Meloneras: Court strips terraces of right to occupy public land

A court in Las Palmas has ruled: the terraces along the Paseo Marítimo in Meloneras have no right to occupy public land. The ruling concerns the company Comercial Gordillo SL, which operates several restaurants and bars along the promenade — and it could set a precedent for the entire south of Gran Canaria.

What the court decided

The company had argued it held a consolidated right to use public land — based on old agreements with the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the fact that the terraces had been there for years. The court rejected both arguments.

The core of the ruling: the original permits were based on the Plan Parcial de Meloneras (PMM), which has since been judicially annulled. With the annulment of the plan, the agreements built upon it also fell. The company therefore has no legal basis whatsoever to occupy public land, the court stated.

The argument of positive administrative silence — the claim that the municipality's failure to respond to an application should be treated as approval — was also dismissed. The court made clear: on public land, silence cannot create a permit.

What this means for Meloneras

The ruling is not yet final — it can be appealed before the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias. But the direction is clear: terraces, windbreaks and outdoor furniture standing on public land without a valid permit have no legal basis.

The municipality had already ordered the company in January 2025 to remove the terraces. The company challenged this — and has now lost in the first instance.

For visitors and residents of Meloneras, this could mean visible changes along the promenade. If the ruling is upheld, terraces that have been part of the streetscape for years could disappear. For restaurant operators along the Paseo, it would be a severe blow — outdoor seating is the heart of the business during tourist season.

The bigger picture

The ruling does not stand in isolation. Since the annulment of the Plan Parcial de Meloneras, businesses and the municipality have been grappling with the reorganisation of usage rights across the entire area. The question is who may use public space, under what conditions, and who decides.

For tourism in the south of Gran Canaria, this is a sensitive issue: Meloneras thrives on its upscale gastronomy and the Mediterranean feel of the promenade. Without terraces, it would be a different place.

CITA News is monitoring the case and will report as soon as an appeal is filed or the municipality takes further action.