PAU 26 has been Saved – We've Won!

Double click on picture to enlarge
Plan Key:
The Red shading shows land owned by the Council for its use.
The Blue shading shows land designated for Commercial purposes.
The Green shading shows Green Zones.

The Red area above the words PAU-26 is the area that was proposed for the Ecoparque and the land to the right (east) of this, between it and the Autopista, is where the illegal rubbish transfer dump was being operated.

Representatives of the urbanizations that surround the location of the illegal PAU 26 refuse transfer depot and the proposed site for the household rubbish recycling depot attended the meeting, called by Councillor Abadia on behalf of the PP ruled council, at 10:30 hrs on Saturday 31st October 2009 in the local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) in Orihuela Costa that I previously mentioned.

There were three of the Partido Popular ruling government Councillors present, Snr. José A Aniorte Grau, Snr. Manuel Abadía Martíz, and Snr. Antonio Rodríguez Barberá.

The residents waited with apprehension to hear whether the promises given by the Mayoress (la Alcadesa) Monica Lorente during the Town Council Meeting on the 27th October would be honoured. There had been articles in the Spanish media (Diario Informacion and La Verdad) which indicated that they would be, but until it was officially confirmed it could only be hopes. The fears were still there

Clr. Abadía on behalf of the PP controlled council confirmed that:

• The PAU 26 parcel of land would cease to be used as an illegal refuse transfer depot with immediate effect.
• The proposed Ecoparque will not be sited in the PAU 26 area.
• All refuse will be cleared from the PA 26 green zone and that the land will be restored to it's previous natural state, with the replanting of pine trees and plants.
• The Council is seeking to find a permanent site for the Ecoparque and Planta Transferencia (refuse transfer depot) which is not within or close to any residential area.
• As a temporary measure, until the final site is chosen, an area of land in the undeveloped area of PAU 7 will be used for a planta transferencia. This location does not have housing close by.
• The Council is in discussion with several land owners of possible suitable sites for the development. It was explained that the plots of land owned by the Council were close to or within residential areas and that these were now considered as unsuitable.
  

A copy of the General Plan for Orihuela Costa was presented and explained to the meeting so that the community representatives could understand more fully the situation.

Clr. Abadia (centre left) explaining to the residents

The residents were very pleased to hear the confirmations given by the Councillor.

As a direct result of the presentation of the petition signed by more than 400 property owners to the Council, and the presentation of the 'Motion' in the Town Council meeting, the PP governing group has been forced to change it's previous decisions on this matter.

It is a resounding success for the power of the people in the urbanizations surrounding the PAU 26 Green Zone, with the assistance of the Central Liberal Renovador (CLR) party Councillor Pedro Mancebo, and Bob Houliston and Antonio Cerdan of the CLARO Party.

The residents have not only saved PAU 26 but they have also help to save other urbanizations within Orihuela Costa from having the mega rubbish centre (planta transferencia, ecoparque and transport depot) as a very close neighbour.

PAU 26 has been saved from a disaster – We won!

Edit: 2nd Nov:
Articles about the meeting have appeared in Diario Informacion and La Verdad , there are probably others as well.

Edit: 3rd Nov
The CoastRider paper publishes an article Victory for Rubbish Dump Residents .

Edit: 6th Nov.
The Round Round Town News publishes an article Victory for Dump Protestors