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ARCHIVED - Orihuela unveils plans for two new motorhome overnight stay sites
The Vega Baja town in Alicante is taking measures to stamp out illegal overnight parking of motorhomes
Overnight parking of motorhomes and caravans creating access problems is a bone of contention in many coastal towns in Alicante province, and Orihuela is no exception.
Hordes of vehicles are regularly parked up for days as tourists flock to Orihuela Costa's beaches, prompting the Town Hall to scout for ideal spots to convert into areas where vehicles do not pose a hazard or nuisance and can be regulated.
The two overnight transit areas for up to 20 motorhomes each which will be located in Soto I6, next to the Urban Gardens, and in the Palmeral de San Antón.
According to Orihuela's Mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, the latter overnight stay zone is a "very important step in improving the tourist option whilst respecting the environment ":
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San Antón Palm Grove and its surroundings have undergone a number of improvements recently, including the restoration of 16.580 m² of pathways, 480 m² for traditional irrigation, the renovation of walls and fencing, and the construction of an Interpretation Centre in what was the old Casa de los Verdú along with a visitor reception centre.
There are also plans to plant around 3,000 palm trees as part of "an ongoing fight against weevil".
"Now we have put the icing on the cake with this parking project for motorhomes that will have all the services visitors require. It will be an environmentally friendly project to meet an increase in demand," added the Mayor.
In addition to an increase in demand, pressure has been mounted for dedicated parking zones for motorhomes by various sectors and organisations, including the Oriolano Mountain Group (GOM).
"The Palmeral is a fabulous space with sports facilities, the Monte San Miguel hiking route and the old town itself just a five minute walk away," according to the Town Hall, which confirmed an abandoned caretaker's house will be transformed into a reception centre for caravanners with toilets and showers, which will be co-financed with European funds.
The national census of motorhomes has not stopped growing in recent years, and the Spanish Association of the Caravanning Industry and Trade (ASEICAR) has been highlighting the lack of areas prepared for lovers of this type of tourism.
It's estimated that every year some 250,000 motorhomes pass through Spanish roads, which ASEICAR equates to around 750,000 people who spend more than 385 million euros collectively in national towns and cities.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela
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