The Natural Park around the Maro-Cerro Gordo cliffs has been a protected area since 1989 and is one of the most pristine areas in the whole province.
Since that time, the Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales (Plan for Natural Resources), or PORN as it is more commonly known, has been drawn up and is now pending approval. This plan will set out exactly what can and can’t be done by individuals and authorities with regard to building or land use.
Proposals to build hotels (in the interest of tourism, of course) and other projects have been put forward at various times, but nothing can be done until the plan is approved by the Junta de Andalucía.
Approval of the PORN has been ‘pending’ since September 2007, the end of the period for people to lodge complaints, make comments, suggest amendments or oppose the contents of the plan. There were, incidentally, 260 letters received in this respect.
The Council, with the full support of the opposition PSOE and IU parties, is now requesting the Junta de Andalucía to expedite approval of the PORN as a matter of urgency.
It is to be hoped, of course, that the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park remains suitably protected and doesn’t become another building site, be it for hotels (of tourist interest), golf courses (of tourist interest) or other commercial concerns.