HUNDRED ‘PARCENT’ APPROVAL

Residents get ombudsman’s backing to block overbuilding
By Roy Wickman

Parcent residents fighting massive building plans in the village believe they have won a major battle this week.
A report by the Valencia Region ombudsman has backed their complaints that the three ‘PAI’ urbanisation development projects are unsustainable.
The projects aim to build 1,800 houses on the hillsides around the town, which would quadruple the village’s population. But the report calls on the Valencia government to turn down the development plans because there is no favourable report from the Júcar water confederation guaranteeing drinking water supply for the increased population.
The lobby group Veïns de Parcent against the development plans held a press conference on Wednesday insisting the independent report on complaints about the projects must now be taken into account. Residents have sent the ombudsman’s results to the council, the Valencia Region planning department, the environment ministry and the Júcar water board.
In the meantime, the Veïns association has called on the authorities to suspend judgement while the European Commission considers the case.
Lobby group member Jacqueline Cotterill said: “This is a very important judgement for Veïns de Parcent, with the public backing of an impartial ombudsman and vindication of the collectives continuing to fight against the plans.
“We feel that our association is a very good example of the effectiveness of local campaigning and how British residents are working alongside their Spanish neighbours to protect their rights and environment.”
rwickman@cbnews.es