According to the Generalitat’s (Catalan Government) Emergency Information and Coordination Centre (CICU), a 29-year-old man lost his life in a car-motorcycle collision on the CV-925 highway yesterday Sunday, 30th March, close to the Pedrera reservoir near Torremendo.

After receiving information of the fatal accident, which happened at around midday, the CICU called in an ambulance and a medical helicopter from the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU).

Advanced cardiac resuscitation and other stabilisation procedures have been used by the medical team to help the young man, but there has been no reaction, and his death has been confirmed.

According to the High Court of Justice, a woman suspected of forging currency has been summoned to trial by Section XI of the Provincial Court, located in Elche, this Thursday, 3rd April. She is seeking an eleven-year prison sentence for the offence.

The public prosecutor’s summary of events states that a bank filed the complaint against the woman in 2020 after it was found that workers had detected the deposit of counterfeit banknotes totalling €500 into multiple ATMs of a company from a bank account. Businesses that handle a lot of cash frequently deposit huge sums of money through ATMs, particularly on weekends.

A woman was recognised as a suspect after the National Police launched an inquiry. The investigation found that she established a shell company. She was able to open a checking account with the bank using the company’s details. After that, the woman took money out of certain ATMs and deposited money at others. The bills she got were clearly authentic, whereas the deposits were fake. The case filing doesn’t explain where these bills came from.

There have been complaints in several areas of Elche due to the new hotspot of caravan and motorhome spread, which is illegal in the municipality. Events like Easter Monday and the Casa de Andalucía April Fair are conducted on certain days, however the Elche Local Police deny that there is a settlement in the El Pantano de Elche area. This week, a large congregation of these vehicles was found in the region, which is situated in a protected natural environment, even though officials do not recognise the formation of the location as a repeating destination for this type of overnight stay. There were occasionally as many as thirty of these trucks in the vicinity.

In the city, this phenomenon is not new. The presence of these kinds of cars has prompted the authorities to evacuate tourist settlements, primarily Europeans, in various locations, such as Cape Santa Pola, close to Arenales del Sol, the beaches of El Pinet and La Marina, or even in urban parking lots like the one on Avenida de Santa Pola.

Tourists from Denmark and France in the region

The majority of the caravans found in the El Pantano de Elche Recreation Area are Dutch, however some visitors are French.

Locals who walk there often report that the tourists are courteous and aware of their environment. Although there are no obvious signs of rubbish or filth in the region, it is always unclear where their personal rubbish goes.

In addition to keeping them company, some young ladies who frequent the area on a daily basis emphasise that the presence of these tourists gives them a sense of security because they are respectful and typically travel with their families, occasionally bringing kids or pets.

Inadequity of space for this kind of tourism

Tourists arrive at the spot directed by caravan tourism apps and user recommendations, despite the police’s insistence that this is not a regular settlement. The pleasant weather and the natural beauty of the area around the reservoir draw them in.

This week, there were instances when over thirty cars were parked, and some visitors stayed overnight and even ordered food delivery from services like Glovo. There’s also breakfast.

There isn’t enough parking in Spain as a result of the rise in RV and camper travel. The majority of these services are private and run by businesses that supply energy resources and bathrooms; camping and overnight stays outside of approved places are forbidden in Elche.

However, locals in La Marina and other parts of Elche have voiced their unhappiness, claiming that because tourists do not spend money at local eateries or businesses, this kind of tourism has no effect on the local economy.