Promenade decking plans put on hold

Environmental groups and some councilors objected to the idea.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The city of Tel Aviv has canceled plans to build wooden decking along the length of the beachside promenade (tayelet) after environmental groups and some councilors objected to the idea, reports Yediot Tel Aviv. The opponents told the Local Planning and Construction Committee that the planned wooden decking would protrude over the sand and would encroach onto the already narrow beach. According to the report, the city has long been discussing how to renovate the promenade, and came up with a plan to cover it with wooden decking. But the plan was strongly opposed by the Society for the Protection of Nature, which told the Local Planning and Construction Committee that development on the shore should be as limited as possible, and should not come at the expense of the "already narrow" strip of sand on the beach. The committee agreed, saying that any extension of the promenade should not encroach onto the sand. Deputy mayor Arnon Giladi said there was "no need" for wooden decking at all, and an open beach should be preserved for residents and visitors. A second deputy mayor, Doron Sapir, also said an open beach should be preserved, and added that the renovation plans should satisfy the public and environmental groups, as well as the designers. The city will now prepare a new plan for public discussion.