Torre del mar, Overnighting now Prohibido

[spigot]

Someone wrote on here earlier this year that motorhome overnighting was tolerated in Torre del Mar.

I'm afraid that this is no longer the case.

The Ayuntamiento in Velez-Malaga has decreed that overnight parking for motorhomes in the area is illegal between 21.00hrs & 9.00hrs, this area includes Torre del Mar & Benjarafe, either side of these two resorts is OK.

Failure to comply with this ruling will result in a 300 euro fine!

I have a Spanish friend living in Torre in a flat with no off-road parking, he went to the town hall to ask to be allowed to park his M/H overnight as he won't be sleeping in it & it is his only form of transport but he was refused.

If you want to stay there, 2km outside T de M in the Malaga direction there is a Go-Cart track on L/H side, immediately after this a dirt road leading to a Chiringuito (beach bar), it has a large car park. Spend a few bob in the bar & ask if you can park the night, the guy's name is Michael & he speaks good English after working in a restaurant in the UK.

I've just returned after my annual 3 month jaunt to the south & had no problems wild camping apart from Nerja on Burriana beach, which was my fault really, I normally stay at the back of the resort but this time they had the road up & I stayed 3 nights in the beach car park. Next morning having breakfast the Policia turned up & told me to hop it, I showed them my copy of INSTRUCCION 08/V-74 de la DGT, all to no avail & one doesn't argue with a bloke with a gun!

 

[vwalan]

yes ,they are breaking national law with local laws . you can complain to the interiour minister .i did got an apology and taken bacvk to my vehicle . a motor caraavan is allowed to park anywhere a car can . the national law makes this quite plain . but local by laws cant over turn national law and the local authorities are breaking the law . yes you can argue . if they pull their gun another apology would be needed . if you dont stand up for your roghts then you lose out .
the spanish m,home clubs will back you if you argue . its an on going thing in spain .

 

[Channa]

For a country that has been so dependant on tourism for income and upside down economically the Spanish IMHO are a waste of space, there certainly seems to be no logical tolerance by the authorities to accomodate motorhomes unless a campsite or hotel.

Why would you want to spend your hard earned with a situation that is unfriendly ? Some of you might, but I have no desire to visit where patently not wanted.

Perhaps they have a consular connection with Scarborough and Whitby

What a pity more of the union dont take and learn a few lessons from the French. ( including the UK )

Channa

 

[Deleted member 967]

Hi Channa

Having experienced some of the ghetto car park camping going on in Spain, I am not surprised that the authorities don't like it. I was with Alan for part of the trip and we spent Christmas together.

I parked solo or possibly with one other van and had no problems at all. If you respect where you park and don't overstay your welcome the Police don't bother you. If you need to be parked with hoards of other vans then expect problems.

As Alan says the law is explicit.

3. - STOPPING AND PARKING

Under the heading "Stopping and parking," the General Traffic Regulations regulate in Chapter VIII (Articles 90 to 94), the rules applicable to these manoeuvres, regarding places where these manoeuvres can be made, method and form of execution, position of vehicle, Municipal Ordinance and prohibited places, which must be observed by all vehicles in general.

2. In no event may the municipal ordinance oppose, alter, distort, or cause confusion with the precepts of this regulation.

Therefore, in the opinion of the General Director of Traffic it is indisputable that the exclusion of certain users must be necessarily motivated and based on reasonable objections such as the external dimensions of the vehicle or the maximum permissible weight (MMA) of the vehicle but not by use of subjective reasons such as: possible uncivilised behaviour by some users such as noise at night, dumping of garbage or waste water onto the public road, monopolization of public space by erecting structures and furnishings or other situations of abuse against which local authorities have effective legal tools to be used in a non-discriminatory manner against all violators, whether users of motorhomes or any other type of vehicle.

Motorhome users are permitted to carry out manoeuvres of stopping and parking in the same conditions and with the same limitations as any other vehicle.

Spiggot tell your Spanish friend to appeal above the local level.

 

[vwalan]

i deliberately got arrested in 2008/9 winter i carried the info supplied by a spanish m,home club . i might not have if just moved but it was just after the instructions were issued to town halls . and guardia offices . the local police hadnt seen it as it got chucked in drawers and ignored . i dont argue so much now i write all the car reg numbers of the police and their names and numbers then send a letter to the minister . if we dont he doesnt know whats happening . we were checked just after new year .i took details and sent them off when i returned to uk .
someone as to watch the watchers . just as well be me.

 

[spigot]

Why would you want to spend your hard earned with a situation that is unfriendly ? Some of you might, but I have no desire to visit where patently not wanted.

