The Orihuela coast faces a shortage of designated caravan parking spaces. In the absence of suitable facilities, many travellers park their camper vans wherever they can, with the car park next to Zenia Boulevard shopping centre becoming a popular spot. Google Maps even lists it as “Camper Free Parking.”
However, this area is only meant for cars and lacks the necessary services for the thirty or so caravans that gather there during high season. This has led to complaints from the public, not just about noise, but also about the accumulation of household waste and other rubbish. There are also concerns about where these temporary residents dispose of their bodily fluids and toilet waste.
The Facebook account ‘Mejoramos,’ linked to former PIOC activist Peter Houghton, highlighted this issue. Unidos por la Costa had previously proposed establishing a regulated caravan park to the City Council, an idea included in the PP’s electoral program. However, no action has been taken to repurpose the space.
The car park is not marked as suitable for caravans, nor is there any indication that access is prohibited or restricted. The council stated that “as long as they do not camp, they can park.”
Unidos por la Costa believes that creating a specific parking lot for caravans could regulate this form of tourism, avoid neighbourhood conflicts, and generate revenue for the municipality through fees. The space has previously hosted festivals and fairs, such as the San Juan celebrations, and, some months ago, was proposed as a location for prefabricated classrooms for the new school number 20, now being erected close by on Calle Níspero.
