Residents in Calle La Unión in Mijas and Fuengirola are unable to cross their own street from today, at least according to the new restrictions brought in by the Junta de Andalucía which involve prohibiting movement between municipalities to help curb the spread of Covid-19. One side of the street is in Fuengirola, and the other in Las Lagunas, which belongs to the muncipality of Mijas.

On Monday both Mijas and Fuengirola town halls called for the regional authority to consider Fuengirola and Las Lagunas as one urban centre.

The mayor of Mijas, Josele González, announced contacts with the neighbouring authority on Monday to formally put forward a joint proposal.

The mayor said that the move was necessary as the boundary between the two towns runs down the middle of streets, a situation which "causes constant confusion among the local people".

González added that the pandemic figures were similar in both municipalities.

"It's not just a question of convenience for the local people - many of whom are elderly and used to shopping in the neighbouring municipality - but also for local commerce in both towns, as these are highly populated areas in which small and medium-sized businesses are more important than ever," said González.

Fuengirola town hall said that it was supporting the initiative, proposing that the people of Fuengirola be permitted to cross into Las Lagunas, but not the other areas of Mijas, such as Mijas Pueblo, La Cala and the numerous residential developments, "so as not to disturb the spirit of the regional authority's preventive regulation and to safeguard the health of both populations", it said in a press statement.

While the problem is not as obvious as that of Mijas-Fuengirola, there are also similar situations on the boundary between Fuengirola and Benalmádena.