Concern over growing illegal settlement close to complexes in south Tenerife

Residents in Los Cristianos are calling for action as an illegal settlement continues to grow on the slopes of Montaña de Guaza, close to residential properties and apartment complexes.

The settlement is located above Avenida Ámsterdam, near homes on Calle Santa Rosa and Calle El Rodeo. Around 60 people are reported to be living there in tents, shacks and shelters made from wooden pallets.

Neighbours say they are concerned about rubbish accumulating on the hillside, unpleasant smells and fires being lit at night. They also fear that the surrounding natural area is deteriorating as the settlement expands.

Residents are asking the authorities to coordinate a response that addresses both the condition of the land and the needs of the people living there.

What does the council say?

Arona Council’s planning department says it has received complaints from affected residents and has examined the site.

Councillor Javier Baute explained that the planning department can intervene where there are buildings or earthworks. He said the structures at this settlement consist of tents and temporary shelters, and that the matter has been passed to the council’s environment department, which deals with cleanliness and public health.

The councillor also said that responsibility for keeping the land clean rests with its owner.

A wider problem in Arona

The situation in Los Cristianos is part of a wider homelessness problem across the municipality.

A study commissioned by Arona Council and presented with Cáritas in July identified around 390 people who had been detected or supported while experiencing extreme housing exclusion. It also identified 22 informal settlements in different parts of the municipality, many of them near the coast.

Following the study, the council asked the Canary Islands Government, Tenerife Cabildo and the Spanish Government for funding and cooperation to help address the problem.

For neighbouring residents, the immediate concern is finding a response to conditions on the hillside. For those living in the settlement, the question of access to suitable accommodation and support also remains.