After having spent a delightful 20 minutes reading the National Archives UFO files (and buying Dr Clarks book, I hope it’s good) I came across this undereported gem of a report from Cajamar, which estimates that state infrastructure projects in the province have dropped by 75% so far this year. The report has been snapped up by Miguel Uribe, head of the Almeria Business Association Asempal.
Uribe has thrown the party line aside, and is loudly demanding that the State (as opposed to the Junta) steps in to guarantee that the Almanzora motorway, the AVE line and other major projects are completed on time. Read more…
Albox, the corruption and scandal ridden hellhole in the centre of the Almanzora valley, which has become Britain’s poster town for urban abuse and expat ripoffs, has decided that the best way to improve the town and its image abroad is by blowing 4 million euros on a new sports complex.
The complex will house the new muncipal swimming pool, tennis courts (5), “other diverse sporting installations” [sic] and 750 meters of “commercial space” (ie, a bar). It will be built on some ground next to the new bridge, which finally opened this summer (several years late and over budget), and work on the new centre is expected to start, pending any last minute planning appeals (hah, hah) in late Sept or Oct.
The townhall is stumping up 900,000€ and the land, and a “private investment company” (grand words, but some digging around bought up rumours that the main shareholders aren’t totally, shall we say, unconnected to leading politicians in the townhall – I shall say no more publicly) is putting in the rest in exchange for a 50 year lease.
The project is expected to take 14 months to complete, and the “private investment company” hopes to make a substantial profit on the deal. Normally in these instants the projected cost is XXX€, which gets a % as a government grants, and the “cost efficiency” brings the real cost back down to a figure closer to the government %. Heh ho.
The townhall, which recently closed the municipal swimming pool for health and safety reasons, says that the project is an essential part of improving the town. Little kids through Albox, which sees temperatures of over 40ºC at this time of year, are pleased at the news that finally a swimming pool will again be provided.
IES García Ramos in Albox decided, after consultation with teachers and parents, to go “uniform only” next year.
In general, after a quick swing through the local forums, parents seemed to be broadly in favour of the plan, which was nothing too fancy. Smart trousers or shorts, shoes, polo shirt and appropriate gym wear.
However, Andalucia being a Socialist country where Democracy Rules and the Right of the Individual is Guaranteed under the Law and the Constitution, public schools can’t impose uniforms on the children, as the Junta reminded Albox sternly only two days after a letter to parents was issued.
The controversial word in the notice was obligatory. “We have no issues with a school uniform, but it is up to the child and his or her parents to decide if he or she should wear one” explained the Junta in a pompous release.
The school must now reissue the letter removing the word obligatory and explaining that this is a personal matter for each parent to decide on.
Once again, Pink Floyd’s warning to us all about the dangers of production line education has been heeded by our brave defenders of liberty in Seville.
The school has accepted the warning, although the director did point out to La Voz that President Griñán himself recently said he was in favour of compulsory uniforms in schools. The Junta also reminded the school that any uniform must bear the logo of the Junta de Andalucia and the appropriate ministry (why say appropriate ministry when it’s bleeding obvious it’s the Education Ministry?).
Strange, really, to think how public interest wanes quickly.
Remember the Prior demolition? Global outrage, lots of shouting, etc, etc. Lots of excitement all round. Then it went quiet.
Then we started hearing news of homes about to be demolished in Albox. Lots more shouting. A protest march. Noise. Then it went quiet.
News trickled out that the six homes in Albox had had their demolition orders overturned. People celebrated, without realising that this was the worst possible outcome for the owners (can’t sell, and face at least a decade of legal wrangling). Everyone forgot about the issue. Why, real estate agents even tell me that the market is rising again.
Which is probably why nobody is really bothered about the fact that well over a hundred homes in the Almanzora valley are now facing demolition orders and (I predict) a hell of a lot more will be coming out soon.
From the AUAN:
The reports relate to summary procedure number 23/2007 in the Investigative Court Number 1 in Huercal-Overa (which accumulates preliminary investigations numbers 2188/2005 and 2352/2007 from the same court with case number 760/2007 from Court Number 2). The investigation centres on alleged planning crimes and alleged construction without a building license. It is feared that demolition will be requested when formal charges are made because this appears to be the usual practise of the Prosecutor. The homes affected are in the area of La Aljambra in the municipality of Albox. The investigation was initiated by Seprona in 2005. The case relates to several allegedly illegal urbanisation’s which lack basic infrastructure. Many of the affected homeowners rely on generators to provide electricity.
