Carmenes del Mar

The residents of Carmenes del Mar are spending yet another summer of uncertainty and fear, more than 5 months since the Andalucian parliament approved a proposition to carry out emergency repair works to halt the deterioration of the urbanisation. The February parliamentary vote proposed the formation of a technical panel of experts comprised of representatives from the three administrations, (the Almuñecar town hall, the Junta de Andalucia and Spain's central government).  Since then the panel has met just once, in April, and both the Carmenes del Mar residents and the Almuñecar town hall have submitted their technical reports to the group. However, neither the Junta de Andulacia nor central government have responded with reports of their own.  "Until that happens, the political panel who will have to begin provide solutions to the 415 affected families, cannot meet", according to Ricardo Lopez, spokesperson for the Carmenes del Mar residents.

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On February 18th next, a commission of the Andalucia Parliament will debate whether to declare the ongoing landslides in Carmenes del Mar a social emergency. At a press conference today Juan Ramón Ferreira of the Popular Party (PP) announced that his party has submitted a non-binding resolution asking the Junta de Andalucia to assume its responsibility to the residents of Carmenes del Mar, and to collaborate in the emergency repairs approved by the courts in 2014. In the more than 18 months that has passed since the judge ordered the emergency repairs to be carried out, nothing has been done because the defendants in the case have appealed every step of the judicial process.

Sr. Ferreira is confident that the proposition will be supported by all of the political groupings in the parliament. An estimated 4 million Euros is required to prevent further landslides on the hillside and to ensure ...

The Popular Party (PP) has presented a Non-binding resolution to the Andalucian Parliament, asking for a state of emergency to be declared in Carmenes del Mar, and for the precautionary measures to be implemented in order to eliminate the risk of further damage to the urbanisation. If the resolution is approved, there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel for the residents of Carmenes del Mar.

In parliamentary procedure, a Non-binding resolution (Proposición no de ley) is a formal written proposal by a member of parliament that the assembly take certain actions. The resolution (or motion) may be subject to a public debate in parliament or to a review by the appropriate committee, depending on the type of action being proposed. The Carmenes del Mar resolution will be reviewed by the Andalucian Justice & Interior Affairs committee, and will be either approved ...

The ongoing drama of Carmenes del Mar took an unexpected and serious turn on Friday when the Almuñecar Town Hall declared a state of emergency in the area. The declaration of the state of emergency was communicated to the Local Police, the Fire Department and Civil Protection unit of Almuñecar.  Municipal workers were dispatched to the urbanisation where they proceeded to seal off a number of houses and erect barriers along the worst affected streets and footpaths. The decision to implement these drastic measures was taken on foot of a report issued by technicians from the municipal engineering and housing department.

As well as sealing of dangerous buildings and footpaths, a number of residents of Pueblo were issued with eviction notices and given five days to vacate their homes. The owners, who include Spanish, Irish and British citizens, expressed a mixture shock, upset and anger at the turn of events. ...