Lots of People Clogging up the Bathrooms

The population of Mojácar has fallen over the last few years, as the Town Hall tightens its control of the population census: the padrón. With some reason, many people have fallen off the padrón - and as we shall see, these are mostly foreigners! This is because Spaniards who leave one municipality move to another, where they are re-registered (the second town hall informing the first) Other Spaniards, of course, die and, again, the authorities are informed and their name is struck from the padrón.
There is a story, no doubt apocryphal, to say that one old girl, unwilling to lose her rights (or maybe her family's rights) left her vote for her favourite party in her will.
It is also true that some Spaniards who live in one town are on the padrón of another - perhaps for political reasons. Perhaps someone bought their vote (as happened in Melilla this week).
Foreigners on the other hand may move away and they will often do so back to their own country, or to another part of Spain where they won't bother to register. They won't particularly be known to the local authorities - we all look alike - and there is also a good chance they weren't even on the town hall's register in the first place, because, well...
A few years ago, the government, aware of this singularity, ordered that all EU foreigners would have to re-register every five years, and all non-EU every two years. Probably a good idea, but what happens when the town hall, to lower the foreign presence, decides to strike a line through your name with the argument that 'they hadn't seen you recently'?
All this, to explain that Mojácar's numbers (currently figured at 6,301) are probably rather artificial.
Then, add those who are there for a short period (which explains those claustrophobic noddy houses we build). These characters are neither listed nor, of course, active as 'troublesome voters'.
The recent Town Hall plan, which decides the urban future for a municipality for six years (the last one was agreed - between the major families and property owners - back in 1987) has now been approved (while waiting for the Junta de Andalucía to graciously nod assent). This latest Plan General de Ordenación Urbanística (known as the PGOU) will make Mojácar grow rapidly to, so says El Diario de Almería - 7,343 inhabitants (we like to be exact here in Spain) by 2025.
The opposition says that Mojácar has tied into this plan just before a likely change of government and that furthermore, they (and the general public) have not been able to view it. 
The worrisome detail behind the new homes that must be built (612, apparently) is the figure bandied about for summer occupation by 2025:  38,016. Now, if seven thousand are on the padrón - contributing as they do to licences: funding; medical, police and school teachers; street lamps, fire engines, sewage and potable water, road repairs, merrie concerts and festivals, what then about the other thirty-one thousand (at any given moment, staying, says the tourist office, for a brief holiday)?
We have roads designed for six thousand, yet expect 38,000 on them (plus casual visitors from nearby, deliveries and bus-trips). To relieve this, the 'ring-road' behind the gas station has been inked in to relieve traffic from the beach.
The Town Hall has just sent out its usual triumphant press release regarding Easter visits. Our hotels were full. We have 'over fifteen thousand beds' (some of which are in all-inclusive hotels, where everything is free, as long as you don't go outside).
In all then, Mojácar is a tourist town - dead in the winter, and vibrant in the summer. For those who have a bar, a restaurant or a souvenir shop (or rather, those who rent them out like dodgem cars) business is booming thanks to this massive bucket and spade tourism - until somewhere better or cheaper comes along, or until a natural disaster strikes. Local people don't buy souvenirs and they won't make up the crowds necessary to fill several hundred bars and restaurants.
The rest of us, inconvenienced by this huge swell, can only wonder if their own particular investment, a house in Mojácar, can increase in price when they've just built a whole slew of them in front, demolishing the view to do so.