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Campervans turn Zenia Boulevard car park into rubbish dump
For years, residents and tourists have been asking for a campsite in Orihuela Costa
Campervan drivers are in the spotlight again in Orihuela Costa, this time for reportedly leaving mounds of rubbish in the car park directly across the road from Zenia Boulevard shopping centre.
The Orihuela Costa has long been calling for more local facilities for motorhomes but in the absence of such, the Boulevard has become a makeshift campsite, with up to 30 campers setting up shop during the peak season. Incredibly, the car park has even earned a mention on Google Maps as a free parking zone for these vehicles.
But the reality on the ground is far from ideal, and it’s created something of a messy situation.
While the huge car park is indeed free to use, it has absolutely no facilities to speak of for campervan tourists – there’s no running water, electricity, toilets or, indeed, suitable rubbish containers for the volume of vehicles.
This has led to a trail of trash and debris, with household waste, broken appliances and other rubbish piling up along the embankment between the Boulevard and the AP-7. The situation has sparked complaints from local residents, who are not only concerned about the noise but also the environmental impact of these temporary residents. The question on everyone's mind is: where do these campervan dwellers dispose of their bathroom waste?
But it's not just a matter of aesthetics; the lack of a designated caravan park is also a missed opportunity for the local economy. Unidos por la Costa, a local neighbourhood association, has proposed establishing an official caravan park, which could not only regulate this booming form of tourism but also generate revenue for the municipal coffers through parking fees.
The idea of a designated caravan park is not new, and it's surprising that the current governing team has yet to take action. In fact, the PP included this proposal in their electoral program, and Unidos por la Costa has been pushing for it, but so far the council's response has been lukewarm.
The car park in question has been used for various events over the years, including festivals and markets, and was even proposed as a site for prefabricated classrooms, but its current use as a de facto campsite is not only unsightly but also unsustainable.
Image: AVCRL
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