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Saturday, April 28, 2007

Ciudadanos Europeos: 13 04 07

Weekly Report 13.04.07

Report on abuse approved

The report on urbanistic abuse elaborated by the president and vice-president of the petitions committee in the European Parliament after their recent visit to Spain, was approved in a plenary meeting of the committee with 15 votes against 3 (all from PP). The report now goes to the European Parliament.

The Valencia government placed heavy pressure on the members of the committee, sending two ministers, supported by representatives of the promoters, real estate agents and hoteliers, opening an exhibition on the “sustained development of the Valencia region” 50 metres from the meeting room of the commission..

The minister of environment in the national government declared that the problem is a national one.

From the urban front:

Property owners in the Camposol urbanisation in Mazarron Municipality (Murcia) have been promised by the mayor that he will continue to apply pressure on the promoter, MASA, to finish the still missing infrastructure.

Citizens from 10 municipalities in the interior of Alicante Province have joined an association to resist the urban pressure around Aitana (highest mountain in the Valencia Region) especially the macro-urbanisations proposed in Benasau and Peñaguila.

A witch-hunt has started against the people who are resisting the urban over development proposed in Los Merinos (Ronda, Malaga) with more than 50 denunciations against leaders of associations, spokesmen and even a female mayor.

Due to strong pressure from the citizens, the Town Council of Orcheta, Alicante has reduced the number of new dwellings in the proposed General Plan from 4,721 to 3,510.
The President of the party Unio Mallorrquina and General Director for Tourism on the island, has moved a horse into his house, because it only had a permit as a stable.

Owners at Estepona Golf have been charged heavy sums for infrastructure at a community existing for several years. Existing owners have had sums of up to 28.350 Euro placed as embargoes on their title deeds, by promoters installed as Junta de Compensacion.

Denia, Alicante town hall has lowered its projected income for 2007 by 30% due to decline in construction.

A judge in the Supreme Court of Murcia has indicted the mayor and an ex-council member from Aguilas, together with 5 high functionaries of the Murcia Government for authorising an urbanisation project of 4,000 dwellings, a golf course and a luxury hotel at La Zerrichera. The project is situated in an EU area of Special Interest.

Ecologists en Acció have taken the Valencia Government to the Supreme Court for approving a plan to build 2,286 dwellings, several hotels and a golf course in Sierra Escalona, a nature area in Sierra Escalona, Orihuela, Alicante. There is no firm guarantee for a water supply in the area.

A judge in Sevilla has demanded an eighteen months prison sentence for the mayor and three council members of Camas for having paid 12,000 Euro to another council member for changing his vote in a question of urban housing approval.

In Hondon de los Frailes, Alicante, the mayor has lowered the number of new inhabitants foreseen in the new General Plan from 15,000 to 4,000, due to strong protests from existing inhabitants.

The President of the Association of Real Estate Agents in Spain has predicted 3,000 agents will go out of business this year in the Province of Malaga. Currently there are 10,600 agents.

Two British registered real estate agents, Clover Estates and Procoal Villa, have been suspended from the Association of Real Estate Agents, accused of selling illegal property in Albox, Almeria.

CES, a consultative body for the Valencia government, has confirmed that 25% of the agricultural area in a number of municipalities along the Costa Blanca has been covered by cement and bricks. In Torrevieja, the reduction of the surface used for agriculture and forestry, has diminished 1.600% over the last decade.

The recognized debts of the main builders in the Province of Alicante increased 15% during 2006. The company Hansa Urbana has debts of 370 million Euro, Ortiz of more than 300, Hormigones Martinez more than 81 and Ecisa has 64.7 million Euro.

39% of all companies in Spain, with debts to the public administration (taxes, charges and fees) come from the building sector. The total debts amount to 199,983 million Euro. Debts to the public sector have increased by 26.27% in one year.

The Valencia Government has confirmed that the building and hotel sector accounts for 12% of the total economy in the Region and 20% of all payments to the social security system.

Junta de Andalucia has advertised that, amongst others, they wish to thank the Hoteles Playa Senator (accused of breaking the law) NH Hoteles (with irregular establishments in Marbella) and Grupo Penarroya (owner/director Cristobal Penarroya, currently on bail) for “Making the Costa del Sol what we all want it to be.”

Standard & Poor: “…Spain’s reliance on construction as an engine of growth poses a “major risk” to the country’s economic prospects.”

Acuna & Associates (Madrid based evaluation company): “Vacation home prices likely to be cut by 10% this year…”

Ricardo Verges of Spain’s Association of Architects: “Property should cost three times annual salaries, not 6 or 7, as is the case in Spain today. A property crash is more likely than a soft landing…”

The average sale, per property promotion, fell from 5.4 dwellings per month in the first quarter of 2005, compared with 2.7 in December 2006, a fall of 50% in less than 2 years.

Valencia Life: 20/04/07: CASE OF ALBUFERA
The European Court of Justice yesterday handed down a decision against Spain for its failure to adopt the necessary measures to protect the Albufera area outside Valencia. According to the finding, the Government must guarantee a supply of residual water from such nearby towns as Sueca, Banifaio, Sollana and Almussafes. Yesterday's finding was the result of a European Commission finding that dates from 2005. Commenting on this yesterday, Environment Minister Cristina Narbona laid the blame at the feet of the Valencian Government despite the decision being found against Spain. Political insiders have also found it 'very strange indeed' that Valencian Socialist leader Joan Ignasi Pla was noticeably absent during the visit ofMiss Narbona yesterday to Albufera, deciding instead to undertake a campaign appearance in Chiva. Miss Narbona also stated yesterday that the stopping of the works of the desalination plant in Torrevieja - the largest in Europe - 'is costing the Government half a million Euros a day'.

