Fuengirola council teams have cleared motorhomes and caravans from the Feria grounds and repainted all parking and market stall markings with stricter dimensions to stop oversized vehicles.

None of the fresh spaces measure large enough for a motorhome, so none can park legally inside the lines anymore. Motorhomes or caravan towers that attempt overnight stays by crossing the designated lines could receive fines reaching €200.

Motorhome bone of contention

Neighbours in surrounding flats have been voicing complaints for years over the site operating as an unofficial and free camping ground without proper facilities, particularly for grey water discharge that creates unpleasant smells and potential hygiene hazards in the neighbourhood.

Motorhome websites continue to recommend Fuengirola Feria grounds as a free overnight parking spot even after these updates took effect. Motorhomers, while welcome holidaymakers in Fuengirola, will now have to find legal pay sites to camp at.

Feria grounds gain over 700 regulated parking bays

Services from Fuengirola Council push forward with the council parking plan through reorganisation at the Feria grounds. This work supplies more than 700 units for car parking and adds to nearly 500 created earlier in the mandate for a running total above 1,200 spaces.

Mayor Ana Mula inspected the road markings and stated that the Feria grounds always acted as a major parking zone but never received proper regulation or ordering. Teams examined methods to use the asphalt patches at the entrance where fairground attractions normally locate, plus the edges of central and lateral streets.

Changes in the central zone around the casetas have now introduced one-way traffic heading to the Palacio de la Paz, while parking becomes possible on both road sides. Mula said that these modifications will make 700 parking places available for local residents and bring the overall figure close to 1,200 from fresh actions and reorderings such as this in Fuengirola.

Additional parking expansions planned for coming months

Works begin shortly on the initial phase of Montaña del Deporte in Los Pacos to introduce 56 extra spaces in that district.

Designs also include over 1,000 parking spots under the future Santa Fe-Antonio Basilio stadium in Los Boliches once the licensing contracting finishes.

Fuengirola residents at the end of their tether with motorhomes and caravans taking over

Those in the area of La Cala de Mijas are being invited to take part in the international Walkathon for Water on Wednesday, May 27, as the town joins a Europe-wide campaign raising awareness about the global water crisis.

Organised by the We Are Water Foundation together with resorts managed by Hilton Grand Vacations, the event is raising money and awareness about the lack of access to safe drinking water affecting millions and millions of people worldwide. The symbolic five-kilometre route reflects the horrendously long distance many children and families walk every day just to collect water. 

Walkathon for Water returns after successful previous events

The Walkathon for Water has already held multiple successful walks across Europe, with the initiative now entering its fourth year. Previous events attracted much interest with more than 1,200 participants from several countries and raised funds for clean water and sanitation projects in India, Tanzania and Colombia. 

The Mijas walk will take place on Wednesday, May 27 at 10am and is one of an incredible 20 walks across eight countries during the year. 

Mijas charity walk gets people talking about global water shortage crisis

The aim of the events is to highlight the reality faced by more than two billion people globally who still to this day lack access to safe drinking water. Every kilometre walked during the campaign symbolises reducing the burden carried by vulnerable communities searching for water each day.

Shocking facts from the charity tells us that water shortage and bad sanitation are the biggest causes of child malnutrition and other life-threatening childhood diseases. Over 1,000 children die every day from diseases caused by lack of safe water, and worldwide more than 2 billion people do not have access to safe water. 

Participants can register online with a minimum €5 donation, with proceeds supporting humanitarian water and sanitation projects. Local schools are taking part to raise the much needed funds for a very important cause. 

For more information visit the We are Water foundation website. 

Cyclists in Spain could lose access to some hard shoulders under new road regulations that allow authorities to redesign certain interurban roads and replace shoulders with segregated cycle lanes. The changes stem from Boletín Oficial del Estado publication of Royal Decree 899/2025, which updates aspects of Spain’s road infrastructure framework.

The reform permits the reduction or removal of hard shoulders on selected roads where protected cycling infrastructure is introduced. The regulation does not impose a nationwide ban on cyclists using hard shoulders. Under existing Spanish traffic laws, cyclists are still generally permitted to ride on the hard shoulder of interurban roads where it is considered passable and sufficiently safe.

Existing Rules for Cyclists Remain Largely Unchanged

For many years, Spanish traffic regulations have required cyclists travelling on interurban roads to use the hard shoulder whenever possible. These rules remain in place in areas where traditional road layouts continue unchanged. The latest reform instead focuses on infrastructure adaptation. Authorities may now redesign some roads by converting sections of the hard shoulder into dedicated cycle lanes separated from vehicle traffic.

The measure is intended to improve safety by creating clearer separation between cyclists and motor vehicles, particularly on roads with high traffic volumes or limited shoulder space. Spanish media reports clarified that the reform affects only roads selected for redesign and does not remove cyclists’ right to use remaining hard shoulders elsewhere in the country.

Segregated Cycle Lanes Could Replace Traditional Shoulders

Under the updated framework, regional and local authorities will be able to modify road layouts to introduce protected cycling infrastructure. In practice, this means some roads may no longer include the wide hard shoulders traditionally used by cyclists. Instead, cyclists would be directed onto newly created segregated lanes running alongside or adjacent to the roadway. The aim is to reduce direct interaction between bicycles and faster-moving traffic.

Spain has increased investment in cycling infrastructure in recent years, particularly in urban and suburban areas. However, interurban cycling routes have often continued to rely on hard shoulders rather than dedicated lanes. The new rules could therefore represent a gradual shift in how cycling infrastructure is designed outside cities, especially on routes frequently used by recreational cyclists and training groups.

Safety Concerns Have Long Been Part of the Debate

Road safety has been a recurring issue in discussions surrounding cycling in Spain. Cyclists have traditionally shared roads with cars, vans and heavy vehicles on many interurban routes, particularly in rural areas. Cycling organisations and road safety groups have repeatedly called for greater physical separation between bicycles and motor traffic following a number of serious accidents involving cyclists on Spanish roads.

Supporters of segregated infrastructure argue that dedicated lanes reduce collision risks by removing cyclists from direct traffic flow. Critics, however, have raised concerns that narrowing or removing hard shoulders could affect emergency stopping space for vehicles on some roads. The decree itself focuses on enabling infrastructure flexibility rather than mandating a uniform national design. Decisions on whether to alter specific roads will depend on local and regional authorities.

Changes Likely to Be Introduced Gradually

The reform does not require immediate changes across Spain’s road network. Any modifications to road layouts would be introduced progressively through infrastructure projects approved by the relevant authorities. As a result, cyclists will continue using hard shoulders on the vast majority of interurban roads for the foreseeable future. Only roads selected for redesign would see changes to the current arrangement.

Drivers travelling in Spain may eventually encounter more roads featuring separated cycling lanes rather than traditional shoulders shared with bicycles. However, implementation timelines are expected to vary between regions. The regulation forms part of broader efforts to adapt Spanish transport infrastructure to changing mobility patterns, including increased cycling participation and updated road safety planning.

Cyclists Still Allowed on Most Interurban Roads

Despite some reports suggesting cyclists are no longer allowed on hard shoulders in Spain, the legal position remains more limited in scope. The reform allows certain shoulders to be removed where alternative cycling infrastructure is built, but it does not prohibit cyclists from using hard shoulders nationwide.

Current traffic regulations requiring cyclists to use passable hard shoulders where available remain in force unless specific road redesigns alter the infrastructure. The changes therefore represent a potential restructuring of selected roads rather than a blanket restriction on cycling access across Spain’s transport network.