Benidorm officials vow to get tough on Spanish ‘beach hoggers’ who try to beat Brit tourists to prime spots on the sand after video emerged of ‘locals’ setting up sunbeds before dawn
- Police have been given powers to remove items left on Benidorm’s beaches
- READ MORE: Benidorm locals caught setting up sunbeds in middle of the night
Benidorm council chiefs say they will get tough with repeat offenders accused of trying to beat British tourists by setting up their sunbeds by the shoreline in the dark and then going back home for a lie-in.
Incredible pictures published yesterday showed Spaniards grabbing the best spots by the sea before dawn when many UK holidaymakers were still out partying or snoring in bed.
The photos showed beachlovers described as Benidorm locals setting up large umbrellas and deckchairs to get the best spots to soak up the sun when it rose.
Today council chiefs said they were aware of the problem – and insisted police have been given powers to remove items abandoned on the sand where it is creating conflict but denied Spanish ‘early-risers’ were deliberately trying to deprive British holidaymakers of the best beach spots.
Monica Gomez, Benidorm’s Councillor for Beaches and the Environment, admitted some Spaniards traditionally laid claims to the top spots by the shoreline as early as 6am after cleaners had been round.
People in Benidorm have been setting up deck chairs in the dark in a new chapter of the sunbed wars
Beachgoers desperate to bag a spot have been laying out their blankets the night before
Snaps taken in the morning show the empty deckchairs and umbrellas before the morning scramble as Brits sleep soundly in their hotel rooms
But in her first comments on the controversy she claimed some of those setting up before dawn were then taking an early-morning stroll along the beach before the heat kicked in, rather than heading back home or to their hotels to get back into bed or have breakfast.
She said after being shown the photos of the so-called ‘Benidorm beach wars’: ‘Traditionally there are people who get up very early to make sure they get a spot at the front of the beach nearest the shoreline and stay there all morning enjoying the sea.
‘It happens in Benidorm as well as other holiday resorts.
‘Here there are cases of people who put out their sun umbrellas and sun loungers after beach cleaning finishes around 6am and then go for a stroll along the beach before the sun gets too strong.
‘There are also people who put out their belongings at this early time of the morning and go home, and that is something that is not allowed.
‘By-laws mean the local police have the power to the act when items are left on the beach in this way and it leads to conflict between beachgoers and they always act when required to in order to mediate and try to resolve disputes to make sure both parties can enjoy a good day out on the sand.
‘If it’s proved someone has abandoned their sun umbrella or sun lounger the police have the power to remove it.
‘Generally the items are left on the beach itself, by one of the entry points or by the lifeguard’s tower.
‘That means that when the person concerned goes to pick them up they can be advised this is something they shouldn’t be doing so they can be urged not to repeat it.
‘We always appeal to peoples’ personal responsibility so we all exercise a correct use of our beaches and enjoy them.
‘However if people persist in this sort of behaviour where they abandon sunbeds and umbrellas and generate conflict with other beach users, the police can sanction them for a reiteration of a practice that is not permitted.’
A security guard has been praised for removing towels from the sun loungers at a hotel in Tenerife
She added: ‘You have to bear in mind that it’s not always easy to determine when belongings have been abandoned because there are people who take advantage of the cooler temperatures in the early morning to go for a stroll and in that case we’re not talking about an ‘abandonment’ that can be sanctioned.
‘People that get up this early are not doing it with the aim of deliberately depriving British holidaymakers of the best spots on the front-line of the beach, far from it.
‘In Spain there are people who traditionally get up very early to go to the beach, meaning others who turn up later such as other Spaniards, British tourists or people of any other nationality, have to pick spots further away from the shoreline.
‘Fortunately the beaches in Benidorm are large and comfortable and have great amenities, meaning they don’t have to be by the shoreline to enjoy a magnificent day at the beach.’
Hoards of holidaymakers were spotted making the mad dash to secure a good spot by the pool
It’s not just the Spanish who have been keen to bag the best spots however.
Britons have also recently been spotted descending on hotel pools in Tenerife and Majorca, desperate to bag the best sunbeds.
Footage from a Majorcan resort shows hoards of holidaymakers armed with towels and inflatables rushing to reserve loungers on the Spanish island.
In a military-style operation some even rush over to get their hands on the spare loungers and cushions that have not even been put out yet. All the while a beautiful beach sits empty just 100ft away.
It comes as recent footage showed the increasingly tense sunbed war shrouding Brits’ summer holidays.
The Majorcan ‘sunbed police’ can be seen taking revenge on hotel guests who had reserved loungers.
Meanwhile, a security guard has been praised for removing towels from the sun loungers at a hotel in Tenerife.
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