The local council in Orihuela will begin fining owners of undeveloped plots who have failed to keep their land clean and in proper sanitary condition. The decision comes after the deadline granted by the town hall to complete the clearance work passed. The planned penalties range between 750 and 1500 euro, as these failures are classified as serious infractions.
Mayor Pepe Vegara announced the start of this new enforcement phase alongside Mónica Pastor, the councillor for public safety, and Matías Ruiz, the councillor for urban planning. Through a mayoral decree, the local authority had previously set 15th August as the final date for landowners to clear and clean their plots.
With that date now passed, the municipal government is finalising an inspection system expected to begin operating in around a week. Plots that remain uncleaned or display inadequate sanitary conditions may face formal sanction proceedings.
Vegara noted that sufficient time had been provided for owners to act, and following the deadline, it is now necessary to enforce the regulations.
The Local Police will take an active role in monitoring. Officers will use their standard patrols and routes to locate plots in poor condition. Once identified, steps will be taken to trace the owners and, where appropriate, process sanctions.
The operation will not be limited to specific areas, but will cover the entire municipality of Orihuela. This includes outlying districts, the urban core, the historic centre, and Orihuela Costa. The mayor emphasised that the inspections cover plots anywhere in the municipality, stretching from Barbarroja to Orihuela Costa.
The obligation applies both to landowners and to anyone holding effective use of the plots, who must keep them in safe, sanitary, and presentable condition. The measures aim to prevent the accumulation of weeds, rubbish, and debris, particularly due to the risks these pose during summer months.
The local authority also intends to step up work on municipally owned land. Vegara stated that the local administration must lead by example, confirming that municipal crews are already conducting clearing tasks.
To support these actions, the procurement and urban planning departments are working on a tender to hire an external firm to boost council clearing capacity. The mayor explained that the goal is to ensure municipal plots meet the exact same standards demanded from private owners.
Following the end of the warning period established by decree, the council has formally concluded the advisory phase and moved into active surveillance and enforcement.
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