British holidaymakers in Spain warned they face fines over new beach rule

A new round of beach wars has opened in Benidorm and Brits are being warned they face a fine if they join in.

The local council in the Spanish holiday hotspot says it is totally fed up with sunbathers flocking to the beach as early as 7am to grab the best spot right by the sea. They then go off, only to return hours later to the frustration of other beach users who can’t find space on the packed beaches during the hot summer.

Benidorm council says this has become a daily problem, with people placing towels, blankets, umbrellas and sunbeds to “reserve” their slots. For many, it has even become a “ritual”. Some even use baby pushchairs or shopping trolleys to mark out their territory.

The local council says none of the resort’s beaches are free from the controversial practice which resembles “the first row of a cinema or theatre”.

One tourist said: “It’s maddening!”

Now, the authority is calling time. It is warning that the first six metres between the water and the sand should not be occupied at any time. This is to allow beach users the chance to walk along the shoreline unhindered and started during the Covid crisis.

Benidorm council says the local people also have the power to act and can remove items if they notice the spots are not being occupied for hours.

Councillor for beaches, Mónica Gómez told Spanish newspaper Informacion.es: “It’s an issue that worries us and we are taking care of it.”

As the war rumbles on, some tourists are taking matters into their own hands by physically clearing plots which have been reserved but not occupied for hours, which can lead to confrontation when the people eventually turn up.

But those who do get up early to claim their place are unrepentant. One said: “Why should I worry? Let other people get up as early as I do!”