Anger in La AzohÃa over plans to build 135 front-line apartments
The proposed development is next to the palm tree grove of San Ginés on the seafront in La Azohía
Numerous residents of the 50-year-old urbanization of San Ginés in La Azohía are up in arms over proposals to build 135 apartments in 4-storey blocks right next to the seafront and the wooded palm tree grove which lies at the mouth of the Rambla del Cañar runoff channel.
An alteration by the Town Hall of Cartagena to the “Plan Parcial” of San Ginés was approved in February of this year, appearing to make the 4-floor construction possible. However, homeowners in San Ginés, which consisted almost completely of detached and semi-detached chalets until the construction of El Pinar de San Ginés around 20 years ago, are keen to protect this oasis of greenery on the coast.
In addition, some residents and owners have voiced concerns over the infrastructures in La Azohía, which they say are insufficient to cope with yet more summer traffic and other inconveniences. For example, it should be remembered that although the Town Hall has recently created a new medical clinic in the village, as yet it is not supplied with staff or medical equipment, and last summer, while the population of La Azohía swelled as it does every July and August, local patients were sent to Puerto de Mazarrón due to the temporary closure of the clinic in Isla Plana.
For these reasons they are weighing up the options available to them, which include supporting objections already made by the local ADELA group (Asociación para la Defensa Natural de La Azohía), seeking the support of the water infrastructures management body CHS (Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura) and possibly enlisting the support of naturalist association ANSE on the grounds that the palm grove should be protected from damage by development.
A WhatsApp group formed by owners in the area has been joined by around 100 people and until a full analysis of the legal situation has been completed no definite course of action will be decided on.
The proposed residential development occupies an area of 55,504 square metres alongside the beach of San Ginés and the popular “paseo”, the popular 5-kilometre seafront walk which runs between the churches of La Azohía and Isla Plana. Detailed plans have not yet been made available.
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