‘SPAIN’S BEST NEWSPAPER IN ENGLISH’ - The Rough Guide 1 the olive press - March 21 - April 3, 2013
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Vol. 7 Issue 157
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Make it stop!
A COMMUNITY of expats is fighting the construction of a six-storey hotel built just 20 metres from the beach. The EU is now investigating the macroproject that dwarfs over the previous Hotel Santa Marta, which was a low-rise bungalow resort. Despite the 1988 Coastal Law, planners in Estepona have allowed the mammoth 160 room project to go ahead, even though it towers over a dozen neighbouring villas. Following Turn to page 3 to find out who complaints is the man in the mask from several
SURELY I’VE SEEN YOU SOMEWHERE BEFORE?
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March 21 - April 3, 2013
Homeowners of quiet residential area outraged by six-storey ‘Algarrobico’ of Estepona that dwarfs over their homes and is less than 20m from the beach
DWARFED: A homeowners view is dominated while (right) building on the beach
Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk see page 13
By Mason Jones residents, a town hall technician visited the site in January but is still yet to finish a report on the building. “I think they are just delaying the report until it is too late and there are six floors already built,” said one resident, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussion. Other residents of the Benamara urbanisation say they have been forced to ‘live on a building site for four years’, suffering from dust, noise and air pollution every single day. “The dirt and the noise is just horrible, they’ve taken a plot between what was once such a quiet residential area,” said one British expat, who has asked not to be named. “It’s just not suitable for the area at all, it looks like something from the centre of Madrid!” she added.
Another elderly homeowner - also English - complained that her privacy has been completely abused by the closeness of the new building. “I have had to evacuate my bedroom because I could literally touch the hotel wall from my terrace,” said the 80-year old resident. The original Hotel Santa Marta was a low-key beach resort, which had several hundred protected trees, the majority uprooted. But according to the group over 130 of them were protected oaks and should not have been touched. “I think there are four or five of those trees now left,” slammed one local. Turn to page 4
Zapatero minister also took a bung By Rebecca Maguire THE net of corruption has finally snared a big fish from the Socialist PSOE party. A former minister in Zapatero’s government has denied taking nearly €300,000 in return for permits for a pharmaceutical business. Former Public Works Minister Jose Blanco has insisted he will give up his seat if he’s charged in an investigation into allegations he received payments from Galician businessman Jorge Dorribo. The Supreme Court is investigating whether a total of €290,000 was paid to Blanco, 51, who was in the cabinet from 2009 to 2011.
Immunity
Currently he enjoys legal immunity because of his role as deputy general of the PSOE party, however the Supreme court has requested that his immunity be lifted so he can face the accusations. “If the judges decide to give the order for a hearing, I will resign as a deputy and leave my seat,” Blanco said. The court opened the investigation in December 2011 on charges of accepting bribes for influence. Last month the judge reTurn to page 6