Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)A PROTEST march against “astronomical” urbanisation charges on homes in Chiclana is taking place later this month.
La Plataforma Vecinos Afectados por la Regularización de Chiclana is demonstrating over water and sewage charges ranging from 38,000 to 70,000 euros per house.
The strict deadlines on payments is another source of anger for owners of the illegally built homes in the Campo.
Households are being asked to pay all of the fees in less than seven years, incurring a sizeable monthly outlay.
Group member, Guillermina Ranirez Gray, explains: “People here, many unemployed or with young families and mortgages, can not afford to pay that kind of money.
“The Mayor is trying to say we are against the urbanisation but that is not true.”
La Plataforma claim the EU has given money to cover the water and sewage costs.
The group represents neighbourhood associations and stresses they are not opposed to the Urbanisation itself.
Taking place on Saturday March 20 at 11am the protest will march from the Bullring in Chiclana de la Frontera through to the New Market.
I am one of those waiting for urbanization (I was told it would start Nov 2005 when I was buying and cost 7000)
Having spent a large part of my life in construction I know these things do not come cheap but the figures quoted in Chiclana are crazy.
I would like to know if the job ever went to open tender or was it just handed out to the useual cartels to quote?
Where has the EU money that was earmarked for it gone? What was the amount?
Is it possible for a journalist at Olive Press to make these inquiries?
The sums that have been quoted by Chiclana Council represent more or less TWICE the cost that the Urbanisation should and will cost to complete.Costings have been taken on various materials that have to be used to do the work such as pipes and tubing for example and it has been found that the Council will obtain it at a price of 34cents per metre but the price passed onto each homeowner will be E3.67c.The work would NOT have to go to tender but would simply to one or two companies who regularly carry out such work and who are favourable towards the Mayor.The EU have given a total of 78Million Euros to Chiclana for various works to be carried out and other money has also been given by the Junta. Out of this money, 14 Million Euros was SPECIFICALLY TO BE SET ASIDE for the Urbanisation of Rana Verde.That money has one assumes NOT yet been spent, in-spite of all the mess one sees in and around Las Lagunas, Rana Verde is a big area. All questions to the Mayor by representatives of the Plataforma asking where this money IS has met so far with a DEAFLY and DEATHLY SILENCE. I hope this helps
Further to the above posting, the amounts that the Council are demanding to be paid are required to be paid mainly in 3 large payments, and a canon rather than “monthly payments” like a mortgage.
I would say the March was a resounding success and that speaking conservatively in the region of 5,000 people or a little more turned out with a lot more unable to get to the March having been turned-away by the Guardia Civil when they reached the Puente VII Centenario Bridge at La Longuera in Chiclana which they had blocked-off. They prevented people parking in ANY of the nearby roads alongside Paciano del Barco for reasons known ONLY to themselves OR Urbi Sur telling them the nearest place THEY COULD park was Eroskis’ Car Park creating an approximate 3km round trip for them!Of course this order had nothing to do with the Mayor?
The March was attended by representatives of the IU,PP and PSA who have all called and are getting a full Pleno of the recently passed bye-laws and the Mayor is being taken to court.