A demonstration calling for a solution to illegal houses in the Valley of Almanzora , called today by the Association of all the Mayors of the valley under the banner ‘Solutions Yes, Demolitions No’ ,attracted some 300 people.
The event, attended by many of the valley’s Mayors, came as a response to the recent demolition of two British owned properties in the nearby hamlet of Las Terreras in Cantoria, and the threatened demolition of two others.
The crowd was addressed by Gerardo Vazquez, lawyer for the home owner’s pressure group, AUAN, who outlined the senselessness of demolitions without prior compensation for those who had acted in good faith and whose human rights were being violated.
Mr Vazquez pointed out that in order to promote wealth, employment, social and economic welfare in the area, and reactivate the Spanish property market, demolitions must stop. He added that this problem affects not just the British, but thousands of Spaniards who find themselves in the same position and face the same unease.
Helen Prior whose home in Vera was demolished in 2008 also addressed the crowd. "What good did our demolition do for Andalucia or the Spanish economy? It’s only achievement has been to bankrupt us, negatively impact many businesses as well as the real estate sector, and to give a very bad reputation to the region as a whole".
Mr and Mrs Prior continue to live in what was formerly their garage and still have yet to be compensated for the loss of their home.
Mr. Vazquez put forward three proposals on behalf of AUAN. Firstly they called on the Mayors of the Valley to promote a ‘proposition de ley’ or legislative initiative to change the LOUA urgently. Secondly they called on the Mayors to put pressure on the central government to change state law to protect good-faith buyers from demolition with no prior compensation.
Thirdly, the AUAN called on the Association of Mayors to support genuinely representative round-table meetings, including all affected parties – homeowners and businesses as well as all political parties – to air opinions and give consideration to proper and workable solutions.
Antonio Salas, President of the Association of Mayors of the valley and Mayor of Alcontar, then took the microphone to apologise personally to Mr and Mrs Prior for their experience in Spain. He went on to say that he was ashamed the demonstration needed to take place at all as this problem should have been resolved long ago. He gave his support to the three AUAN propositions.
Finally, Martin Martos Cerdan, the President of the business association AEPA, took the stage. He said he had attended a meeting yesterday with the Junta de Andalucia, who assured him they had been working for some time on resolving the problem. He told the demonstrators that there was another meeting planned next week with the Secretary for Planning to look specifically at the problem of illegal land divisions and he was encouraged by efforts being made by the Junta. "I am against demolitions" he said. "We must all stand together".
However, on Friday evening, the Junta announced that it intends to go ahead with the demolition of the remaining two houses in Las Terreras, Cantoria.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/41408/
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