- Repeated disruption of critical healthcare access raises serious safety and accountability concerns
For yet another summer, the only parking facility adjacent to the Orihuela Costa Health Centre has been handed over to a commercial fairground, sparking outrage among residents and renewed criticism of the Orihuela Council.
The controversial decision leaves patients, including the elderly, disabled, and chronically ill, with long walks in order to access essential medical appointments. Local associations and residents say the council has once again prioritised short-term profit over public health, despite years of warnings.
“Parking close to the Centro Salud isn’t a convenience, it’s a lifeline,” said one frustrated patient. “Taking that away during the busiest time of year is reckless.”
A Repeated Pattern of Disruption
The health centre serves a year-round population of over 30,000 residents, which swells to nearly 100,000 during the summer months. Despite this, the facility has only around 60 designated parking spaces, which are routinely commandeered for events such as the weekly market and now the annual fairground.
Each summer, the same issue arises, patients forced to walk long distances, queue in intense heat, or cancel appointments altogether due to lack of parking.
Operator’s Safety Record Under Scrutiny
Concerns are particularly acute this year due to the poor safety history of fairground operators on the site. In 2022, the company operated without the required permits or safety inspections. Residents reported exposed electrical cables, unsecured inflatables, and general chaos, all located metres from a healthcare facility.
Despite multiple complaints, local police did not intervene at the time. It was only after a public backlash that the fairground was shut down, weeks after it had opened.
“It’s astonishing that the council would allow such a fairground back, without publicly addressing the past safety failures,” said one resident who overlooks the fairground.
No statement has yet been issued confirming whether the current fairground has undergone safety inspections or received proper authorisation. As seems to be the case every year they simply turn up without warning, close the car park and set up.
Unbearable Conditions for Queueing Patients
During the 2022 season, patients were left queuing outside the medical centre in temperatures above 40°C, without shade or seating. A temporary canopy was installed following complaints but was removed at the end of that summer and never replaced. The health centre remains without basic shelter for those waiting outdoors.
Stalled Promises and Delayed Action
The council has made repeated commitments to either expand the current health centre or construct a second facility. However, a proposed expansion was paused in 2023 due to unresolved legal issues involving the adjacent land. Discussions around alternative sites in La Ciñuelica or Los Altos have yet to produce any concrete progress.
Meanwhile, the only existing health centre continues to bear the brunt of poor planning, overcrowding, and seasonal neglect.
Community Demands Accountability
Residents and local groups are calling for urgent action from the Orihuela Council to protect health services from further disruption, ensure the strict regulation of public space use, and finally follow through on long-promised infrastructure upgrades.
“Healthcare must come before entertainment,” one resident said. “This is about access to doctors, not bumper cars.”
With growing frustration in the community and mounting questions about safety, governance, and transparency, pressure is building for the council to rethink its priorities—and put public health first.
