El Fogón flea market in Guardamar ordered to close after years of legal dispute
Stall holders have been told not to set up this Sunday at the N-332 site as the legal battle continues in court
Guardamar del Segura is determined to enforce the closure of the well-known El Fogón Sunday flea market this weekend, bringing a major escalation in a dispute that has stretched on for more than a decade.
Local police, supported by the Guardia Civil, will move in on Sunday April 26 to stop the market from operating next to the N-332 opposite the Santa Ana industrial estate, after a court rejected a request from the site’s owners to keep it open while legal proceedings continue.
The council said the decision follows confirmation from a court in Elche, which refused to grant precautionary measures that would have allowed the market to continue trading during the appeal process. With that request dismissed, the municipality has confirmed it will now enforce the closure order.
Mayor José Luis Sáez said the market is located on land classed for future urban development and is not permitted for this type of activity under current planning rules. He also pointed out that previous attempts to close it were made in September and October last year, although the market continued operating after those interventions.
This time, however, the council has coordinated with the Government Sub-delegation and arranged a larger security presence to ensure the closure is carried out.
The management of El Fogón has already informed stallholders that the market will not take place this Sunday in order to avoid confrontation, although it has made clear it will continue its legal fight against the council’s decision.
At the heart of the dispute is whether the market, which has reportedly operated for around 30 years on Sundays, has the right planning permission to continue. The site covers a large plot beside the main road and has become known for antiques, second-hand goods and a busy flea market atmosphere that draws visitors from near and far.
The owners argue that the closure process is flawed and based on a file first opened more than 12 years ago, claiming the activity is compatible with the current status of parts of the land and pointing to other nearby markets that continue to operate in similar conditions.
The council, on the other hand, maintains that the land is included in a long-standing development plan and says the issue has been under review for years. It adds that repeated enforcement attempts have already been made and that the matter now needs to be resolved.
The market directly supports around 15 jobs and provides income for dozens of families, according to its organisers, who say they remain hopeful the courts will eventually allow it to reopen. For now, though, Sunday trading at El Fogón appears set to come to an end, at least temporarily.
Image: La Marina & San Fulgencio
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