Brits to meet with PP over illegal homes

Almanzora Valley residents to meet with PP politician next week over illegal house issues.

The association of Britons affected by planning irregularities in the Valley of Almanzora, known as AUAN, is expected to meet with the Vice Secretary General for research and programmes of the PP in Spain, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, next Monday, 5^th May at 7pm. The planned meeting will take place in the ‘Salon de Actos’ at the entrance to Fines and the meeting is open to the public.

Maura Hillen, President of AUAN said ‘We are grateful to Antonio Salas, President of the Mancomunidad of Municipalities of the Valley of Almanzora for organising this meeting. Sr. Salas has already raised his concerns about this issue as a result of the demolition of two more houses belonging to Britons last year. In fact he was the first politician to apologize for the problems suffered by Mr and Mrs Prior, who continue to live in their garage since their house was knocked down 6 years ago and who have yet to be compensated even though they are purchasers in good faith.’

Asked about their relationship with the PP, Maura said: "It is good. The regional executive of the PP has shown its support for the need for important changes. But our relationships are also good with other political parties. For example, we have been in contact with IU for quite some time and they have helped us arrange meetings in Seville over the years. What we want is a solution to this problem. The English are leaving and they are not being replaced by new buyers who wish to live here and to spend their money in this country. 90,000 English people left Spain last year. We believe that it is in everyone’s interest to solve this problem, to avoid delving deeper into the social and economic crisis which plagues Andalucía with regard to property investment. A solution must be found. The Regularization Decree clearly does not function – less than 200 permissions, known as AFOs under the Decree, have been granted in the last two years, when they are 300,000 irregular houses."

Regarding the news published in recent weeks to the effect that the Junta is considering legislative change, Maura said: "We hope that these changes will be made. In fact it is possible that there is a willingness to do so. For example, we have been welcomed recently by the local executive of the PSOE at a provincial level. The problem is that currently there are no concrete results, and possible solutions are slipping further away. The economy and society does not run on good intentions but needs concrete results. On the other hand, it is also clear that changes are needed at a national level, and this is precisely why we wish to speak to Sr. Pons. We do not want more examples like Mr and Mrs Prior and we are going to ask Sr. Pons if legislative changes can be made at a national level which guarantee fair and prior compensation if a house, purchased in good faith, is demolished.”

Maura added: "This issue is a matter for the Spanish state and is a question of human rights. If you are not to blame you should not suffer the consequences of an illegal act, and if you have a license and if it is taken away, you should be compensated."