The Orihuela Town Hall is set to proceed with the expropriation of land necessary to reopen a vital pedestrian walkway between Aguamarina and La Caleta. The cost of this expropriation is estimated at twenty-six thousand one hundred eighty euros following a valuation by the Provincial Expropriation Jury. The Town Hall aims to deposit this amount with the Treasury, hoping to reconnect the popular route by summer twenty twenty-four.

The walkway has been closed since December twenty twenty-one due to a court ruling after ongoing disputes between local authorities and property owners. The original demand from the landowners was for one point two million euros for just two hundred twenty-seven square metres, significantly more than the municipal estimation of approximately sixty-nine thousand euros.

The survey conducted by local officials revealed conflicts between previous property valuations and the current legal framework. Despite a diminished request from landowners, the final decision rests with the Town Hall, which must adhere to prior legal commitments while aiming to restore public access to this picturesque coastal path.

Additionally, the Town Hall has allocated a budget of six hundred thousand euros in the twenty twenty-four budget for this expropriation and any necessary works. A long-standing legal history surrounding the area has impeded progress, but this recent approval marks a pivotal step towards reinstating public access to the coastal walkway that has been closed for over two years, forcing residents and visitors to take a longer route to avoid a mere sixty-metre gap.