Security, hygiene, equipment, quality of bathing water, animation, sanitary controls of food products, traffic, transport, etc., represent as many crucial points that can allow a beach to be successful. On another level, the success of the summer season remains dependent on good beach management. What about this year in Mohammedia and its region? Certainly, measures have been taken by the services concerned, nevertheless, black spots remain and worry holidaymakers. For example, at the level of Sablettes beach, which won the Blue Flag in 2010 and 2011, the site is today confronted with numerous problems, among which it is necessary to cite that of parking. At the level of the car park set up at the entrance to the beach, one witnesses a customary spectacle of altercations between holidaymakers and the manager of the said car park, and this, regarding the excessive prices applied, between 10 and 20 DH, without any guarantee of finding a place to park one's vehicle once one has passed the checkout. A regular at Sablettes beach cries scandal. "The prices for access to car parks are in principle set by the competent services. By what right, then, do some managers practice abusive prices, according to their mood of the moment?", he protests. Poor beach management and lack of control explain this situation which harms the city's image. The other problem, which is not the least, concerns the rental to individuals, by the Directorate of Equipment, of 4 plots of 500 m² each on the beach, whose surface area is limited. This state of affairs has had repercussions on holidaymakers who have great difficulty finding a space that allows them to enjoy the pleasures of the sun and the sea. "Non-respect of the granted surfaces, specifies a holidaymaker, is common practice, since the operators do not hesitate to extend the rented surface, by pushing the markers that delimit it, and nibbling a little more on the space reserved for the public". To this are added the prices charged, the thousands of parasols and chairs that hide the seafront, etc. Other problems are linked to hygiene and small businesses that proliferate and offer heaps of products of dubious origin. Cases of food poisoning are moreover frequent during the summer season. At the same time, the practice of certain sports that are nevertheless forbidden on the beach, such as football, volleyball, or even tennis, constitutes a real danger for holidaymakers. Animals on the beach… The most worrying phenomenon remains that of the rental of horses and camels for rides. Likewise, radio receivers and music players whose sound volume is pushed to the extreme disturb the peace of holidaymakers and prevent them from relaxing. The scarcity of water points, the abuses of Quad rides on areas reserved for walking and tanning, as well as the presence of dogs harm the reputation of Sablettes. In order to enhance the beaches of Mohammedia and its region, it is necessary to forge partnerships with local communes, civil associations, and corporate citizens, among others. Efforts must be made and must extend to transport, security, animation, hygiene, quality of bathing water, etc., in order to allow the beaches to comply with the criteria in terms of development and management, the ultimate goal is to allow the seaside city to win the famous "Blue Flag" label so coveted.
News 08 Aug 2014 3 min read
August holidaymakers face many problems at Sablettes beach

