Saturday, June 10, 2006
RoundTownNews 10.6.6.
Written by Jack Troughton Friday, 09 June 2006
Members of the AUN - Abusos Urbanisticos No - were told to keep battling for their property rights against developers who have had plans passed under the LRAU laws. Charles Svoboda, the group's president, said they could make a"real impact" in the political "uncertainty" before the ballot. Speaking at an AUN meeting at Chez Flo, near Benissa, he quoted a Spanish newspaper article which claimed "the property market is falling apart." Charles said the El Mundo piece reported "the (Valencian) economy is in a pretty fragile state" and the "property bubble is going to burst."
OVER-SUPPLY And he told the meeting: "Having put all the eggs in the basket of construction, there is a problem of over-supply. "They decided it was the quickest was to make money rather than the second biggest earner, tourism. Tourism is failing because of construction - very few people want to come here and watch cranes turning around in the sky."
The meeting heard that socialist parties had made urbanisation and the environment key parts of their manifesto pledges. Charles said in the meantime the EuropeanCommission was demanding to see the details of over 120 development projects "passed in a rush" before the LRAU was replaced on February 1st by the LUV. And he pointed out the mayor of Benissa seemed to have undergone an "overnight conversion" when he recently told resident meetings that many projects passed under the old law would need to be reconsidered under the LUV. "That is quite a concession," said Charles. "Not one from his heart but from Valencia."
SOCIAL HOUSING He said this was not a superficial change but meant many plans would need to be reconsidered, with a proper environmental study and the need to provide 'social' low cost housing. "It means the process is not finished. They (the plans) will have to be taken back and reconsidered. And that buys a lot of time," he said. But Charles warned developers and their lawyers would try and test the limits of the law, so it was important members of the AUN kept their eyes and ears open. "This is a time we can have some impact because itis a period of uncertainty, because we are going into an election period. It is a period of political sensitivity," he said. He said he suspected townhalls and the government could begin looking to avoid "the hammer of justice falling on their heads."
LAURELS Charles added: "We have no time to rest on our laurels, there is much to do. We will keep active and defend everyone's property rights." He said the AUN would take part in some demonstrations and support others, but would be careful not to be allied to particular political parties. "I think we have probably lifted the scab off the sore here, and now others are getting involved," Charles said. "It is a greater leverage than if we were operating on our own. "I think the seeds we have planted in the ground have taken root and it is good to see Spanish people are now fighting the fight."
Written by Jack Troughton Friday, 09 June 2006
Members of the AUN - Abusos Urbanisticos No - were told to keep battling for their property rights against developers who have had plans passed under the LRAU laws. Charles Svoboda, the group's president, said they could make a"real impact" in the political "uncertainty" before the ballot. Speaking at an AUN meeting at Chez Flo, near Benissa, he quoted a Spanish newspaper article which claimed "the property market is falling apart." Charles said the El Mundo piece reported "the (Valencian) economy is in a pretty fragile state" and the "property bubble is going to burst."
OVER-SUPPLY And he told the meeting: "Having put all the eggs in the basket of construction, there is a problem of over-supply. "They decided it was the quickest was to make money rather than the second biggest earner, tourism. Tourism is failing because of construction - very few people want to come here and watch cranes turning around in the sky."
The meeting heard that socialist parties had made urbanisation and the environment key parts of their manifesto pledges. Charles said in the meantime the EuropeanCommission was demanding to see the details of over 120 development projects "passed in a rush" before the LRAU was replaced on February 1st by the LUV. And he pointed out the mayor of Benissa seemed to have undergone an "overnight conversion" when he recently told resident meetings that many projects passed under the old law would need to be reconsidered under the LUV. "That is quite a concession," said Charles. "Not one from his heart but from Valencia."
SOCIAL HOUSING He said this was not a superficial change but meant many plans would need to be reconsidered, with a proper environmental study and the need to provide 'social' low cost housing. "It means the process is not finished. They (the plans) will have to be taken back and reconsidered. And that buys a lot of time," he said. But Charles warned developers and their lawyers would try and test the limits of the law, so it was important members of the AUN kept their eyes and ears open. "This is a time we can have some impact because itis a period of uncertainty, because we are going into an election period. It is a period of political sensitivity," he said. He said he suspected townhalls and the government could begin looking to avoid "the hammer of justice falling on their heads."
LAURELS Charles added: "We have no time to rest on our laurels, there is much to do. We will keep active and defend everyone's property rights." He said the AUN would take part in some demonstrations and support others, but would be careful not to be allied to particular political parties. "I think we have probably lifted the scab off the sore here, and now others are getting involved," Charles said. "It is a greater leverage than if we were operating on our own. "I think the seeds we have planted in the ground have taken root and it is good to see Spanish people are now fighting the fight."
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