Los “hippies” have said that they are reluctant to leave the Explanada de Alicante permanently. Following the decision adopted by the Comisión de Presidencia of the City Council determining that 31 October 24 will be the last day on which they will be able to trade from this emblematic promenade, the merchants in the area have announced a series of measures with which they are seeking an urgent solution.

The president of the Esplanade merchants association, Wilton Damus, has said that his first option is to find a solution through dialogue as to a suitable location from November of this year, but he also added that they have left the matter in hands of their lawyers in case it becomes necessary to take legal action, following the rejection of the latest appeals submitted against the decisions of the Alicante City Council.

The last one to be rejected by the Council was the appeal for a reconsideration on their eviction, presented by one of the merchants in the area, from which they have already received a rejection.

“We still have time to present allegations and we are waiting for our lawyers to study the resolution and see what options we have. We must defend our work and our livelihoods, because we have the right to do so, but the ideal is not to judicialize this situation,” explained Snr Damus. “The response to our appeal reached us this week and, although we are looking at all the options, we have always advocated reaching a consensus through dialogue with the City Council about any new location.”