beach areas; the school zone and roads in Basetes, Calalga and La Fossa have been resurfaced, the Balcó de Bernia road has been improved and the cemetery has been expanded with 111 new niches.

The government team has begun improvements to the Arenal-Bol promenade and given strategic impetus to the future Fossa promenade, the Plaza Mayor and the new 21st-century Tourist Office, within the framework of the Urban Agenda.

Through Aguas de Calpe, work worth more than €1 million has been completed on reservoirs, pipelines and sanitation, and work worth €3.8 million is underway, including the refurbishment of the Barranc Salat desalination plant and the DIGITAMED project to digitise the water cycle. Thanks to these efforts, Calp has exceeded 90% hydraulic efficiency, making it a national benchmark.

In terms of public safety and emergencies, human and material resources have been reinforced. The Local Police has planned a special summer operation for a floating population that can exceed 140,000 inhabitants; we have created the Coastal Surveillance Unit, with a new boat that has already been used in rescues in the Penyal d'Ifac area; progress has been made in the first phase of video surveillance on the main roads and in the selection process for 11 new positions, more commanders and new operating regulations.

In Civil Protection, the new headquarters has been put out to tender and a rapid response motor pump has been purchased, which has already prevented the spread of several fires, and Calp has hosted the Regional Water Rescue Conference.

In terms of beaches, a new comprehensive lifeguard and rescue contract has been awarded, with up to 32 professionals in summer and an adapted bathing service with transport for people with reduced mobility.

In terms of culture and heritage, Calp has consolidated its position as a regional and provincial benchmark: €100,000 in grants for cultural and artistic training, exhibitions on La Pobla d'Ifac and Roger de Llúria, guided tours of the historic quarter and the regular opening of the Queen's Baths with tours in four languages.

The programme has been reinforced with initiatives such as the Calp Piano Festival, the SOMIART street theatre festival, the CALPSULES micro-experiences, the Nit Encesa in the old town and the restoration of historic murals.

In education and youth, the 2025–2026 academic year has begun with 3,541 students in the municipality, and a comprehensive maintenance contract for educational centres has been implemented, which is already improving playgrounds, shade, fencing and basic elements of schools and nurseries.

€140,000 in transport subsidies for post-compulsory education and €100,000 in subsidies for cultural and artistic training have been allocated.

Calp has joined the UNED Senior programme for the first time, the third edition of the #goCalp school competition on climate change has been launched, and in the area of youth, a youth technician has been appointed, the Youth Club has been consolidated, and a group of youth correspondents involved in the programming and promotion of activities has been created.

In sports, a leap forward has been made in planning and supporting the sports fabric: creation of the Municipal Sports Council, approval of the municipal swimming pool regulations and a call for €250,000 in grants for clubs and events, reinforcing grassroots sport.

The municipal swimming pool has been modernised with solar panels, improvement works and an extension of opening hours and groups, making it a more efficient facility with more users and more activities.

The 1st Sports and Culture Gala were held to recognise emerging talent, we successfully participated in the MiniJocs de la Marina Alta and next month the Costa Blanca Bike Race 2026 will be held, consolidating Calp as a year-round sports destination.

At the Civic Centre, a long-standing problem with reverberation has been solved with an acoustic improvement project, and we have launched new workshops for older people (languages, writing) that combine socialisation and cognitive stimulation.

In terms of citizen participation, the Strategic Participation Plan has been put out to tender, which will allow for the organisation of councils, channels and processes so that the people of Calp have more and better ways to participate in public affairs.

In terms of the environment, beaches and lighting, posidonia has been managed according to environmental and tourist quality criteria, the Blue Trail distinction has been revalidated on the Voramar Calalga trail, and reforestation and environmental education days have been organised.

The Public Lighting Master Plan has been promoted, solar streetlights in residential areas have been reviewed and expanded, the naturalisation of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines has been initiated, the Empedrola pine forest has been cleaned up, and perimeter strips have been created in the Serra d'Oltà with Next Generation funds to prevent fires.

Progress has been made on the Calp Traditional Trail, the Calp Blau conference has been held, actions have been coordinated with the LIBERA Project against ‘littering’ and collaboration with Alicante Renace has begun on the ecological restoration of the salt flats.

In animal welfare, the new veterinary contract, the ordinance on coexistence and animal welfare and the ethical plan for the management of cat colonies have been implemented, moving towards more responsible and respectful management.

In terms of social welfare, work has begun on improving accessibility to the Social Services building, the Single Social History has been implemented as a pilot municipality in the province, the Programme Contract has been renewed to better cover services such as the Civic Centre and the Alzheimer's unit, new vehicles have been provided for the SAD and adapted transport, and the workforce has been stabilised through competitive selection processes.

We have launched the Escola d'Acollida (Welcome School) for migrants and guaranteed transport for users of the Maite Boronat Occupational Centre.

In terms of equality, we have continued to feminise public spaces with new street names and murals, created the Punt de la Sororitat, approved the II Internal Equality Plan and the I Equality Plan for citizens, and activated the Committee for the Prevention of Trafficking and Prostitution.

In terms of health protection, the government has continued to call for a second health centre and to make municipal land available to the Generalitat; Healthcare staff has been increased, the Addictive Behaviours Unit has been incorporated, the First Municipal Plan for the Prevention of Addictive Behaviours has been approved, and progress has been made in making Calp a heart-safe municipality, with the allocation of 28 defibrillators for the police, civil protection, public buildings and high-traffic areas. In addition, the preventive ambulance service for municipal events has been awarded.

During the debate, the spokesperson for Defendamos Calpe, Paco Quiles, pointed out that ‘our perspective should be taken into account as an opportunity to improve, to really solve the problems of the municipality’. Quiles criticised waste management throughout 2025, traffic management, the lack of sanitation, the management of the health transport service and education, and placed particular emphasis on urban planning, stating that ‘we have an outdated general plan that does not solve the major problems of our town’.

