Squatters make residents’ lives hell

RESIDENTS of La Cala Benidorm have complained of fires, insults, threats, foul smells and scenes of public sex which they are having to put up with from squatters. The situation has been going on for a year since they first occupied a large abandoned finca on Calle Benissa. The area’s Neighborhood Association has reported the situation to the police and the town council, but without any success.  Complaints have been made concerning approximately 15 squatters, who are believed to be Romanian, who are accused of threatening locals, begging in an aggressive manner, and causing a general nuisance with their anti-social behavior.The residents in Cala de Benidorm said “we are sick of these people” and complain that they can’t even let their children play on the terraces because of the squatters’ lewd behavior,” said Santiago Pozo, President of the Residents Association.The immediate fear is that with the squatters lighting fires in the scrubland adjacent to the building, that in these hot dry conditions a real fire might take hold and spread to neighbouring properties.