Tag Archives: urban corruption

AUAN explain the latest case of a British home about to be demolished in Albox

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The Spanish administration is again seeking to demolish a property belonging to an elderly British couple in the region of Andalusia even though Christine and Noel Payne, a retired couple in their seventies from Sussex, built their house with planning permission from the town hall of Albox in Andalusia. Continue reading AUAN explain the latest case of a British home about to be demolished in Albox→

Partaloa – 1,000 residents and three crooked mayors

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Partaloa has broken some sort of record – its third mayor in a row has been barred from holding public office! This tiny backwater of just 915 people seems to have an abnormally high rate of incompetent politicians. Or does it? The story so far…. Antonio Peñuela has just been barred from holding public office for seven years by the national audience for sacking the town clerk without following proper protocol when he first became Continue reading Partaloa – 1,000 residents and three crooked mayors→

Mayor Morales demands public prosecutor investigates illegal homes in Cabrera

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Costa Almería News is reporting that mayor Martin Morales has “lodged a complaint with the public prosecutor” over Cortijo Cabrera, asking them to investigate illegal homes in the mountains. See this week’s Costa Almería News for the full story (page 3), but in short, he claims developers and previous mayors may have committed planning crimes there and wants an independent judicial investigation. So if you have a home that is not 100 % legal up Continue reading Mayor Morales demands public prosecutor investigates illegal homes in Cabrera→

Maura Hillen awarded MBE for services to illegal home owners in Spain

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From the British Embassy in Spain today comes the following exciting news. Maura Hillen, homeowners’ champion, receives honorary MBE   The leader of an association representing owners of illegal homes in Andalucia has been appointed an honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to the British community in Spain. The award to Mrs Maura Hillen, an Irish national, reflects her work as President and spokesperson of Abusos Urbanisticos Continue reading Maura Hillen awarded MBE for services to illegal home owners in Spain→

AUAN says that the illegal homes regularisation decree will be passed in July

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AUAN spent a marathon day in the Parliament of Andalucía on Wednesday 8th of June 2016 to promote a speedy implementation of a change to the Planning Laws (LOUA) to provide a way forward for thousands, although not all, irregular houses. The meetings in parliament were attended by the president of AUAN, Maura Hillen, the association’s spokesperson, Gerardo Vázquez, and representatives of other groups from other parts of Andalucía, including SOHA from Malaga, coordinated within Continue reading AUAN says that the illegal homes regularisation decree will be passed in July→

United in support of the Priors

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A demonstration in support of Helen and Len Prior took place in Vera, Almeria in 30+ degree heat on Thursday 19th May. Organised by AUAN, the gathering was supported by other associations such as SOHA who came in a bus from Malaga. The gathering of around 150 people was notable for its civility and the participation of a number of elderly Britons of advanced age. Some of the protestors were more than 70 years, similar Continue reading United in support of the Priors→

The Round Town News – why send a journalist when you can make it up?

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Nobody is keener that I to see local news reporting in English flourish in Almería. As I have always argued, a diversity of newspapers (and radio stations) improves the expat community, creating cohesion and attracting new people to this area. So I was originally delighted to hear the Round Town News was launching a new Almería edition. Another good paper, backed up with a solid team, can only help promote the area. Sadly, issue number Continue reading The Round Town News – why send a journalist when you can make it up?→

Demonstration of expat home-owners in Vera

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The British home owners association AUAN has informed the Spanish authorities of its intention to organise a peaceful demonstration in the Plaza Mayor outside of the Town Hall of Vera on 19th May at 12.00 noon in support of Helen and Len Prior.   According to AUAN’s president, Maura Hillen ‘the reason for this gathering is to ask our authorities to once and for all find a way to put an end to the ordeal Continue reading Demonstration of expat home-owners in Vera→

Measures to protect house purchasers in good faith become part of Spain’s national election campaign

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From the AUAN: As the political parties finalize their election manifestos in the run up to the Spanish National Elections on 20th December, the homeowners campaign group AUAN welcomes the news that the Socialist Party (PSOE) has made a commitment to deliver more solutions to protect purchasers in good faith so that they can rely on the accuracy of the information recorded at the Land Registry when making the biggest investment of their lives – Continue reading Measures to protect house purchasers in good faith become part of Spain’s national election campaign→

Parliamentary Bill to change the LOUA – so far so good

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Yesterday, 7th of October, the first reading of the Parliamentary Bill, to deal with illegal land divisions (parcelaciones urbanísticas) containing irregular houses, took place in the Parliament of Andalucia.   As Gerardo Vazquez, spokesperson for AUAN, and other associations, and who was present during the parliamentary session explained ‘Those affected support this change and in general are pleased with it. Obviously, it does not cure everything and we must continue to work. Whilst it is Continue reading Parliamentary Bill to change the LOUA – so far so good→