Benidorm receives the Universal Accessibility certificate for the point of accessible beaches at Parque de Elche
It is one of the few beaches of Levante with this certification
Benidorm City Hall has received the Universal Accessibility certificate for the accessible point at Parque de Elche on Poniente beach, becoming one of the few beaches of Levante coast with this certification that is based on the UNE 170001 standard: 1-2 . The mayor, Toni Pérez; The councilman of Playas, Lorenzo Martínez; and technicians of this department have received this certificate from the hands of Esteve Regales, responsible for the East Zone of the certification body TÜV Rheinland. An event in which José Mª Pérez-Hickman, one of the partners of the concessionaire company of the beaches, RA Benidorm, was also present. The councilor for Beaches explained that the standard UNE 170001: 1-2 "has meant many changes in the accessibility of the point at Parque de Elche to increase services aimed not only for physically disabled but for other types of dysfunctions such as noise or the sight ". In this sense, it is worth remembering the start-up this summer of a system that allows the bathing of blind people. Martínez said that "only the accessible point of Elche Park has been certified as a pilot project," since "there are many improvements to be made" to comply with UNE 170001: 1-2. However, he has announced that the City Council will work to achieve Universal Accessibility certification for the other two accessible beaches in Benidorm. The mayor detailed that "the entire implementation process has meant an important work plus", since among other documents has had to elaborate "an accessibility plan, and a rescue plan and evacuation of this accessible point", as well as strengthen "the effective management" of it. A work that has developed "all the staff of the department of Beaches, the Environment technician, the person responsible for the department, and the supervisor and inspectors of beaches along with the consultancy Azimut." In addition to achieving this Universal Accessibility certification, Benidorm has renewed the Q of beaches based on ISO 13009 Beach Management. This ISO, audited also by TÜV Rheinland, adds the 9001 of Quality and the 14001 of Environmental Management Systems, and the Regulation EMAS of Environment.
