Costa de Almería
More controversy over El Algarrobico Hotel
By m.p. - Nov 9, 2009 - 1:17 PM
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The Algarrobico Hotel - EFE archive
Carboneras Town Hall has approved retaining the land classification as suitable for development
Last week, the Town Hall in Carboneras passed definitive approval on changes to the local planning ordinances to bring them in line with Andalucía’s LOUA Land Law. But the section which refers to the land where the controversial Algarrobico Hotel stands, in a protected area of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar nature park, remains unchanged, retaining the area’s classification from 1984 as land which is suitable for development.
Local ecologists’ groups quoted by Europa Press believe it shows the Town Hall is backing the hotel’s legalisation and have announced appeals against the decision. The court wrangle over the hotel’s legality has been continuing for years. It was in February 2006 that an Almería court ordered a halt to the construction, just months, El Mundo reports, before the hotel was due to open. The Environment Ministry wants it demolished, but suspended their process to expropriate the land earlier this year until the building licence granted by Carboneras Town Hall is revised as ordered by a court.
And the owners say it would in fact be impossible to demolish the building. Antonio Baena, spokesman for Azata del Sol, told El Mundo that demolition is technically and physically impossible, owing to the 65,000 cubic metres of concrete which can now not be removed from the hillside.