Tension ran high yesterday, Tuesday 25th August, as Bigastro Town Council, the owner of the site, took formal possession of the La Pedrera campsite. Around a dozen officers, including Guardia Civil and local police, arrived at the premises alongside roughly 30 campsite customers who sided with the concessionaire facing eviction. Officers sealed off access to one of the buildings scheduled for evacuation, while municipal authorities brought in locksmiths to force open the reception booth. The outgoing management firm insists that this reception structure and other site assets remain its private property.
The court-approved eviction was carried out in mid-August while the facilities were fully occupied by holidaymakers. The company managing the site since 2013 has voiced strong public opposition, claiming it originally inherited a campsite in a precarious condition and accusing the local governing team of forcing through an irregular eviction in record time.
The local authority intends to take over direct management of the site and insists the takeover, which will continue across other areas of the complex over coming days, should not disrupt guests. Municipal sources stressed that the eviction follows a clear judicial mandate after the courts rejected precautionary legal requests by the operator. They reiterated that under standard concession agreements, Bigastro Town Council takes over all facilities once the contract expires.
Town hall representatives also downplayed the operator’s grievances, explaining that reception is the only essential shared service required and can easily be staffed by a municipal worker until a new tender is launched. They added that the on-site restaurant is sublet and may remain open if its owner wishes, while holidaymakers are free to continue their stay without issue.
Background and electrical dispute
The concessionaire, Gerval 2013, rejects the eviction order issued by Bigastro Town Council, though it stated from the outset that it would not resist using force. Company management attributes the underlying dispute to long-standing electrical issues across the grounds. According to the firm, when it assumed management in 2013, the electrical system was non-compliant with regulations and suffered frequent power outages as guest numbers grew.
The firm claims it spent €320,000 bringing the electrical infrastructure up to modern standards. It argues that Bigastro Town Council is demanding these costly upgrades without offering financial compensation, extending the concession duration, or discounting municipal fees.
Company representative Alberto Sabater stated that the conflict escalated immediately after the works were completed. He explained that the installation had just received formal approval from an authorised inspection body when Mayor Teresa Belmonte called an emergency council meeting to fast-track the eviction. Sabater alleges that outdated photos from 2023 were presented during that meeting to claim the work was incomplete, an assertion the concession holder strongly denies.
Gerval 2013 maintains that vacating the site within five days during peak August occupancy is completely unfeasible, given existing bookings and corporate property on site. These assets include several wooden cabins, the reception building, the swimming pool, and operational equipment that the firm says it purchased from the previous operator. Although the company did not physically block the council’s entry, it plans to demand that guest accommodations be formally sealed off once holidaymakers depart to prevent unauthorised access by municipal staff.
Disputed electricity debts and legal action
The concessionaire also disputes an outstanding electricity debt claimed by the local authority. The firm asserts that Bigastro Town Council billed it irregularly for years without proper invoices or transparent calculation criteria, allowing the alleged debt to accumulate while the company covered major infrastructure expenses.
Sabater confirmed that legal proceedings are underway and noted that the firm offered €73,000 in an attempt to pause the eviction. However, because the council provided no formal guarantees that the takeover would be suspended, the payment was ultimately not made.
The outgoing management views the timing of the council’s move as an attempt to cause maximum financial harm during the peak summer period. It also noted that opposition political parties, including the PSOE and Vox, have reviewed the documentation and are considering calling an extraordinary plenary session to overturn the eviction decision, claiming opposition members were initially provided with incomplete information.
Gerval 2013 has announced plans for legal proceedings, including claims for monetary damages, electricity billing disputes, and potential unlawful entry into private structures. The firm is also evaluating potential criminal complaints, though specific details have not been released.
Furthermore, the company is demanding full transparency regarding the campsite’s immediate future. It claims Bigastro Town Council intends to hand management to an unnamed third party for one year prior to launching an official tender. The current operator insists on clear answers regarding who will run the daily operations, how incoming reservations will be handled, and how private property within the complex will be protected.
Silence from local leadership
Since the eviction was executed, Mayor and Senator Teresa Belmonte and her governing Popular Party team have issued no public statements explaining the situation, beyond comments made in earlier council sessions. On Tuesday, the only official addressing concerned campsite visitors was the head of municipal legal services, who accompanied the Guardia Civil, local police, and locksmiths during the operation.
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