SSUENN 1555 //3 -23 - 29 APRIL2016 2015 9 November IISSUE OO . .1635
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
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Hotel faces demolition By E Hawkins and M Elliott Demolition day is drawing closer for the Algarrobico hotel, the notorious eyesore that has long been the subject of vicious legal disputes and intensive protests. Although local residents, weary of the epic saga’s seemingly endless chapters, will play the role of Doubting Thomas, the first step in the demolition process finally gets underway this week. On November 4 the Junta de Andalucia regional government will formalise the repossession process, taking back the land from developers Azata Sol and Azata Patrimonio SL, and securing the legal right to destroy the Carboneras hotel. The long and arduous journey to demolition began in 2006 with a legal challenge to the hotel’s positioning on protected land in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Only in February 2015 was the question of legality resolved with a damning judgement at the Supreme Court. Common sense prevailed and the Algarrobico, named as one of the world’s ugliest buildings by the Daily Telegraph and frequently vandalised by Greenpeace ac-
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American tale AN Almeria town has its own profound interest in the outcome of the American presidential election. Cuevas del Almanzora has been working with the US for years to help decontaminate the site of a nuclear See page 12 disaster, but think Donald Trump has other ideas.
Bisbal is back PRODIGAL son, local hero and global superstar David Bisbal released his new music video filmed in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar
Natural Park just two weeks ago and it has already clocked up more than five million views online. See page 20
Playing with fire ALBOX could be set for a much-needed financial windfall after local businesses supported the council’s decision to limit firefighting missions to the locality, rather than sending their brave men and women to See page 56 all corners of Almeria.
tivists, was declared illegal. The developers have been forced to accept a €2.3 million expropriation fee and now the local government will decide how to most effectively spend the roughly €7 million earmarked for demolition. In a separate legal hearing Azata Sol are claiming almost €70 million for their losses after construction stopped at the final stages. Environmental activists had previously pledged to
recycle the materials from all 411 rooms and 21 floors but it looks as though the authorities will choose the quickest solution. The case has long dragged
the area into disrepute, with the half finished, vandalised hotel a symbol of out-ofcontrol development in the run-up to Spain’s financial crisis.
Sierro saved A WELL pumped by solar power, new pipework and proper investment may be enough to help save Sierro residents near Albox.
The area has been plagued with drought for years but recently struck gold finding a new water supply. See page 58