Brits launch plan to save their homes

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 10:30

Written by Editor

The British residents in Almeria whose properties are considered to be outside the local urban plans are setting up committees in each municipality affected which will then sit down with the local councils in September in an effort to seek a way to regularise their homes.

Some 5,000 properties are under threat of demolition, mainly in the Almanzora Valley. It will be the first time the local councils allow those affected to participate in a process which threatens to be a long one, and which came to a head two years ago when the home of John and Helen Prior in La Loma de Vera was demolished, making headlines around the world.

The couple lived in a garage until a few months ago when the local council rented a house for them. The couple are waiting for a court ruling about their demand for €600,000 in compensation. The British community has set up an association to fight urban abuses, AUAN, and the EU has taken an interest in the matter.