New bylaws which are described as ‘scrupulous’ are to be introduced in Granada City by the PP controlled City Hall. The list of measures has taken 18 months to prepare and is supported by the PSOE Socialist opposition, although the IU left wingers consider some aspects of it to be ‘restrictive’.

Some 200 behaviours are now to be subjected to fines which could reach 3,000 € and include the following:-

Begging on the streets is banned, and this includes the gorillas who park your car or clean your windscreen at traffic lights, as well as the gypsies who ‘give’ rosemary to tourists or who offer to read your hand.

Any street artists needs permission from the City Hall who will issue a licence provided they are not insistent in the request for money.

The siesta is guaranteed between three and five when any ‘unnecessary noise’ will not be allowed, and this includes shouting, singing, slamming the door, or dancing. Anything louder than a human voice will be fined and that could even be a noisy washing machine or other electrical appliance. Pets must also be silenced.

Any building work or alterations must not start before 8am or continue after 9pm during the week or between 10am and 8pm at weekends. The moving of furniture is included in this restriction.

Insulting people on the street or bothering them is prohibited be it a physical or verbal attack, and any discriminatory behaviour be it sexist, racist or homophobic is banned.

Spitting urinating or worse in the street is also banned, especially in the areas where there are many people or children.

Pasting posters on trees is not allowed and indeed anyone who delivers leaflets or leaves them on car windscreens needs a licence.

Finally having sex in the street is also banned, as is the requesting of offering of sexual services, be they paid or otherwise. The inside of a car is also considered as being in the street for this.

The new bylaws in Granada follow those announced last year by El Ejido in Almeria where the list even included at 1,000 to 3.000 € fine for dropping banana skins on the street, and the hanging of washing on the balcony ‘which was visible from the street’ was also banned.

How I miss Blackpool!