We had already expressed our position on this matter, but the outrageous initiatives (and unlawful ones) by some beach establishments force us to revisit these issues. Now it’s the case of Livorno, where a video shot at the historic Pancaldi Acquaviva baths sparked a controversy destined for political follow-up. These are turnstiles with paid entry for those wishing to use the beach.

“It is shameful to charge just for access to the sea, as shameful as the turnstiles at the entrance,” said Matteo Hallissey, president of + Europa and the Italian Radicals. The bath owners clarified that the service is always free and complimentary, albeit almost never used. “Since 2015, there have been 2-3 people” going there solely for a swim, commented Piero Bonaventura, vice-president of Pancaldi Acquaviva Spa.

The municipality of Livorno had to intervene by sending a letter to all beach establishments. “Anyone who wants to go to the sea for a swim can pass through the spaces granted in concession. It’s different if we want to use the services, in that case it’s necessary to pay a ticket,” declared Viola Ferroni, assessor for public property.

Following this, the intervention of the provincial director of Confcommercio Livorno and general secretary of the Italian Beach Operators Union (Sib), Federico Pieragnoli, who stated: “Let’s avoid sterile instrumentalizations – the director declares –. When you work every day in the field with complex management commitments, in unique and historic contexts like our beach structures on cliffs and concrete, it’s possible to make mistakes or incur some formal oversights, such as a delay in displaying signage. What matters is the immediate willingness to correct what needs to be improved. What we cannot accept, however, is that the category of beach entrepreneurs is routinely singled out and transformed into a convenient scapegoat. You cannot hang the cross on those who work to create media buzz with videos made for social media consumption. Controls and discussions take place in the appropriate institutional contexts, with the Municipality and the Harbor Master’s Office, not by turning daily work into a media pillory”.

All true. The fact remains that turnstiles for beach access are illegal and cannot be seen.