The development of Spain's coasts

[Stephen]

I read years ago that something was being done to stop the urbanización of the coasts. A law is mentioned in this El Mundo piece but it doesn't seem to have had much effect.

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/16/ciencia/1279277397.html

[greytop]

Well they've closed the bit of land next to the beach we used to use as a carpark! Sand dune preservation / restoration apparently.
Seriously though there has been a law since 1988 but it has been rather liberally interpreted by local authorities, sometimes corruptly. In theory the first 100 metres of coast is subject to very strict controls.
Recent attempts by "Costas" to remove some of the illegal construction or use by businesses, has met with stiff opposition and the papers have articles most days. Current hotspot is the threat to restaurants near Valencia that for many years have exceeded their allotted terrace space. If they lose it they will probably not survive and thousands of people each week will miss out on the pleasure of a meal beside the sea. Other places under threat are many of the chiringuitos whose nominal 20 sq. metres has been exceeded many times over.
Lucky there's nothing else to worry us eh!! ;)