Is this the end of Anglo-German towel wars? Spanish resort to FINE tourists who save beach spots up to £661
Wardens will patrol 10 miles of beaches along San Pedro del Pinatar on the Costa Blanca , handing out fines to house who bag a spot
BRITISH and German holidaymakers have long had a bad reputation for loving to get their towels down early by the pool.
But the decades-long battle for prime sunbathing spots could soon be coming to an end in one Spanish resort.
Wardens are set to patrol 10 miles of beaches along San Pedro del Pinatar on the Costa Blanca near Murcia handing out fines to house who bag a spot by the Med.
The new rules will come in next week, along with playing ball on the beach or in the sea, nudism and urinating in the waves, which will all attract fines of up to £661.
Reserving a place on the beach by using a parasol, bringing any pets, littering and cycling on the seafront will also face fines of the same amount.
More ‘serious infractions’ will incur higher penalties of between £1,322 and £2,644.
These include lighting fires, using barbeques, fishing out of season or in prohibited areas and sailing within 200 metres of the shore and causing damage to marine flora and wildlife.
San Pedro del Pinatar is one of several Spanish holiday destinations introducing strict new laws for tourists.
Malaga’s beaches also have tough new regulations in place, which prohibit loud music, parking and camping on its beaches.
Swimming in areas designated for boats, and sailing – including pedal boats – near areas for swimmers is also banned. Breaking these rules will result in fines of up to £264.
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Playing ball sports (unless you are least six metres away from other beachgoers), bringing pets and lighting a fire on the beach is also prohibited, with maximum fines for ignoring these rules reaching £2,644.
Other serious breaches include dumping materials which can contaminate or cause accidents on the beach as well as the sale of food and drink on the beach will incur the maximum fines.
On the Villa de Arisco and Arona beaches in Tenerife, building sand castles, moats or walls can result in fines between up £1,32, and in Barcelona, surfing is prohibited when the sea is too rough.
In Magaluf, politicians have listed 109 new laws designed to curb bad behaviour among holidaymakers, which attract fines beginning at £86.
Civic leaders in the town are desperate to clean up the resort’s image and attract more upmarket holidaymakers after the season began earlier this month.
Tourists can be fined for scaling balconies, picking flowers, climbing trees, unauthorised sand sculptures, skateboarding, playing football in the street and boozing in public.
Spitting and drinking straight from the spout of a public water fountain is also now against by-laws, as is pouring away dirty water near trees.
Councillors in Calvia – which covers the Spanish resort - are also banning displays of booze from outside shops and boxing and arm wrestling machines from the streets to improve the aesthetics of the area.
But the crackdown has angered locals who claim gangs hookers, drug-dealers and street-sellers are the real problem.
One person commented on an English-language Majorcan newspaper website: “Yes, sand sculptures are so offensive, please make it a top priority! LOL When did the Gestapo take over in Calvia???
Another person said: “They've missed out picking your nose, and passing wind.”