Bid to reverse Sunday opening rules

Council claims that shoppers are heading to Murcia

ORIHUELA council is to submit objections to the Valencia government’s draft law for sustainable commerce in an attempt to allow Zenia Boulevard shopping centre in Orihuela Costa to open every day of the year.

If successful the bid could affect all commercial centres in busy tourism areas on the Costa Blanca.

The objections were presented via a motion in last week’s full council meeting in Orihuela city.

It was supported by the ruling Partido Popular-Ciudadanos coalition and the far-right party Vox.

According to the motion, the ban ‘damages the interest of Orihuela Costa’s local economy’ as visitors travel to the nearby shopping centres in Murcia, San Javier and Cartagena to do shop on Sundays and bank holidays from January to June 15, when the stores have to be closed under Valencian law.

The motion claims that tourist visits to Orihuela Costa have fallen since the legislation was adopted two years ago.

They state that the current commerce law is ‘against national commerce unity’ and is damaging business freedom, competition and investment opportunities.

Local councillor for commerce Víctor Bernabeu traders are being forced to close on the days which register the highest sales figures.

Sr Bernabeu stressed that the law had not been agreed with the business community and that Orihuela Costa should be allowed to open every day of the year due to its status as a zone of high tourist population (ZGAT).

The regional government in Valencia is currently drawing up a draft law for sustainable commerce and Orihuela town hall is trying to change the

Sunday opening laws via this new legislation.

The existing law limiting opening days has been in force since February 2018, and it applies to the whole Valencia region, although ZGAT areas are allowed to open on Sundays and bank holidays from June 15 to the end of the Christmas holidays and during the Easter holidays.

Before the law was passed shops in areas such as Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa were allowed to open 365 days a year.

The parties backing the Orihuela council motion pointed out that online shopping is available 24 hours a day, and it has become a serious competitor to shopping centres.

The opposition Socialist party (PSOE) and Cambiemos Orihuela reminded that shop employees have working rights and families and asked the council to launch alternative leisure activities to shopping.