Costa Almeria News 25 1 2008: We shall not be moved
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
Almería expat community mobilises to support the Priors
By Glenn Wickman
THE demolition of the Priors’ home in Vera has sent shockwaves through the expat community in Almería.
The incident two weeks ago has sparked various protests aimed at supporting the Priors and preventing further demolitions from taking place.
More than 70 people gathered in Vera town square last Thursday to show their solidarity. Among those present was a delegation of Abusos Urbanísticos Almanzora No (AUAN), led by association president Bob Preston.
A spokesman for the association stressed they were not hi-jacking the event, merelysupporting the creation of a residents’ self-defence group similar to theirs in the area.
A member of AUAN and resident in the Albox area said: “The demolition has not just harmed the Priors, but the entire economy of the area.
“The construction trade is already going into a recession, and this has just added more negative publicity for prospective buyers back in the UK.”
Françoise, a concerned neighbour of the Priors’ and translator for the burgeoning Asociación de los Vecinos de La Loma de Vera pressure group, said the group’s aim would be “to establish the validity of the legal title deeds for La Loma and surrounding areas”.
Mojácar meeting
In a further development, a public meeting was held last week at the Hotel Continental in Mojacar by the Ciudadanos Europeos de Mojácar political party to debate the crisis.
The councillor for tourism and external relations, Ángel Medina, outlined the case along with Lenox Napier, editor of The New Entertainer newspaper, and legal advisor Gerard Vázquez, in front of 100 concerned residents.
Sr Medina claimed that the demolition - although “unusual” - had been politically motivated, declaring that the Priors had been caught in the middle of a battle between the Junta and Vera council.
The speakers stressed that the Junta’s action was not aimed against the British community, pointing out that four of the six properties also threatened with demolition in the same area belong to Spanish families.
Make your voice heard
The meeting was also used as a platform to announce the upcoming demonstration against the demolition, scheduled to take place in Vera town square at 12.00 hrs on Sunday (January 27).
The aim will be to protest against the regional government’s interference in a local issue, the apparent randomness in the application of the law and the helplessness of foreign residents against the authorities.
Sr Medina announced: “We also want to show the Junta that we have the capacity to respond to this kind of barbaric abuse, that foreign residents are not a pushover, and it will hopefully make them think twice before doing something like this again.”
Not present at the meeting were Leonard and Helen Prior, who are still living in a caravan donated to them by a Spanish neighbour.
Mr Prior expressed his gratitude by describing his neighbour’s gesture as “absolutely fantastic”, adding that they were still in talks with the council over compensation claims.
Almería expat community mobilises to support the Priors
By Glenn Wickman
THE demolition of the Priors’ home in Vera has sent shockwaves through the expat community in Almería.
The incident two weeks ago has sparked various protests aimed at supporting the Priors and preventing further demolitions from taking place.
More than 70 people gathered in Vera town square last Thursday to show their solidarity. Among those present was a delegation of Abusos Urbanísticos Almanzora No (AUAN), led by association president Bob Preston.
A spokesman for the association stressed they were not hi-jacking the event, merelysupporting the creation of a residents’ self-defence group similar to theirs in the area.
A member of AUAN and resident in the Albox area said: “The demolition has not just harmed the Priors, but the entire economy of the area.
“The construction trade is already going into a recession, and this has just added more negative publicity for prospective buyers back in the UK.”
Françoise, a concerned neighbour of the Priors’ and translator for the burgeoning Asociación de los Vecinos de La Loma de Vera pressure group, said the group’s aim would be “to establish the validity of the legal title deeds for La Loma and surrounding areas”.
Mojácar meeting
In a further development, a public meeting was held last week at the Hotel Continental in Mojacar by the Ciudadanos Europeos de Mojácar political party to debate the crisis.
The councillor for tourism and external relations, Ángel Medina, outlined the case along with Lenox Napier, editor of The New Entertainer newspaper, and legal advisor Gerard Vázquez, in front of 100 concerned residents.
Sr Medina claimed that the demolition - although “unusual” - had been politically motivated, declaring that the Priors had been caught in the middle of a battle between the Junta and Vera council.
The speakers stressed that the Junta’s action was not aimed against the British community, pointing out that four of the six properties also threatened with demolition in the same area belong to Spanish families.
Make your voice heard
The meeting was also used as a platform to announce the upcoming demonstration against the demolition, scheduled to take place in Vera town square at 12.00 hrs on Sunday (January 27).
The aim will be to protest against the regional government’s interference in a local issue, the apparent randomness in the application of the law and the helplessness of foreign residents against the authorities.
Sr Medina announced: “We also want to show the Junta that we have the capacity to respond to this kind of barbaric abuse, that foreign residents are not a pushover, and it will hopefully make them think twice before doing something like this again.”
Not present at the meeting were Leonard and Helen Prior, who are still living in a caravan donated to them by a Spanish neighbour.
Mr Prior expressed his gratitude by describing his neighbour’s gesture as “absolutely fantastic”, adding that they were still in talks with the council over compensation claims.
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