Over 300 residents protest against demolitions

Saturday’s rally was sparked by the recent destruction of two British-owned homes

Following the recent furore over two British-owned homes in the Almanzora Valley (province of Almeria) being bulldozed as they were deemed ‘illegal’ by Andalucía’s regional government, a rally was staged on Saturday calling for an end to property demolitions in this area.
The 300-strong demonstration of mainly British residents was led by the Association of Municipalities of the Almanzora Valley, or ‘Mancomunidad de Municipios Valle del Almanzora’, (MMVA) an organisation representing the 26 councils of the district. It was promoted by AUAN, a foreign residents-run lobby group which campaigns for “illegal homes bought in good faith.”
Speaking after the weekend’s “call for action”, AUAN’s president, Maura Hillen, told SUR in English: “Under the slogan ‘Solutions Yes, Demolitions No’, the rally was intended as an expression of the disquiet of the entire community with respect to recent demolitions.
“It was organised by the ‘Mancomunidad’ of the Almanzora Valley, a body which represents all mayors regardless of political persuasion, and supported by AEPA, the local business and professionals association, as well as AUAN.
“There is a great deal of local concern over the impact of the demolitions on the local economy, which is heavily reliant on business from foreign residents.
“Stories in all the major UK newspapers of people investing their life savings in a house in Spain and then losing everything with no prospect of compensation even if they acted in good faith, is bad for business – not to mention an abuse of the individuals’ human rights.”
Guest speakers
The demonstration was addressed by Gerardo Vazquez, the lawyer for the campaigners, who, according to Hillen, “outlined the senselessness of demolitions without prior compensation for those who had acted in good faith and whose human rights were being violated.”
She added: “Mr Vazquez also pointed out that in order to promote wealth, employment, social and economic welfare in the area, and reactivate the Spanish property market, demolitions must stop. He confirmed that this problem affects not just the British, but thousands of Spaniards who find themselves in the same position and face the same unease.”
Helen Prior, who in 2008 watched in horror and disbelief as the “dream villa” in Vera that she shared with her husband Len was demolished, also spoke to the crowd.
She asked: “What good did our demolition do for Andalucía or the Spanish economy? Its only achievement has been to bankrupt us, negatively impact many businesses as well as the real estate sector, and to give a very bad reputation to the region as a whole”.
Five years on, Mr and Mrs Prior continue to live in the garage of their former home and still have yet to be compensated for the loss of their property.
For his part, the president of the Association of Municipalities of the Almanzora Valley, Antonio Salas, publically apologised to the Priors “for their experience in Spain”, and went on to say that he was “ashamed that the demonstration needed to take place at all.”
The protest’s backstory
The rally was sparked by last month’s demolition by representatives of the Junta de Andalucía, acting on a court order, of two British-owned houses near the hamlet of Las Terreras in the municipality of Cantoria in Almeria.
AUAN’s Maura Hillen tells this newspaper: “The four properties in Las Terreras were constructed without planning permission by a local builder who later sold them to foreign purchasers.
“The builder was convicted of planning crimes and the former Mayor was also convicted for failing to prosecute planning crimes and falsehood, when he denied granting permission for the properties to have water and electricity. The judge ruled that the properties should be demolished and the owners, who in the opinion of the court had acted in good faith, should be compensated.
“However, two of the properties were demolished without prior compensation on 14th October. The Town Hall ordered a stay of execution on the demolition of the remaining two houses, citing procedural errors in the demolition process.
“They have since withdrawn this objection and there is currently no impediment to the demolition of the remaining two houses.”
A manifesto with three objectives
AUAN has set out a three-pronged manifesto to try and resolve the issues. Firstly, it is calling on MMVA to “promote legislative initiative to change the LOUA [the principle town planning instrument] urgently”; secondly, it is urging MMVA to “put pressure on the central government to change state law to protect good-faith buyers from demolition with no prior compensation”; and thirdly it wants MMVA to “support genuinely representative round-table meetings, including all affected parties – homeowners and businesses as well as all political parties – to air opinions and give consideration to proper and workable solutions.”

Source; Sur in English