Perhaps they have a consular connection with Scarborough and Whitby



Channa

Don't get me wrong, in 99% of places in Spain you are MOST WELCOME, in fact, the hospitality can be a little embarrassing, we've been invited into people's homes for meals etc. and it's a bit difficult to repay the compliment in a small campervan.

The problem with Nerja was I believe, a lot of English live there. The Spanish are too busy minding their own business whereas the ex-pats are poking their noses into everyone else's, the copper hinted at this when he said he personally had no problems with us staying there.

In Torre del Mar I can understand the opposition to motorhomes, if you lived in a nice tree lined square and the place was overrun with them, it would look as though the gyppos had moved in minus the stripped cars & piles of hard core.

I admire vwallan for his perseverence, I admit I swallowed it & took the easy way out, if my Spanish was perfect I might have pressed the point, also I didn't fancy spending half a day in a hot waiting room at the police station with prostitutes & minor criminals.

 

[landyrubbertramp]

Minor criminals that a good chance to speak to the local mayor lol

 

[vwalan]

spain as a growing number of airres . it is certain areas that are becoming awkward . where i had ytrouble i was this last winter parked with byronic from here and we had no probs . the spanish m,home clubs have tried to pave the way for us . i meet with a member of one of the clubs most years . a very good friend . if arrested you are allowed a translator and a phone to the british embassy. the instructions o8v74 have been around now awhile . so the guardia tend to leave you alone if parked . but camp and you will be moved . the local laws have been challenged and hopefully the signs will be altered . in many places they already have . unfortunately it could be to a total ban on parking there . but at least m,home arent picked on.
heres a letter to be sent to any local town hall that you have trouble with . it was written by a member of acpassion a spanish m,home club. you will have to acept it was sent to m,home fun in the begining but you can change that bit . i carry copies in spanish and do post them if have trouble . if you want heres the spanish copy
hopefully with spain in this economic climate they may improve their views even more . if we dont try it wont change .

 

[Shockingdog]

spain as a growing number of airres . it is certain areas that are becoming awkward . where i had ytrouble i was this last winter parked with byronic from here and we had no probs . the spanish m,home clubs have tried to pave the way for us . i meet with a member of one of the clubs most years . a very good friend . if arrested you are allowed a translator and a phone to the british embassy. the instructions o8v74 have been around now awhile . so the guardia tend to leave you alone if parked . but camp and you will be moved . the local laws have been challenged and hopefully the signs will be altered . in many places they already have . unfortunately it could be to a total ban on parking there . but at least m,home arent picked on.View attachment 15337View attachment 15338
heres a letter to be sent to any local town hall that you have trouble with . it was written by a member of acpassion a spanish m,home club. you will have to acept it was sent to m,home fun in the begining but you can change that bit . i carry copies in spanish and do post them if have trouble . if you want heres the spanish copyView attachment 15339View attachment 15340
hopefully with spain in this economic climate they may improve their views even more . if we dont try it wont change .

Hi Vwalan
Had a similar problems this winter in Spain when stoping at Javia .Is it possible you could email me by PM an English and Spanish copy of your letter. I have tried to download it from the website without any luck
Thanks Shockingdog

 

[Deleted member 3011]

but I have no desire to visit where patently not wanted.

Problem is, according to a lot of posts on this and similar forums, is that Brits feel the need to go overseas precisely because motorhomers are not wanted in increasingly larger parts of their own country.

As others have said, park up responsibly and not get out the deck chairs and BBQ, and you will be left alone in most parts of the world. Trouble is, too many people seem unwilling or unable to make a sensible distinction between parking and camping and it is the latter that gets them noticed. In Spain, just opening an awning-type window or having the entry steps deployed takes you out of the safety of that legislation and into the area of camping

 

[Deleted member 9237]

Sorry to say this but my boy thinks there will be a lot of this this summer its not the Guardia its orders there getting from head office, they think it is a waste time with all the other things going on now.:wave:

 

[vwalan]

thats the trouble the higher up have just slung the instructions in a draw and give other instructions . it isnt the local guardia its the local town halls etc . best not be rude to them . just stand your ground and ask to go higher. but dont get caught with chairs etc out side . in fact windows can be open steps can be out .but cant touch the floor . no towels etc hanging outside . once you get to the right office they suddenly change tact . insist they call the minister . it bothers them more than you might think.

 

[spigot]

Minor criminals that a good chance to speak to the local mayor lol

Judging by what I've read in the Spanish press recently, if you want to meet up with the Mayor, you'd have to look amongst the MAJOR criminals.