The neighbourhood association Plataforma Cívica Valle del Oja de Hervías publicly criticised on 22 August 2026 the fact that this year’s Ludoteca run by the municipality of Hervías (La Rioja) is taking place in premises that, according to the association, operate as a bar. According to consistent reports by elDiario.es and Europa Press the association called it an unacceptable decision by the town hall and accused the Ayuntamiento de Hervías of lacking sensitivity and responsibility.
At the heart of the complaint is that children aged three and over are carrying out their activities in a room with a large bar counter and numerous bottles of alcoholic drinks clearly visible. The venue is usually used for community meals, celebrations and concerts and is, in effect, “not suitable for minors”, the association says. The platform points out that, in its view, there are suitable alternatives in the municipality, particularly the Municipal library, where the ludoteca was held in previous years, according to the association.
At the time of reporting, neither elDiario.es nor Europa Press quoted a statement from the Ayuntamiento de Hervías in response to the allegations. The media reports available also make no mention of an official safety or legal review of the current venue. It therefore remains unclear whether, and on what criteria, the premises were selected for the children’s programme.
The criticism raises several issues that regularly arise in relation to municipal activities for children – from fire safety and other safety standards to licensing conditions for hospitality businesses and child protection, particularly the visibility of alcoholic drinks in the immediate surroundings of minors. The available information is insufficient to determine conclusively whether the relevant requirements have been met here; the platform’s documented observations mainly concern the circumstances on site.
The Plataforma Cívica Valle del Oja de Hervías is calling for future editions of the ludoteca to be held again in premises considered safe for children and suitable for educational activities. So far, there is no information on whether the municipality will review or change the venue at short notice. If the town hall or supervisory authorities subsequently assess whether the current venue meets all requirements, this could clarify whether it is a reasonable temporary arrangement or whether a change of premises is warranted.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).