Autumn, so an appropriate time to begin roasting those old chestnuts. Councillors and representatives of the Association of Employers (AEN) have been once again meeting to discuss such items as the golf course and marina, urging the Junta de Andalucia to change its position on these projects, accusing it of intransigence.
The golf course project became ‘blocked’ in 2006 when the Junta de Andalucia approved the Axarquia Spatial Plan (POTAX) which changed the status of the lands to be used for a golf course, the Barranca de la Coladilla near the caves, to ‘protected’.
Medgroup had already paid €15 million for the land on the understanding that they were permitted to build an 18 hole golf course, 1,000 luxury homes and a five star hotel. Under the 2000 PGOU, the land was apparently classified as developable, but the introduction of the POTAX in 2006 changed all that.
In the meantime, Medgroup have been taking legal action for the return of their €15 million.
Also discussed was the marina project, currently expected to be built in Calaceite, Torrox, the Paseo de los Carabineros between the Balcón de Europa and Burriana beach, the exploitation of the heavily protected natural areas around Maro and the proposed promenade at El Playazo beach.
It is currently expected that details of the tender specifications for the promenade could be available by the end of this year.