The Ayuntamiento of Guardamar has decided to close the widely frequented El Fogón market, situated alongside the N-332 opposite the Santa Ana industrial estate. Mayor José Luis Sáez confirmed that, despite many years of requests to legalise the market activities, efforts were unsuccessful. The property owners provided insufficient documentation, preventing the completion of the necessary licensing application, leading to the market’s closure two months ago. Local police have enforced this closure, yet some vendors continued to operate last weekend, raising concerns.

Sáez indicated that the company operating the market might seek judicial measures to challenge the municipal closure and attempt to reopen under a new licensing process. As of now, the mayor has not received confirmation regarding any such legal actions. El Fogón has been a staple in the Vega Baja region, offering a wide array of goods from second-hand clothing to antiques at very competitive prices.

The closure stems from the market’s current classification as urbanisable land, which requires compliance with local development plans. Sáez noted the importance of legalising economic activities lacking municipal authorisation, highlighting past closures of similar markets that failed to meet regulatory requirements. Moreover, the Ayuntamiento’s aim is to ensure all economic activities within the town are appropriately authorised in accordance with local legislation.

El Fogón was particularly popular among the sizable expatriate community in the area, resulting in increased traffic issues each Sunday on the N-332 due to parked vehicles and pedestrian activity. The recent construction of a new road access with a roundabout alleviated some of these traffic concerns. The marketplace’s future remains uncertain as discussions about potential temporary licensing options are ongoing.