SSUENN 1555 //10 23 29 APRIL 2015 2015 IISSUE OO . .1588 - 16-December
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
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A violation of human rights in Carboneras
Last-minute surprise
SAGA of Spain’s ugliest hotel goes to Strasbourg
Sportswomen toasted
Long weekend fills hotels A SURPRISE boost for Almeria as hotel occupancy levels for this past holiday weekend hit 95 per
cent. Hoteliers received numerous last-minute bookings for the long weekend. See Page 4
Smiles and bouquets of flowers all round VERA Town Hall held an event to congratulate the local gymnastics team and other sportswomen on the awards they have achieved throughout the year. See Page 6
Almeria leads into 2016 Live New Year’s Eve transmission SPANISH TV channel, RTVA, will be broadcasting its New Year’s Eve transmission from the Cathedral Square in Almeria this year, assuring Andalucia will see in the year from Almeria. See Page 8
Fashion raises €2,500 Ladies went home happy their bargains Almeria-based environmentalist group Salvemos Mojacar will bring the notorious case of the Algarrobico Hotel to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. Deemed illegal in 2006 by the Spanish government due to its proximity to the sea, the now infamous construction featured in The Telegraph this year as one of the world’s ugliest hotels. The group, supported by Greenpeace, is acting against an
Andalucian High Court edict that the licence itself is legal, though building work cannot be restarted. Located in Carboneras, work began on the hotel in 2003 but attracted the wrath of residents and ecological groups for building within the protected Cabo de Gata national park. The ‘white eyesore’ also breaches the Coastal Act which bans building within 100 metres of the shore. A dark, decade long saga of controversy, con-
tradictory court orders and litigation has been an embarrassment for the town, which has been relegated to bystander status as lawyers wrangle over fees and technicalities. Salvemos Mojacar hope that by bringing the case to the ECHR they can help precipitate the hotel’s destruction, pointing to a Greenpeace report that 98 per cent of the hotel was recyclable and could generate 400 jobs, a fitting figure that match-
es the number of empty rooms dominating the landscape. The developer, Azata del Sol, has been the constant target of environmental protests which have seen Greenpeace activists daub ‘Hotel Illegal’ across the building in a show of defiance. It is unclear what the legal appeal will achieve but residents will hope that the ongoing soap opera will finally see closure, even if it takes outside interference.
THE Animal Protection Society Albox (APSA) raised more than €2,500 to help look after their 200 plus dogs
by holding a spectacular Catwalk Fashion show at Maloans Bar, Albox. The event See Page 27 was a sell-out.