The articles I include in this personal Blog will include a varied range of subjects that interest me. They will predominantly relate to the United Kingdom (my homeland), Spain and Europe. Any opinions I express will probably not be too contentious, however they are mine and not that of any organisation or group of which I am a member.
Comments
If you wish to add a comment to any of my articles please do so as I am always pleased to have a contribution from any reader as this increases the interest for other visitors.
On the Los Verdes party's new Weblog for the Orihuela Costa area (although there was no need to creat a new one as one already existed but that's probably another story) they have posted an article entitled Trees is Pau 26, march 2010. I could not let this go without posting the following comment on the article.
I would remind you of the wording in my letter of resignation from Los Verdes "I do not agree with the alternative location proposal for the recycling depot put forward to the Ayuntamiento by Los Verdes, without I would point out any prior consultation with the residents that will be directly affected, for the recycling depot. The proposal fails to protect either the quality of life of the residents or the environment of the area. It is an unacceptable compromise of principles".
Following on from my critism of the article in the Euro Weekly News about the replanting of the PAU 26 illegal tip area I thought I would go a look at the work of the PP Council in returning the area they allowed to be destroyed by their rubbish collection contracts over many years.
The result of the PP Council's publicity stunt is pathetic.
There appears to be the the minimal amount of effort made (excluding the work of the school children) with the planting of the smallest possible trees (cost before quality)in just one poorly prepared area. No work has been carried out on the surrounding areas which were also used by the contractors running the illegal tip. No effort has been made to landscape the area to reinstate it to anything like it's previous natural state. It's a case of level the area, stick in a few trees and make a big song and dance about nothing.
Does this photograph show the beginnings of fly-tipping on the area. To people it still looks like a dump area so put the rubbish there.
The article is another PP propaganda story, perpetuated by the EWN, which is callously using school children.
The article states that
Orihuela - RESIDENTS are doing their bit in the fight against global warming with the plantation of 300 new pine trees.......... in the PAU 26 area of Orihuela Costa.
Wrong!!!
The primary reason for the residents being at the tree planting was to see that the PP Council honoured it's pledge given to the residents, when it finally closed the illegal tip on the PAU 26 site. that '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'. There will hopefully be a benefit, all be it minimal, to fight against global warming but this was not foremost in the residents minds.
I don't doubt that the children involved at the planting ('70 pupils aged 3 to 6 years from the Colegio Publico Playas de Orihuela School') thought that they were there for environmental reasons as this is the doctrine given to them by their teachers on behalf of the PP, in order to get the support of the children's parents.
The article goes on to say
The project forms part of a reforestation plan for the area, following many years of development by construction companies.
The truth is that the replanting of the trees in PAU 26 is because of the destruction of the area by the refuse collection contractors, appointed by the PP Council, operating an 'illegal tip' on this site, with the full knowledge of the council, for many years.
The PP propaganda machine might be able to foul the EWN but it doesn't foul those who fought for the closure of the tip.
In my previous article 'PAU 26 has been Saved – We've Won!' I reported that Clr. Abadía on behalf of the PP controlled council confirmed that
'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.'
"We have to give credit where credit is due........... the illegal rubbish tip which has been situated in PAU 26 has been removed and what’s more, last week, as promised, the Town Hall planted 300 new trees in the area,"
Reference was made to the commitment given by Clr. Abadía on behalf of the Council and the paper comments;
"And true to his word, within six weeks it has happened. Well done Orihuela Town Hall!"
Well done for what? I visited the site today (21st December 2009) and could not see any sign of these '300 new trees' The only thing the Council has done is to abandon the site!
Can anyone see any of the 300 new trees? Click on any of the photographs to enlarge it to help you find those (invisible/imaginary) Council planted trees!
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.
The meeting promised by Monical Lorente, the Mayoress of Orihuela, to discuss and hopefully finalise the site for the development of the Planta Transferencia and the Ecoparque in the Orihuela Costa area is being held at 12 noon today (29th October) as reported in the Diario Informacion .
Included in the article is the following photograph of the PP Councillor Abadia showing the proposed layout of the developement. It is to cover an area of 14000 square metres.
El concejal Manolo Abadía, tras el proyecto de la planta de transferencia E. G. BROTONS - Diario Informacion
How could the PP governed council even consider putting such a massive development as close as 50 metres from peoples' homes and in the centre of a substantial residential urbanized area?
Let us hope that common sense prevails, that the words of Monica Lorente mean what she said during the Council Meeting, and that a site is chosen within an industrial area, where such a development should be, away from residential property.
Following on from the presentation of the PAU 26 petition on the 22nd October the subject was raised for a second time in five days with the presentation of a 'Motion' by the Central Liberal Renovador party Councillor Pedro Mancebo in the Town Council meeting (Pleno) held on the 27th October.
A brief view into the Council Chamber, showing some of the Oposition parties councillors.
Over 40 residents, representing the urbanizations affect by the PAU 26 illegal tip and proposed 'ecoparque' development, and members of the Orihuela Costa CLARO party made the 30 kilometre journey to be present in the meeting to show support for Clr Mancebo.
As expected, the Partido Popular governing party used their outright majority to reject the proposal put forward in the motion, by Pedro Mancebo, to immediately close the illegal rubbish transfer point and dump.
However, before the vote on the motion which was rejected by the P P, the Mayoress, Monica Lorente, promised to seek an immediate alternative site for the present illegal waste rubbish transfer point situated in a green area in the middle of PAU 26 urbanisations. The debate on a Motion confirmed that the future 'ecoparque' will not be located on this site and she made a personal commitment that a meeting would be held between the Town Hall technicians and the political groups on Wednesday 28th October to identify an alternative site for the waste rubbish transfer point.
She acknowledged that the residents in the PAU 26 area had been subject for too long to the noise, smells and disruption associated with the transfer point.
This work would proceed independently of the decision on the location of a future 'ecoparque'.
There was an unexpected turn of events later in the day when an invitation was made by PP Councillor Abadia, within whose remit of responsibility this problem lies, via Stefan Pokroppa a representative of the PP, to the residents to attend a meeting with him to discuss this matter.
A rather belated gesture on his part, brought about one assumes because of the commitment given in the Council Chamber by the Alcadesa (Mayoress).
The meeting has been arranged for 10:30 hrs on Saturday 31st October 2009 in the local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) in Orihuela Costa.
The residents have asked that Clr Pedro Mancebo (CLR) attend to help represent them at the meeting.
However having first received acceptance of his presence at the meeting, by Snr Pokroppa on behalf of Clr Abadia, this was later withdrawn by the PP. This is unacceptable to the residents and it is their wish that Snr Mancebo must be allowed to attend . It will be interesting to see what happens on the day of the proposed meeting.
Is this another twist and turn by the ruling PP in their failure to honour their commitments to the residents affected by the illegal tip?
