The Izquierda Unida coalition, Andalucia’s third political party, has demanded that the regional government accepts “political responsibility” for the “urban abuse” in the Almanzora valley.

Furthermore, it has demanded that homeowners who bought in good faith “be compensated in full” for losses if their homes are demolished.

Government lost control of the planning process

Enrique Ruiz, environmental spokesperson for the Almería Izquierda Unida grouping, said that his party has always denounced the “savage and uncontrolled building” going on in the Almanzora area and other parts of Andalucia “but had been ignored”.

“We have been building in an uncontrolled and savage manner in the province of Almeria, with no respect for the environment, ignoring modern needs for compact and green cities. Almería is the very example of savage and uncontrolled urban speculation that has blighted Spain over the last few years. We think that it is inadmissible that people in charge of the political process refuse to accept their political responsibilities for allowing this atrocious and barbaric building boom”.

Compensation and investigation needed

Enrique continued to say that “anyone who has bought a house in good faith, with all licenses and now find themselves threatened with demolition should be compensated by the politicians and responsible people who allowed this to happen in the first place, by permitting an obscure and unsustainable building policy to be implemented”.

Izquierda Unida has also said that it is imperative that an investigation be launched into the urban abuse scandal, investigating its causes, its effects and how best to solve the problem, as well as preventing it from happening again in the future.

Enrique finished by saying that he hoped that lessons could be learnt from the scandal to permit future development to be sustainable, environmentally friendly and properly licensed and built.

Little public knowledge of demolitions

This is the first time any official press release on the matter has been put out by any of the main political parties.

The demolitions in Albox and Vera have been almost completly ignored by the mainstream Spanish press and politicians pressed to comment on the matter have, on the whole, refused to reply.

Original Source – The Reader

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