Guardamar del Segura’s popular El Fogón Sunday market has closed after a court rejected the owners’ request for precautionary measures to keep it operating. Local Police, backed by the Guardia Civil, enforced the municipal closure order on Sunday following a decision by Elche’s administrative court.

The council says the market has been operating without proper authorisation and that a closure order issued in July 2025 remains in force. Previous attempts to shut it down last autumn were unsuccessful while the owners sought legal protection. With the court now refusing those measures, the council requested support from central government representatives to ensure the order was upheld.

Market management has told traders the site would not open and says it wants to avoid confrontation. However, the owners intend to continue their legal challenge against the closure decree, arguing that the administrative process is flawed and that the land is classified as developable.

El Fogón, which has run for more than 30 years near the N-332, is one of the province’s best-known markets. It employs around 15 people directly and provides income for dozens of stallholders. The site forms part of a larger urban development plan known as ZO-6 El Oliverón, which proposes more than 2,300 homes.