The demolition of the old commercial galleries in La Manga commenced on Monday, marking the end of decades of neglect. The area, located at the highly frequented point near the four-star Hotel Doblemar, will be cleared to prepare for future commercial projects. Following a demolition order from San Javier Council, the remains of thirty-nine local businesses will be removed, as work began on the most deteriorated structures along Gran Vía.

A backhoe started dismantling the buildings, while water jets were deployed to suppress dust. By the end of Monday, six modules had been taken down, with debris removal already underway. Antonio Martínez, the councillor for Urban Development and Environment, expressed optimism that the work could be completed in three days rather than the initially anticipated week.

This demolition is a crucial step to eliminate an area deemed hazardous and unsanitary, four years after the properties were declared in ruins. The buildings, constructed in the 1960s and marred by graffiti and rubbish, encompass three thousand eight hundred square metres that now require urgent intervention. The total site area of four thousand five hundred square metres will be left ready for future commercial use.

The main challenge lies in the diversity of ownership; Roc Hotels holds about sixty percent of the dilapidated galleries, while smaller owners possess the rest. The estimated cost for the demolition and debris removal is one hundred and forty-five thousand euros, in addition to forty-four thousand euros spent on demolishing nine premises last year. In total, the owners will face a bill of one hundred and eighty-nine thousand euros, with a payment deadline to be set once the demolition is complete. Failure to settle the amount may lead to legal action for recovery by the council.