GREEN PARTY CONFERENCE ON URBAN PLANNING ABUSES IN SPAIN

Member of Veïns de Parcent travelled to Madrid this week to take part in a Conference organised by David Hammerstein, Spanish Euro MP for the Green Party. The conference dealt with the issues of intensive urbanisation in the whole of Spain, from the building on Mediterranean coastal areas to golf courses in Murcia, motorways in areas of outstanding natural beauty in Andalucia and desecration of the sierras of Madrid. A fascinating speech by Alejandra Gómez Céspade, Professor of Criminology at Malaga University spoke of the links between rampant construction and organised crime, particularly the laundering of black money. Kjell Sevon, Judicial Assesor for the Greens at the Petitions Committe of the European Parliament spoke of the many petitions received by the European Parliament dealing with urban planning irregularities in Spain. Three out of every four such complaints received are from Spain.

At the end of the conference David Hammerstein and Kjell Sevon held a meeting with members of citizens groups from all over Spain at which the problem of Parcent was raised and options for taking action against the building plans discussed. Not only was this meeting helpful but we also found it very motivating being with people from all over Spain involved in similar campaigns. At the end of the meeting it was proposed we form a national federation to air our complaints on a national level which we hope will put much more pressure on local and national government.