Desenzano Bans Pedal-Boat Rentals, Deserted Beach

An auction for the pedal-boat rental concession at Desenzanino beach in Desenzano closed without any bids, effectively ending a service that had operated for more than 30 years. The tender offered a four-year concession of 250 m² north of the Desenzanino solely for storage and handling of pedal boats, canoes and SUPs (rental of sunbeds and umbrellas was explicitly excluded), and set requirements including five years’ sector experience, upkeep of the area and a minimum annual fee of €4,000; no operator — including the former concession-holder — submitted an offer.

The previous annual fee had been €1,000, and council members say the rise to €4,000 together with the new restrictions made the business economically unviable. Mayor Guido Malinverno noted the tender was issued by the Basin Authority, not the municipality, and the next steps remain undecided; the opposition warned the area could be left unattended and degraded and urged a revision of the terms to restore the pedal-boat service.
Italian Version