From La Voz de Almería:
The Mayor of Albox has said that he and his staff are working hard to ensure that nobody has their homes demolished, and has asked local association to work closer with his office. “We must not just cause alarm, but create a constructive framework within which to work to legalise homes” he told reporters.
The Burns family in Albox are celebrating after a Judge in Almería ruled that they had not been informed of the case against their home and annuled the demolition order placed upon their home in an earlier court sentence.
This means that so far, three families of the “Albox eight” have succeeded in having their demolition order overturned. The other cases have, I understand, yet to be heard.
You will remember that the Junta and Albox townhall spent eight years fighting over whether these building permits were legal, after the Junta refused to accept the townhall’s decision to build some homes in 2002. It never ocurred to anyone to actually tell the homeowners that their building licenses had been annulled. Instead, the cases got all the way up Andalucia’s Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of the Junta and ordered the “restoration of urban discipline” – ie, the demolition of the homes or structures. Next thing the owners know, couple of coppers knocked on their doors over Christmas and told them their homes would be knocked down.
The ruling, while welcomed, does not mean they are in the clear – instead, the court case is simply rolled back to where it was in 2002, and starts afresh. IE, the Judge admits that the last eight years of court cases have been a complete waste of time, and starts afresh.
So now they have to go to court again and prove that their homes are legal, or, at best, built in good faith and as such should be legalised.
If it took eight years for the court case, unopposed any real defense team, to be decided the first time round – how long will it take this time?
Works have stopped on the Almanzora motorway. Commuters on the dirt track, laughably called a bypass, that connects the towns in the region around the works, are reporting seeing nobody on the road, machines gone, children playing football on the half built bridges, etc, etc.
This has lead to a rumour that ZP has personally ordered the cancellation of the works to save money, as part of his 5% cut out of expenses.
The Ministry of Public Works, in La Voz, have issued a stern press release denying the rumours.
It seems that whilst happily digging out a mountain, somebody spotted that the original geotecnical plans were… ah hem… “not conductive to reality”. IE, slipshod.
So works have stopped whilst the technicians redo their sums. Should take about six weeks. The Ministry say works will recommence in two months, and that money is available to finish the works without problems.
Why is it that Estate Agents over here have no expertise and offer a poor service. Some dont even view the property they are taking on but take details and photos from other web sites. They charge a high fixed commission which in theory means they should be working for the vendor. In reality it means that their inability to negotiate and failure to point out the positives leads them to accept low bids which doesn´t affect them as they still get the fixed commission. Therefore they are working for the buyer at the sellers expense.
Perhaps there are agents out there who work on a percentage but I am not aware of any and would like to hear of them if they exist.
H.A., looking to buy in Albox.
A good question, H.A. Thoughts, people? I have plenty, but they would get me in trouble.
In fact, does anyone know of any decent real estate agency in Albox? Hmm…
The recent letter sent out by AUAN has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons, at least on the excitable “blue” forum arboleas.co.uk.
The letter claims that eight people have been informed that their houses are to be demolished.
No names are being given out at the moment, as it seems not all the owners have been contacted, according to AUAN who seem to be the only people with any information – and they aren’t sharing.
AUAN have suggested that if a Guardia Civil officer knocks on your door:
* avoid answering the door if at all possible
* do not sign for anything you do not understand
* tell them you will go to the town hall with your solicitor
Now, first of all I don’t see what “not answering the door” will do. All that will do is cause the Guardia to either A) sit outside until you come out or B) tick “not in residence” in which case we move to the next phase and you’ve lost your chance to look at the paperwork.
Frankly, my gut feeling is that these eight houses are probably separate cases that have failed to respond to any official letter, causing them to be lumped into one case, with no defendant, and sped through the courts.
Not answering the door will simply reinforce that and cause the demolition.
sadly we are all used to seeing animals on the roads that have been hit by
cars, however the other day we saw something very strange. Call me potty
if you like but on the A334 JUNC 34 between Albox and direction Partaloa
I’m convinced we saw a tiger / lion lying in the central reservation. Did
anyone else see this too or am i to go and see my doctor ?
Well.. there are a few circus around at the moment… but I would have thought it would have made the news!!!
Large dog? Iberian Ibex? Even a wild boar? Any suggestions anyone?
or see a ![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
