Posted in COASTRIDER

1,000 protest against development in La Marina

Around 1,000 people turned out on Saturday last weekend in a massive demonstration to protest against the planned demolition of 70 houses near to La Marina Village. Developers want to replace these houses many of which have been in the ownership of the same families for generations by yet more houses and flats replacing them with 1,700 living quarters. Police and Guardia Civil officers blocked off roads and diverted traffic. Local residents who turned out in massive force to show their feelings in no uncertain manner paraded up and down the main street for one and a half hours to the sound of whistles, chants and air horns before holding a final meeting outside the social and cultural centre where a spokesperson said that if the mayor of Elche did not commit to reviewing the proposals within the next 15 days the protesters would take “drastic measures”. He did not specify what those would be but the speech met with the full approval of all those gathered to listen. Protesters carried banners saying ‘You cannot occupy the houses they are ours’ and ‘If you want to urbanise, we want to be consulted’ amongst other more forceful slogans! A petition against the proposed developments has been signed by 8,000 people.
Apart from the destruction of the local environment in a small town that still just manages to hold on to a pleasant combination of shops, houses and natural green spaces locals point out that the planned development is not consistent with developing the centre of the old town and is in their opinion solely aimed at providing profits for developers. Others point out that there are so many unsold properties in the region it makes no sense to go on building more. The demonstration attracted people of all ages with considerable support from others of various nationalities living in the area. The protesters aim to take their complaints to the Valencian ombudsman and also to the European Parliament.
It is the latest in a series of protest across the region concerned with either development proposals or the citing of contentious items such as waste disposal plants. It seems that the general public has had enough of development for its own sake and wants a greater say in what is happening to their environment. Whether the planners listen and respond to that opinion remains to be seen.
Paul Mutter

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