Whilst the chiringuitos are rejoicing over their new looks and legality before the all-powerful Costas, there are three establishments who are not.

Not all beach establishments are chiringuitos but they have been there just as long and one of them is the building belonging to Windsurf La Herradura – it’s stood there for 30 years and is therefore a veteran compared to most.

The others are Playa Velilla Actividades Náuticas and Deportivas Dani, both in Almuñécar.

The Delegate for the Environmental Department of the Junta de Andalucía has refused their licence renewal that would allow them to continue operating on land that is considered public domain; i.e., the beach.

This means in effect that they will have to demolish their beach properties and rebuild them at either end of the beach; i.e., one of the two extremities, which is the only spot that the administration will grant them.

The trouble is, that it is hardly practical, and in the case of Windsurf La Herradura, impossible, because both ends of the bay are already occupied by chiringuitos.

The three companies are not going to take it lying down, though, and they are said to be contemplating legal action. And they’re not by themselves in this issue because they have the backing of the Asociación de chiringuitos de la Costa Tropical, of which they are members.

Editorial comment: it’s hard to see this decision by Costas as reasonable – after all, we are talking about same administration that sat around and twiddled its thumbs – together with the Junta – whilst the monstrosity on Playa Algarrobico was built. I, for one, can’t help but conjure up the image of some inflated civil servant in a distant office desperate to let everybody know just how important he is.