Technical Difficulties and Political Tensions at Sierra de Béjar-La Covatilla

Municipal technicians have removed a fundamental component—a large reducer or piston—from the main chairlift, which will be sent to a specialized company in France for repair. This process entails a minimum lead time of several weeks until its return and definitive installation.

The technical report issued is concerning. The audit commissioned by the local government team described the general condition of the facilities as “extremely complicated”: the lift’s cables and chairs have been dismantled, several parts require urgent intervention, and maintenance deficiencies have been detected on both the slopes and equipment, attributable—according to the delegated councilor—to years of neglect and lack of investment.

Despite this critical breakdown, the Béjar City Council maintains its commitment to inaugurate the 2025–2026 season on December 5th, a date set “with or without snow” to promote deseasonalization and reactivate hospitality services and tourist facilities, even if the high-altitude slopes are not skiable. Should snow conditions be favorable, only the beginners' area will be operational, as the main chairlift will remain out of service until repairs are completed.

Meanwhile, municipal workers have initiated maintenance and conditioning tasks, including slope cleaning, snow cannon inspection, and the awarding of contracts to secure and repair service areas. The objective is for the resort to function at least in its tourist aspect, with catering services, rentals, and recreational activities, from the scheduled opening date.

In addition to all these urgent technical works, the ski resort is also experiencing a period of political uncertainty: administrative appeals filed by opposition parties have paralyzed several contracting and repair procedures, causing significant delays in priority actions. Specifically, the Partido Popular has submitted allegations that have been forwarded to the Consultative Council, further extending the timelines for the lift repair process.

Due to this, various local business owners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the economic losses stemming from this situation and demand immediate and concrete action plans to mitigate the impact during the season.