A former sports complex and swimming pool site in La Veleta, Torrevieja, has been cleared after almost five years of enforcement action by the Town Hall. The 9,500 square metre plot, once home to tennis courts, gardens and a café, had fallen into disrepair, with heavy vegetation, rubbish and damaged fencing.

The council first required the owning company to clean and secure the land in late 2021. In August last year, it imposed a coercive fine of 26,813 euros for failing to comply. The process led to repeated Local Police visits, complaints from nearby residents and a series of legal appeals, all rejected by municipal technicians.

The company successfully challenged the initial fine in the Administrative Court in Elche, delaying enforcement for up to two years. Sources close to the owner said the main delay was due to squatters living in the former changing rooms. An eviction process, reported to the Guardia Civil, took around a year.

The site, located at the junction of Mare Nostrum, Pacífico and Mar Cantábrico streets, is designated for hotel use. Previous proposals have included a motorhome campsite, a four-star hotel and a larger five-star resort project. The owners are now said to be considering new offers for the land.