Demotions in Almeria: Letter to Under Secretary for Europe and Asia
Sunday, January 3, 2010 @ 12:05 PM
AUAN,
PO Box104, Can Connect,
Avenida America 14,
04800 Albox.
Almeria. SPAIN
Email: info@almanzora-au.org
Website: www.almanzora-au.org
1st January 2010
The Rt Hon Chris Bryant MP,
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Europe and Asia),
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London SW1A 2AH
Dear Mr Bryant,
Further to my correspondence of the 2nd of November 2009 I am writing to advise you that the plight of British homeowners in the Almanzora Valley has become more serious.
Contrary to assurances given to you by the Spanish Minister of State for Territorial Policy, Manual Chaves during your visit to Madrid in September 2009, I regret to inform you that eight orders have been issued to demolish the homes of British citizens living in Albox, Andalucia. Three families were served days before Christmas.
The facts are as follows:
Locations in Albox
La Horticheula (2), La Aljambra (2), Las Labores(1), Las Pocicas(1), Rambla de la Higuera (1), Saliente (1)
History
All of the houses are in possession of building licences granted by Albox Town Hall in 2002.
The building licences were impugned by the Junta de Andalucia in late 2002 due to the perceived risk of an urban nucleus arising in accordance with provincial planning rules.
The Court in Almeria nullified the licences in 2003.
In 2006 the Junta de Andalucia requires that the Town Hall takes steps to demolish the homes.
In 2007 the Almeria Court orders the town hall to comply within 10 days.
The Town Hall appeals against this order.
The Junta de Andalucia argued against this appeal.
In 2009 the high court in Granada dismisses the Town Halls appeal.
Facts
None of the homeowners were asked to participate in the proceedings.
Two of the homes were re-sold during the time period described above.
The majority do not have the funds to fight this.
Our advisors tell us that the proceedings are well advanced. This is a very serious situation.
The notices were served on the 22nd and 23rd of December.
Local Response
Initially our organisation concentrated on finding the victims and ensuring that they were properly informed and had access to legal advice.
The AUANs’ lawyer has now commenced a time critical procedure to seek injunctions against these proceedings on the basis of lack of communication to the owners and other factors. He will be assisted in this task by an expert in Spanish human rights law. We are funding this activity and the mayor of Albox is co-operating having described the action as an ‘atrocity’.
Members of the AUAN, AULAN and their friends are gathering in an act of solidarity at the former home of Len and Helen Prior on the 9th of January, the second anniversary of their demolition. We will be joined by members of the AUN in Valencia and the newly formed National Federation of Organisations against urban abuse (FAUN).
The AUAN is organising a protest march which will take place on Monday the 11th of January in the sub-regional capital, Almeria at mid-day with the full support of the organizations named above and others.
I beg that you address this matter with some urgency to your counterparts in the Spanish Government.
Thank you for reading this letter,
Yours sincerely,
Maura Hillen
President, AUAN