Call to toe the party line
Revellers urged to be good neighbours
VILLA parties are the new nightclubs for the summer season in Jávea, with police being called out in the small hours by sleepless neighbours.
August is traditionally the busiest month in the Marina Alta resort but over the last two weeks officers of the Guardia Civil and local police have been called to close down 30 private celebrations.
There are fears across postlockdown Spain that young people out enjoying themselves in clubs and at family gatherings - both where social distancing rules are at risk - are to blame for the spike in Covid-19 infections.
Owners of popular nightspots were called to task by the town hall after shocking scenes of a crowded dance floor at one club circulated on social media and made national television news reports - resulting in a clampdown inside and outside premises. As a result there has been a rising tide of celebrations at home.
Costa Blanca News reported last week that police broke up a ‘massive’ party at a villa in Granadella, where they came across 134 people celebrating in the early hours at the rented holiday home.
It is understood the property was rented by seven students from Madrid. They had planned to tour Europe by rail over the summer but the health crisis changed their plans and instead they headed for Jávea, but now face a €30,000 fine for throwing the party.
According to the town hall, the majority of recent complaints from neighbours about noise are much smaller gatherings and are treated as a ‘nuisance’.
COMPLAINTS
“Most of the complaints are for loud music, early morning voices and laughter; when the police arrive, those at the party usually mute their conversations and turn down the music, or go home,” a council spokesman told CBNews.
“It happens almost every summer but has been accentuated this year by the new nightlife that prevails because of the pandemic. There are more parties in villas and less going out - you cannot dance in the discotheques now and that is why people prefer to party at home.”
The town hall has now appealed for people to act responsibly and to abide by the coronavirus health rules and advice.
The local authority wants people to register a planned celebration via a declaration of responsibility on the town hall website www.ajxabia.org. In ‘procedures’ there is an ‘environment and activities’ section where details can be logged, including those responsible for the gathering and a commitment to respect the declared hours and not disturb neighbours.
There are also warnings about fire risks and the Covid safety measures. The town hall emphasises the ultimate responsibility for parties lies with the owners of holiday lets.
The spokesman said registration of a planned gathering was available every summer but is more important in the current circumstances. He said the aim was to promote good relations between people in the community: “Good coexistence is everyone’s responsibility.”