Any previous readers of my blog will know that I love my life in Almeria. However, I pay my taxes here, so feel that I am entitled to make the occasional criticism of the ways things are sometimes done.
Many of you will be familiar with the massive black ‘bulls’, prominently perched on hillsides across Spain. I often wondered how the brandy advertisers got away with it. Could you imagine those huge ‘forms’ being allowed in Snowdonia or the Lake District?
I've come to realise that it can be explained by the scale of the place – twice the land area of the UK and only two thirds of the population, a significant number of who live in just a few large conurbations. Consequently much of Spain is relatively sparsely habited, so land is plentiful and there is plenty of space, to make and hide mistakes in the landscape.
For instance, quarrying is very important to the economy here, though with the recession, the demand for marble from the Sierra Filabres has really declined. Even so, in my time in Spain, I have seen a whole huge mountain disappear from the landscape, and no one has batted an eyelid. Could you imagine that in the Peak District?
Another example is in my home village of Oria.
On the hillside, in the centre of the village are the ruins of a
13th Century Arab Fort. A path way has been made up to the fort, which has been partly restored, and interesting ‘interpretation’ boards have been set up for the enjoyment and information of visitors. Very good! But there is no getting away from the 3 large communication masts that have been erected, right in the middle of the ancient monument!
On the hillside, in the centre of the village are the ruins of a
13th Century Arab Fort. A path way has been made up to the fort, which has been partly restored, and interesting ‘interpretation’ boards have been set up for the enjoyment and information of visitors. Very good! But there is no getting away from the 3 large communication masts that have been erected, right in the middle of the ancient monument!
And speaking of communication masts – our part of Spain is experiencing a rash of them due to provision of the internet to this very rural area; the introduction of digital television and more phone providers. It seems that every available mountain top has been planted with not one, not two but very often three masts. Is there no planning authority to make them mast share, wherever technically possible? I don’t know the answer to that, but even if there is, I don’t suspect the issue of the sprouting of ugly masts has even entered their heads.
There are no railways here and no public transport to speak of. But there are motorways, on which you can travel for miles without seeing another car in either direction!
Travelling along one such motorway you pass the ancient and beautiful town of Velez Rubio, dominated by the magnificent dome and twin squared towers crowned with octagonal belfries, of the Parish Church built in 1753,…….. and the ugly 70’s tower block of flats set right alongside it!
The coast line between the towns of Carbonerras and Mojacar is very beautiful, with many secluded sandy bays. Naturally, it is protected from development – or is it? On one of those beautiful bays has been constructed a huge hotel complex; which through some strong campaigning by environmental groups, has never been allowed to be completed. Some people argue that the hotel would help generate the local economy, and create much needed employment. Others, that it would destroy a most beautiful natural habitat (with traffic, sewage and other pollution) on which much local tourism is built, and that a proper infrastructure for the development has not been created. Whatever the arguments, what is in evidence is a lack of planning.
….and surely the greatest failure to plan properly has resulted in the construction of 12500 ‘illegal’ homes, in the Almanzora valley.
The organisation Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora NO, has been at the forefront of the campaign to achieve justice for the innocent purchasers of these home, who have been deceived by corrupt politicians, developers, lawyers and estate agents, who have systematically taken advantage of a very weak or often non existent planning system, to make a massive financial gain. You can follow the issues at their web site http://www.almanzora-au.org/
Meanwhile, I hear that back in the UK, the Government has just about abolished the Planning System, in the interest of driving the economy forward!
Good luck UK
