Benalmadena’s new terrifying pavements

Benalmadena residents have had to deal with a number of problems in the last few months, including burst pipes, frequent power cuts, excessive noise at Arroyo de la Miel and roadworks that cause traffic delays.

The latest complaint has caused serious safety concerns for the elderly residents of the town, especially in the Gamonal section of Arroyo de la Miel.

Perched on the steep foothills of the Sierra de Mijas, Benalmadena‘s bustling centre recently underwent a major facelift in the busy Arroyo de la Miel area, with resurfaced roads and freshly laid pavements. While the aesthetic upgrade was intended to modernise the town, the choice of material – polished marble tiles inset into brick pavements – has proven to be a hazardous misstep, especially for a community with so many pensioners navigating its hilly terrain.

Pamela, who lives in the area, experienced these dangers recently. Pamela was walking near the Calle Zodiaco / Calle Pisces intersection when she came across a patch of partly marbled pavement. The slickness of the surface was exacerbated by the small amount of water that had leaked from nearby Edificio Sagitario’s gardens. The tiles were invisible to the naked eye but caused Pamela’s slip. She suffered serious injuries when she fell in the road. At the time of the accident, there were no cars passing, so a potential fatal accident was avoided. Pamela warned, “Using marble in such a large space is a disaster awaiting to happen.” Even a slight shower could turn the paths into skating rinks.

Pamela has not recovered yet, but she is urging residents in Arroyo de la Miel to use extreme caution on the new footpaths. Her story highlights a larger concern: although the facelift of the town may look more beautiful, the use of slippery marble in steep slopes poses a serious risk to community safety.

Pamela’s terrifying fall on Benalmadena’s new marble footpaths exposes a serious danger for residents, particularly the elderly. To protect themselves and others, locals should report any similar incidents directly to the Policía Local de Benalmadena (call +34 952 579 960 or 092 in emergencies) to get dangers documented and push for safer pavements. Residents who act quickly can build up complaints to the council and help prevent future accidents. They can also ensure that the town puts safety above aesthetics.