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ISSUE NO. 1505
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Fire forces out residents MORE than 20 residents had to spend the night in the sports pavilion in Adra after their flats caught fire. Cruz Roja (Red Cross) and charity Caritas were on hand with food and bedding.
Illegal homes pledge A SOLUTION is near to the problem of ‘illegal’ homes facing the threat of demolition. Esteban Gonzalez Pons (pictured), Vice-secretary General for research and programmes of the governing Partido Popular political party in Spain, pledged that the demolition of ‘illegal’ homes “will not happen again in the future.” The statement drew rapturous applause from a packed meeting in Fines where he was speaking to members of AUAN (the association of Britons affected by planning irregularities in the Valley of Almanzora). In his speech, Pons spelled out several amendments to the current system including changes in legislation. Many home-owners who bought their houses in good faith complete with building licences from town halls have found themselves in a legal limbo after the Junta de Andalucia regional government withdrew the licences. It said they should never have been granted in
8 - 14 MAY 2014
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Greenhouse OK FARMERS who can prove their plots were authorised for agricultural use before 2002 can now install greenhouses in Sierra Gador.
Road reopens PULPI COUNCIL have announced the reopening of the A-1205 and its connection with El Benzal. The road had been closed since the floods of September 2012.
Mother’s bonus ONCE (Spain’s national organisation for the blind) has given a cash bonus to two households in HuercalOvera and Almeria, splitting €80,000 between them, in its Mother’s Day draw.
the first place. Several homes have been demolished, with hundreds more facing the possibility of demolition orders. Pons promised “full transparency of regulations to protect good faith in purchases and to prevent corruption.” He said: “We will continue defending the more appropriate
persons, to legalise your houses while protecting the environment.” He continued: “We know this is a problem that should not be left because most of the people suffering in this situation are elderly. An imminent solution is near. “I just want to say one thing. Our presence here today is proof; proof of our commitment to your problem.
“Your problem is our problem,” Pons declared. Maura Hillen, President of AUAN, said: “We wanted a good turnout from affected residents tonight. “The room had a seating capacity of 700, yet it was standing room only, and people were spilling over outside so we are very pleased.” In a private meeting prior to Pons’s speech, AUAN met with SOHA (Save Our Homes in Axarquia), Len and Helen Prior - whose home was demolished and who are still awaiting compensation - and senior PP politicians, including Andalucia PP’s President Gabriel Amat. Geraldo Vazquez, the lawyer for AUAN, SOHA and other associations representing 40,000 homeowners, was also present.