The Town Hall of Torrevieja is taking steps to regulate the space occupied by hospitality terraces on the Paseo de Juan Aparicio. This initiative involves marking boundaries using paint and tape, revealing that many establishments have been violating occupancy laws by extending their space beyond what is permitted. Federico Alarcón, the councillor for Public Safety and Occupation, confirmed that the municipality is ensuring that what is paid by businesses aligns with the actual space occupied.

Torrevieja had been one of the few municipalities to maintain a prolonged exemption from terrace occupancy fees since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, stretching from two thousand and twenty to two thousand and twenty-three. During this time, the local authorities had been particularly lenient regarding regulations, allowing businesses to increase their capacity to cope with adverse circumstances. However, residents have raised complaints about the lack of control over public space occupation, with some establishments encroaching on pedestrian pathways.

The current effort by the Town Hall sees municipal workers repositioning tables and chairs to comply with local regulations. Alarcón noted that the Hospitality Business Association had been informed of these changes in advance. However, many employees expressed confusion as they adjusted their set-ups and dealt with surplus furniture. This situation coincides with increased pedestrian traffic in the area as public spaces are limited, especially with the ongoing construction works nearby.

In addition to enforcing existing regulations, the Town Hall has temporarily halted the finalisation of a new occupancy ordinance, which would consolidate various usages into distinct regulations. There are ongoing discussions about improving local oversight with more police inspections to ensure adherence to these rules. The provincial Coastal Service is also being updated on this situation as many terraces potentially infringe on maritime public domain guidelines.