Ciudadanos Europeos

weekly report 27.4.7.
20,000 march against urban planning abuse
200 organisations and collectives called for protest marches against the massive urban planning abuses and corruption in the Valencia region. 20,000 turned out in the central demonstration in Valencia, 3,000 in Alicante and 2,000 in Castellon. The protesters were joined by leading politicians from the “Green” Parties, the Nationalists and the Socialists.

Weekly Report 13.4.7.
Report on abuse approved

The report on urbanistic abuse elaborated by the president and vice-president of the petitions committee in the European Parliament after their recent visit to Spain, was approved in a plenary meeting of the committee with 15 votes against 3 (all from PP). The report now goes to the European Parliament.

The Valencia government placed heavy pressure on the members of the committee, sending two ministers, supported by representatives of the promoters, real estate agents and hoteliers, opening an exhibition on the “sustained development of the Valencia region” 50 metres from the meeting room of the commission..

The minister of environment in the national government declared that the problem is a national one.

From the urban front:

Property owners in the Camposol urbanisation in Mazarron Municipality (Murcia) have been promised by the mayor that he will continue to apply pressure on the promoter, MASA, to finish the still missing infrastructure.

Citizens from 10 municipalities in the interior of Alicante Province have joined an association to resist the urban pressure around Aitana (highest mountain in the Valencia Region) especially the macro-urbanisations proposed in Benasau and Peñaguila.

A witch-hunt has started against the people who are resisting the urban over development proposed in Los Merinos (Ronda, Malaga) with more than 50 denunciations against leaders of associations, spokesmen and even a female mayor.

Due to strong pressure from the citizens, the Town Council of Orcheta, Alicante has reduced the number of new dwellings in the proposed General Plan from 4,721 to 3,510.
The President of the party Unio Mallorrquina and General Director for Tourism on the island, has moved a horse into his house, because it only had a permit as a stable.

Owners at Estepona Golf have been charged heavy sums for infrastructure at a community existing for several years. Existing owners have had sums of up to 28.350 Euro placed as embargoes on their title deeds, by promoters installed as Junta de Compensacion.

Denia, Alicante town hall has lowered its projected income for 2007 by 30% due to decline in construction.

A judge in the Supreme Court of Murcia has indicted the mayor and an ex-council member from Aguilas, together with 5 high functionaries of the Murcia Government for authorising an urbanisation project of 4,000 dwellings, a golf course and a luxury hotel at La Zerrichera. The project is situated in an EU area of Special Interest.

Ecologists en Acció have taken the Valencia Government to the Supreme Court for approving a plan to build 2,286 dwellings, several hotels and a golf course in Sierra Escalona, a nature area in Sierra Escalona, Orihuela, Alicante. There is no firm guarantee for a water supply in the area.

A judge in Sevilla has demanded an eighteen months prison sentence for the mayor and three council members of Camas for having paid 12,000 Euro to another council member for changing his vote in a question of urban housing approval.

In Hondon de los Frailes, Alicante, the mayor has lowered the number of new inhabitants foreseen in the new General Plan from 15,000 to 4,000, due to strong protests from existing inhabitants.

The President of the Association of Real Estate Agents in Spain has predicted 3,000 agents will go out of business this year in the Province of Malaga. Currently there are 10,600 agents.

Two British registered real estate agents, Clover Estates and Procoal Villa, have been suspended from the Association of Real Estate Agents, accused of selling illegal property in Albox, Almeria.

CES, a consultative body for the Valencia government, has confirmed that 25% of the agricultural area in a number of municipalities along the Costa Blanca has been covered by cement and bricks. In Torrevieja, the reduction of the surface used for agriculture and forestry, has diminished 1.600% over the last decade.

The recognized debts of the main builders in the Province of Alicante increased 15% during 2006. The company Hansa Urbana has debts of 370 million Euro, Ortiz of more than 300, Hormigones Martinez more than 81 and Ecisa has 64.7 million Euro.

39% of all companies in Spain, with debts to the public administration (taxes, charges and fees) come from the building sector. The total debts amount to 199,983 million Euro. Debts to the public sector have increased by 26.27% in one year.

The Valencia Government has confirmed that the building and hotel sector accounts for 12% of the total economy in the Region and 20% of all payments to the social security system.

Junta de Andalucia has advertised that, amongst others, they wish to thank the Hoteles Playa Senator (accused of breaking the law) NH Hoteles (with irregular establishments in Marbella) and Grupo Penarroya (owner/director Cristobal Penarroya, currently on bail) for “Making the Costa del Sol what we all want it to be.”

Standard & Poor: “…Spain’s reliance on construction as an engine of growth poses a “major risk” to the country’s economic prospects.”

Acuna & Associates (Madrid based evaluation company): “Vacation home prices likely to be cut by 10% this year…”

Ricardo Verges of Spain’s Association of Architects: “Property should cost three times annual salaries, not 6 or 7, as is the case in Spain today. A property crash is more likely than a soft landing…”

The average sale, per property promotion, fell from 5.4 dwellings per month in the first quarter of 2005, compared with 2.7 in December 2006, a fall of 50% in less than 2 years.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Hi folks, sorry there have been no new messages on this page for some time. Two reasons, one I have been away for a while and secondly I couldn´t gain access to the blog page even when I wanted to work.
Back again now, so new messages shortly.

In the meantime one notice
I am still having lots of mail returned undelivered, if you have changed your e.mail let me know ( if you know of a friend/neighbour who was on the mailing list of AUN and they have changed their address ask them to contact me please).

If you have any queries regarding the land problems - any ideas/suggestions on how we can fight the land laws, please write to me.
Jan at mailmaster@abusos-no.org

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