Tourist crackdown in Spain as beach sunbed hoggers are warned they face £210 fines and could have belongings seized if they try to 'reserve' prime spots

The crackdown on tourists in Spain continues as sunbed hoggers on the beach are warned that they face £210 fines and could have their belongings seized if they try to reserve prime spots. 

Tourism leaders in the Costa Blanca resort of Calp, which neighbours Benidorm, say they are not prepared to put up with another summer of 'empty but reserved' sunbeds and umbrellas just inches from the sea.

The local council says any items placed on the beach before 9.30am will be confiscated by the police.

In addition, if any 'reserved plot' is seen to be unoccupied for more than three hours will be cleared, with the owners facing a fine of 250 euros on their return.

Calp town council says the problem has been going on for years and is suffered by numerous other resorts, including Benidorm. However, there are few locations which impose such tough action or fines.

The rules are part of the Municipal Ordinance for the Use and Management of the Coast, which prohibits installing chairs, hammocks or umbrellas before 9.30am so as not to hinder the cleaning of the beaches. 

Therefore users who do not comply face a withdrawal of their belongings and fines of 250 euros.

'The ordinance also states that those umbrellas, chairs or hammocks that are left for more than three hours without the presence of their owners throughout the day may be removed,' says the council. 

'Given the evidence of installation of these elements without the presence of a person in charge or owner, the council, through the local police and its cleaning staff, may remove said elements from the beach, proceeding to transfer them to the municipal depot.'

'For some years now, the council has received numerous complaints during the summer about the reservation of space on the beach, since when users arrive at the beach at mid-morning they find metres of beach occupied without the owners of the installed elements being present.'

Calp council says the problem is a daily one and has relayed its warning to beach users through notices and via its social networks.