Court Clears Way for Eviction of La Pedrera Campsite Operator

The municipal council of Bigastro has been authorized to evict the operator of the La Pedrera campsite. The eviction was slated for Tuesday, August 25, at 9:30 am, with police officers on standby. Mayor Teresa Belmonte had deemed the process urgent, ordering daily police patrols to the site until the council regained control. However, Judge Ricardo Barrio Martín at the Elche Court of First Instance rejected a request to temporarily halt the eviction.

The judge stated that the concessionaire had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the delay. Despite this, the decision did not address the broader legal dispute at hand. Gerval, the concessionaire, argued that evicting during the summer vacation period would inflict significant financial harm, impacting reservations, guests, permanent residents, staff, contracts, and utility arrangements.

The company furnished supporting documents, although some were in English and could not be processed properly. Social Security records revealed payment contributions but did not disclose the number of employees. The judge concluded that any financial losses resulting from the eviction could be compensated if Gerval eventually won the main case, provided no evidence was presented demonstrating irreversible damage to the company.

The council had terminated the concession following municipal assessments and advice from the Valencian Legal Advisory Council, approved by the full council on July 27. The dispute centers around an alleged €73,917 electricity debt for the years 2024, 2025, and the first three months of 2026. The council asserts that the assessments are final and binding, attributing the contract termination to the concessionaire's breach.

Gerval contends that the electrical issues stemmed from severe municipal infrastructure deficiencies inherited upon taking over the campsite in August 2013. The company claims to have repeatedly warned the council and invested around €300,000 in repairs and an extensive upgrade of the electrical network. Gerval argues that these were structural improvements, not routine maintenance, and should be factored into compensation, contract balance restoration, or concession extension.

Some loans for the improvements are expected to remain outstanding until 2031. The company also stated that the electrical installation passed an official inspection on June 15 and obtained industry certification on July 30. It contends that the council's statement that certification was not decisive in terminating the contract is contradictory.

Gerval intends to pursue all available legal avenues, including potential criminal proceedings, and demands a full accounting of assets, debts, and unamortized investments before the final takeover. La Pedrera is one of Bigastro's primary tourist attractions, offering 50 pitches, wooden cabins, traditional-style accommodations, a swimming pool, and a restaurant, drawing many Central European visitors.