Victory for Rubbish Dump Residents

Residents battling against a proposed huge rubbish dump being placed next their homes have been told by the Town Hall that a new location, away from housing areas, will be found. 

Representatives of the urbanisations that surround the location of the illegal PAU 26 refuse transfer depot and the proposed site for the household rubbish recycling depot attended the meeting, called by Councillor Abadia on behalf of the PP ruled council, at 10:30am on Saturday 31 October 2009, accompanied by The CoastRider and Elliot and Natalie Sampford.
  

The meeting was presided over by three of the Partido Popular ruling government Councillors, Snr. José A Aniorte

Grau, Snr. Manuel Abadía Martíz, and Snr. Antonio Rodríguez Barberá. The meeting was called after 40 of the residents walked into last week’s Plenary meeting at Orihuela Town Hall to sate their case. The group were given an assurance from lady Mayor Monica Lorente that an immediate alternative site for the present illegal waste rubbish transfer point situated in a green area in the middle of PAU 26 would be found.
 

The group arrived to hear the debate on a Motion that confirmed that the future Eco Park would not be located on this site. The motion was presented by the Centre Liberal Party (CLR) to immediately close the illegal transfer point.
 

At Saturday’s meeting the residents waited with apprehension to hear whether the promises given by the Mayoress during the Town Council Meeting would be honoured.
 

There had been articles in the Spanish media - Diario Informacion and La Verdad - which indicated that they would be, but until it was officially confirmed the group could only be hope.
 

A copy of the General Plan for Orihuela Costa was presented and used to explain the locations to the meeting so that the community representatives could understand more fully the situation.
 

The residents were delighted to hear the confirmations given by the Councillor. As a direct result of the presentation of the petition signed by more than 400 property owners to the Council, and the presentation of the 'Motion' in the Town Council meeting, the PP governing group has been forced to change it's previous decisions on this matter.
 

This is a resounding success for the power of the people in the urbanisations surrounding the PAU 26 Green Zone, with the assistance of the Central Liberal Renovador (CLR) party Councillor Pedro Mancebo, Bob Houliston and Antonio Cerdan of the CLARO Party. It is also vindication for Elliot and Natalie Sampford who resigned from their positions with Los Verdes over this issue. The Sampford’s have been instrumental in encouraging Wally Stewartson and Peter Buttenshaw to spearhead this campaign and fight the Town Hall every step of the way.
 

Wally said: “Today is an amazing victory and should give heart to everyone on the Coast who is battling against red-tape and bureaucracy – shout loud enough and you will be heard, make even more noise and they will listen to you. It just goes to show what people can achieve if they work together. Elliot Sampford was positive we could and should fight and it is his conviction, supported by CLARO and CLR, that made us believe we could change the decision to put a rubbish dump next to our homes.”
 

The residents have not only saved PAU 26 but they have also helped to save other urbanisations within Orihuela Costa from having the mega rubbish centre - planta transferencia, ecoparque - and transport depot as a very close neighbour.

IT’S A PROMISE

However, Councillor Abadía on behalf of the PP controlled council confirmed that:
• The PAU 26 parcel of land would cease to be used as an illegal refuse transfer depot with immediate effect.
• The proposed Ecoparque will not be sited in the PAU 26 area.
• All refuse will be cleared from the PA 26 green zone and that the land will be restored to it's previous natural state, with the replanting of pine trees and plants.
• The Council is seeking to find a permanent site for the Ecoparque and Planta Transferencia (refuse transfer depot), which is not within or close to any residential areas.
• As a temporary measure, until the final site is chosen, an area of land in the undeveloped area of PAU 7 will be used for a planta transferencia. This location does not have housing close by.
• The Council is in discussion with several landowners of possible suitable sites for the development. It was explained that the plots of land owned by the Council were close to or within residential areas and that these were now considered as unsuitable.