ISSUE NO. 1607
21 - 27 April 2016
AXARQUÍA - COSTA TROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
The ever-present dangers of DAFO
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Nesting birds STEPS have been taken by the Junta de Andalucia in order to protect local Kentish plover wader birds which live along the coastal areas and nest close to shore in El Playazo. To properly protect the nests from possible damage and destruction, the town hall of Nerja has proceeded to clean the beaches manually during the breeding season of the species, which is from April to July. Photo Credit SOHA
See page 2
Resident’s Day RESIDENT’S Day took place on April 17 in the Plaza de España in Nerja. Multiple stalls were set up throughout the event selling everything from plants to raffle tickets. Local acts added to the fun atmosphere. Musical and dance acts continued throughout the afternoon, carried out by performers of different nationalities, one of the highlights being the ‘rumbas’ danced by the little children. See page 7
Homicide halted THE Guardia Civil prevented an attempted homicide in VelezMalaga after an intensive investigation.
The victim had debts and issues relating to prostitution. Two people were arrested with weapons. See page 8
By John Smith In a quiet little village, Puente don Manuel on Friday April 14, about 150 expatriates were crammed into Mis Tapitas Bar, anxiously listening to an explanation of the catalogue of restrictions which might soon be imposed on their homes. Mario Blancke, well-known activist, the mayor of Alcaucin, and spokesman for SOHA (Save Our Homes in Axarquia), addressed the meeting, which was also attended by Jose Juan Jimenez Lopez, the mayor of La Viñuela, and Gregorio Campos, President of the Common-
wealth of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol-Axarquia. He explained that the Junta de Andalucia is pressuring local councils to classify all of the buildings on non-urbanisable land as either ‘legal’, ‘illegal’ or ‘DAFO’ (Declaration de Asimilado a Fuera de Ordinación), which according to SOHA is hard to translate, because there is no parallel in English planning law, but is roughly ‘accepted without planning permission’. The status of legal or illegal homes will become clear, but if your home has to apply for DAFO status, then the immedi-
ate effects are: You cannot mortgage the property, extend it, or reconstruct it after structural damage. If you sell the property, the town hall has the right of first refusal. Most homes built since 1997 on rural (or non-urbanisable) land would be classified as needing DAFO. Very many expatriates’ homes will fall into this category, since so many building licences were granted illegally by those same town halls which will soon apply these severe restrictions. Mayor Blancke reassured the meeting that no demolitions are
currently planned in the local area. He recommended homeowners not to panic, but to follow the advice of SOHA by awaiting developments, and not to apply for DAFO, or start any legal action until they have been pressured to do so.
Big softies FIRST impressions are important and can be misleading sometimes. A group of bikers called the Bandidos MC from Torrox Costa want to change their perceived image as in reality they are a bunch of softies who regu-
larly raise money for charity. The local group of bikers held a tattoo marathon, which raised €300 to be given to the children's cancer unit in the form of games and entertainment. See page 15