Anybody who has driven along the back lane between Salobreña beach to La Caleta recently will have notice just under a hundred camper vans parked up – I counted them.

Now, that’s no exaggeration because they are parked in three different spaces: Behind Chiringuito La Bahia, about 50 metres further on in a large open space which often floods,and at the entrance to La Guardia.

And they are welcome visitors who bring a little winter trade to our coast. Most are occupied by elderly couples who once parked up, visit the town, do their shopping, eat out and bring life to what would otherwise be a deserted Paseo Marítimo.

Not everybody sees it that way, of course, and there are those who are quick to moan that in some way their presence is detrimental to the local economy. Looking along the beach road and observing the closed-up businesses, one might wonder what local economy they are referring to, because there doesn’t appear to be one.

Now, what has inspired these reflections was a press release by the Partido Popular, which whilst recognizing that their presence is beneficial to local businesses, points out that the parking areas needs to be controlled in some way.

The idea is to provide an official parking area with mains, drinking water and sewage disposal for a fair price.

Whether this ever comes about is one thing but what is certain is that when the economy improves and the hotels come, then this impromptu paradise will disappear under concrete… so fill your boots whilst you can, our migratory friends!

(News: Salobrena, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)