The Salobreña Town Council has decided to suspend the Friday street market normally held during the summer months on the fairground.

The decision was based, says the Mayor, on the negative reports submitted by the municipal judicial department and the municipal police.

Amongst the problems highlighted by these two departments are that the fairground is not paved, there are no toilets and no water/electricity points, all of which could produce a health hazard.

Furthermore, a large congregation of people in an area with no signposting in case of emergencies, or fire hydrants etc., presents an unacceptable safety risk.

Lastly, on the legal side, the market attracts a large number of stalls selling fake, brand names, products without warranty, civil-responsibility insurance or official complaint forms, according to the legal department.

“All these points have led us to make this decision, which has not been an easy one” explained the Mayor, Mª Eugenia Rufino, adding, “it is our job to protect our citizens, our local businesses and the fully legal stall holders.”

Editorial comment: Spain’s slowly losing its spontaneity and slap-dash humanity, which is precisely what made it attractive to foreigners, more accustomed to strict and restrictive societies.

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