Costa del Sol
Row in Cómpeta where the Mayor has knocked down a market to improve the view of the church
By h.b.
Apr 24, 2008 - 5:03 PM

A row is brewing in the Málaga village of Cómpeta where the P.P. Mayor, José Luis Torres, who is also the ex village priest, is accused of knocking down a market to make way for a better view of the front of the village church.

The local PSOE Socialists say that they are considering denouncing the Torres, claiming that the old Mercado de abastos was of great sentimental value to the villagers, and that the Mayor had acted arbitrarily ‘and following the orders of the Bishop, knocking down the market to improve the view of the church.

Socialist, José Moyano, noted that the Mayor was not even from Cómpeta, and has ‘no idea of the feelings of those of us who spent our childhood here’. They also note the Mayor’s manifesto promise to build a pensioners home on the old market site ‘respecting its structure’.

The Mayor says he is really safeguarding the history of the village, given that before there was just an alley in front of the church – he claims the market was in ruins and was no more than 40 years old anyway. The ex village priest won an overall majority when he hung up his dog collar and ran for Mayor at the last election.