The spokesperson for the Popular Party, Miguel Crespo, has criticised the municipal management monthly, emphasising the lack of a blue parking zone, delays in lifeguard services, the lack of footbaths on the beaches, delays in contracts for sunbeds and parasols on the beaches, and the closure of Bol beach on two occasions during the summer due to pollution. Crespo also questioned the declassification of 300,000 m² at a valuation of €5.37/m² and the loss of ERDF funds and criticised the opening of the J road without inviting representatives from the Provincial Council, which financed the project.

The councillor for the Socialist Group, Marco Bittner, thanked the opposition for its conciliatory mood but pointed out that the opposition's vision is based on discrediting the government team, which ‘has proven that it manages better than you do’.

The spokesperson for Compromís, Ximo Perles, reproached Defendamos Calpe for ‘requesting a review of the general plan, but when we bring specific amendments to reduce urban pressure, you vote against them’. Perles also reproached the Popular Party group for ‘saying that there is a lack of budget management and then telling us that we are overspending with our Economic Financial Plan’.

Calpe Town Council has begun work to modify and improve access to the administrative building located at Avenida Puerto de Santa María, 7, which houses the offices of the Department of Social Welfare and the headquarters of the Calpe-Ifac Music Union. With this action, the Council is continuing with the agreement reached with the musical organisation and is moving forward with adapting the building to the accessibility requirements of a public facility.

The works have a budget of €111,911.40 excluding VAT and a completion period of three months from the signing of the site survey report, formalised on 15 December 2025. The contract covers the comprehensive renovation of the entrance and the affected common areas, with the aim of ensuring an accessible and safe route for users of the building.

The intervention represents a substantial improvement in the conditions of access to the building, in compliance with current regulations for public buildings. The works include the adaptation of the access level, the redistribution of spaces on the ground floor, the adaptation of construction elements and the improvement of safety and accessibility conditions, which will allow for more comfortable and functional use for both Social Welfare users and members of the Musical Union.

This action is part of the process that began in August 2024 with the notarised signing of the exchange of land between the Town Council and the Calpe-Ifac Musical Union, which allowed the layout of the building to be adjusted and made the future renovation of the entrance possible. The agreement provided for the exchange of 50.02 m² on the ground floor owned by the Musical Union for 70.03 m² on the first floor owned by the municipality, in order to facilitate the adaptation of the building for administrative and social use.

Calpe Town Council points out that improving this access is a key step in the complete refurbishment of the facilities, so that both the Department of Social Welfare and the Unión Musical have more accessible, modern premises that are adapted to the current needs of the service and the cultural activity of the municipality.

Calpe Town Council has begun reconstruction and refurbishment work on the section of masonry wall located between points M-61 and M-63 on the Fossa Promenade, which was damaged by the storm on 14 August 2024.

The aim of this work is to restore the affected wall and ensure the safety of pedestrians and users of the promenade in one of the busiest areas of the coast. The storm caused the partial collapse of the structure and damage to the pavement, making it necessary to intervene to prevent further landslides and ensure the stability of the area.

The works have a budget of €153,211.26 (including VAT) and include the underpinning and reconstruction of the section of wall that collapsed, as well as the demolition and rebuilding of those elements that were in poor condition. The works include actions on retaining walls, pavement foundations and pavement replacement, adapting it to current safety and accessibility standards.

The expected completion time is several weeks from the start of the work. During this period, signage and temporary diversions have been put in place to minimise disruption to pedestrians and businesses in the area.

With this intervention, Calpe Town Council continues to carry out maintenance and improvement works on the seafront, with the aim of preserving the coastal infrastructure in the face of storms and ensuring optimal safety and enjoyment for residents and visitors.

Friday, 19:

• • XXX ExfiCalpe 2025. Philatelic and collectors' exhibition: ‘20th anniversary of the excavations at La Pobla d'Ifac’. Until 30 December.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint’. Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • 10:30 am-1:30 pm / 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Exhibition of the Nativity Scene of the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church
  • 11:00 a.m. Exhibition of the Municipal Nativity Scene. Calpe Cultural Centre. Until 6 January.
  • 6:00-7:00 p.m. Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • Blood donation day, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Red Cross headquarters (C/ María Jorro, 1. Local 10).
  • ‘Create your own podcast’ workshop for young people aged 14 to 18 at the Youth Club, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, 20:

• • XXX ExfiCalpe 2025. Philatelic and collecting exhibition: ‘20th anniversary of the excavations at La Pobla d'Ifac’. Until 30 December.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint’. Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guided tours of Banys de la Reina.
  • 11 a.m. Municipal Nativity Scene Exhibition. Calpe Cultural Centre. Until 6 January.
  • 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. / 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Curch
  • 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Exhibition of the Nativity Scen at the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish of Church. Until 11 January.
  • Christmas concert by the Unió Musical Calpe Ifach at 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.

Sunday, 21:

• • XXX ExfiCalpe 2025. Philatelic and collectors' exhibition: ‘20th anniversary of the excavations at La Pobla d'Ifac’. Until 30 December.
  • Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (Banys de la Reina, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
  • 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves Parish Church
  • 6:00-7:00 p.m. Exhibition of the Nativity Scene at the Parish of Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Merced Parish Church. Until 11 January.
  • 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Guided tours of Banys de la Reina. (Tour in Valencian at 12:00 p.m.).
  • 11:00 a.m. Exhibition of the Municipal Nativity Scene. Calpe Cultural Centre. Until 6 January.
  • Christmas concert: by the Rondalla de Calpe 8:30 p.m. Nuestra Seóra de las Nieves Parish Church.