Dénia athletics stands reopen after safety scare forced closure and removal of damaged roof

Sports fans and athletes in Dénia can once again use the stands at the town’s municipal athletics track after a defective roof structure forced the seating area to close earlier this summer.

The stands at the Polideportivo Municipal de Dénia have now reopened following the complete removal of the deteriorated metal canopy, bringing an end to weeks of restricted access.

The intervention was ordered after technical inspections discovered potentially dangerous deterioration in parts of the structure supporting the roof.

Safety concerns sparked closure

Problems were first identified during a routine inspection in June, when technicians detected significant wear affecting several elements of the metal structure above the seating area.

A subsequent technical report recommended immediately preventing the public from entering the stands while the problem was addressed.

Rather than keeping one of the sports centre’s key spectator areas out of action for a prolonged period, Dénia Town Hall opted to prioritise the removal of the defective canopy.

Work has now been completed and the safety barriers that previously prevented access have been taken away, allowing spectators to return.

The reopening will be welcome news for the athletes, families and supporters who regularly use the municipal sports facilities, particularly as sporting activity continues throughout the summer.

Stands reopen without cover

While the seating area is back in normal use, spectators will notice one major difference: there is currently no roof.

The removal of the structure means the stands are completely uncovered, leaving visitors exposed to both sunshine and rain until a permanent replacement can be installed.

However, the council’s decision means the public can continue using the seating area while plans for a new canopy move forward, rather than waiting for the entire replacement project to be completed before reopening.

Images following the work show the stands cleared of the former metal covering and accessible once again.

New roof planned

The removal of the defective structure is only the first stage of the project.

Dénia Town Hall is now preparing to draw up the technical plans for a completely new roof for the athletics stands.

Once the project has been designed, the council will need to move through the necessary administrative and tendering procedures before the replacement structure can be installed.

No date has yet been announced for when the new canopy will be completed.

For now, however, the immediate safety problem has been resolved and one of Dénia’s important municipal sporting facilities is fully accessible to spectators again.

The development comes during a busy period for sport in the town, with Dénia also recently announcing plans for a permanent 2.5-kilometre mountain bike and cyclocross circuit.