Adeje Town Hall has begun working alongside regional and national authorities on a coordinated plan to tackle a growing number of illegal settlements in several parts of the municipality, in the south of Tenerife.
A high-level meeting was held on 18th June, bringing together representatives from the Local Police, Guardia Civil, National Police, the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment, municipal legal services and councillors from Adeje Town Hall.
The meeting was led by Councillor for Security, Mercedes Vargas Delgado, who said the situation has become increasingly concerning in recent months.
According to the council, the main areas affected are El Valito, Llano Negro, Las Moreras, El Puertito and La Caleta, where what were once occasional residential occupations have evolved into more established settlements, including cases involving holiday accommodation and long-term unauthorised rentals.
Public Health and Environmental Concerns
Vargas Delgado warned that the accumulation of rubbish in some locations is creating serious environmental and public health risks, and highlighted concerns over pest infestations, wastewater being discharged into the sea and an increased risk of fires in sensitive natural areas.
“The aim of this meeting is to establish a roadmap for joint action and begin work with all the necessary legal safeguards,” she said.
Legal Action Planned
Representatives from the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment explained that while the agency handles individual planning infringements, responsibility for managing larger settlement areas ultimately falls to the local authority.
The agency confirmed that Adeje Town Hall has legal grounds to begin proceedings against landowners where waste accumulation is causing environmental problems. It may also seek permission from landowners to carry out evictions where necessary.
Municipal legal advisers confirmed that separate case files will be opened for each dwelling identified, in accordance with Canary Islands land-use legislation. While each case will be processed individually, enforcement action may be carried out simultaneously in coordination with environmental and coastal authorities.
Most Occupants Not Considered Vulnerable
The Councillor for Urban Planning, Manuel Luis Méndez Martín, stated that the majority of those living in the settlements do not appear to be facing severe housing hardship.
He said most cases involve second homes, temporary occupation or alternative lifestyles rather than people experiencing homelessness or social exclusion.
Méndez Martín pointed to the previous operation at Playa Diego Hernández beach in La Caleta, as an example of how the process can be managed effectively. In that case, advance notification and engagement with occupants resulted in most residents leaving voluntarily before formal eviction procedures began.
“It is an absolute necessity to begin intervening,” he said. “The experience at Diego Hernández shows that, if it is done with the proper preparatory work, action can be taken with guarantees and with the least possible impact on people.”
Support for Vulnerable Cases
The Councillor for Community Wellbeing and Social Cohesion, Raquel Rodríguez Alonso, said municipal services have already identified the individuals living in the settlements.
She confirmed that only a small number of occupants have been found to be in vulnerable circumstances requiring support from Social Services.
“We have identified the people who are in a more delicate situation, and they will receive the assistance that the Town Hall can provide should evictions take place,” she said.
At the end of the meeting, all authorities agreed to coordinate identification, notification and enforcement procedures and establish direct communication channels to speed up the process.
The initiative marks the first major coordinated effort by Adeje to address the growing issue of illegal settlements along parts of its coastline, while balancing environmental protection, public health concerns and social support for those affected.
