In Barcelona, Barceloneta residents are questioning whether the City Council’s 2026 summer plan will make much difference in the district. The plan is meant to tackle public order, cleanliness and mobility in an area that sees heavy visitor numbers, but local groups say it has arrived too late and does not go far enough on enforcement.
Lourdes López, from the AV l’Òstia neighbourhood association, said the summer plan should run from Easter to October, not from mid-September. She also said extra staff and services are not enough without follow-up and checks to make sure the rules are being followed.
Residents also say the neighbourhood police presence has gone missing. López said there are no longer regular meetings with the security forces, which she believes means they do not know the area’s problem spots. For local groups, that makes it harder to deal with recurring issues on the ground.
Both AV l’Òstia and AV la Barceloneta say there are not enough waste containers in the district. Manel Martínez, speaking for AV la Barceloneta, said the state of the streets affects how people behave, and argued that cleaner streets would help reduce rubbish being left behind. He also said cleaning companies need to do their job properly.
Martínez backed more surveillance and sanctions for uncivil behaviour. He also pointed to long-running problems with lighting on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, especially after restaurants close at night, and said public services are often stretched, including healthcare and public transport. He added that buses sometimes stop running at times when people still need them for work, study or errands.
The 2026 summer plan includes one new measure for Barceloneta, 11 surveillance cameras along Passeig Marítim. They are due to be working by Sant Joan, 24 June, and will focus on the promenade rather than the beach sand. For more on local coverage, see our Community and Sport pages.
Originally published by betevé. Read the original report.
