Urbanisation Projects Hurried Through Before Deadline
February 9th, 2006
At midnight on Tuesday Valencia’s by now infamous lRAU land law took its last gasp and was consigned to history but not before councils throughout the Costas hurried through approvals on a number of plan parcial schemes.
In Calpe, the council approved a plan that will see another 321 homes built in the town, while in the small village of Benasau in El Comtat the municipal government approved a last minute development plan that will see the number of inhabitants increase from just 237 to over 4,000 in the next few years.
The same can be said of Parcent, where the mayoress gave the green light to a project that has been bitterly opposed by residents for over a year, just hours before the deadline.
La Romana council, not wanting to be left behind, also gave a last minute thumbs up to a Plan Parcial scheme that will see 400 homes built despite opposition complaints that the administrative process had not been followed correctly.
Opposition parties in Benissa have launched a scathing attack on mayor Juan Bautista Rosello for approving the Ronda Norte bypass project. They claim he is in league with developers and CIBE party spokesman Xavi Tro said urbanisation plans for Benissa go against EU legislation and if they were to go ahead several town councillors could face charges for allowing them.
CIBE also announced it was considering court action to prevent the Ronda Norte project from going ahead.
The fears of many people are that although the new Ley Urbanistica Valenciana, LUV, is now in force, they will still be subjected to the injustices of the LRAU because the development plans were approved before LUV came into being.
As the number of development schemes increase so does the bad press. German television station ARD recently broadcast a programme against the Valencia land laws. The show followed a similar one shown on Spanish TV, the BBC and Sky and a number of articles in the UK press. A further extensive article is expected soon in the prestigious International Herald Tribune.
LUV STORY
The Valencian building promoters’ association began a two day meeting yesterday (Thursday) to discuss and analyse the new LUV land and other associated laws.
Professionals such as lawyers, architects and magistrates explained how the law works and how it should be applied. Regional territories and housing councillor Rafael Blasco will close the meeting today (Friday).
Story from Costa Blanca news Online
