What if it were you?
(A Statement by the CRA Committee)
In January of this year a dozen or so couples went to the Notary in Mazarron to collect their Escrituras. On arrival they were told that their properties were designated as ‘Touristico’ and not ‘Residential’. The full implications of this information were not fully appreciated until the meeting held at Marianos on Tuesday 4th September plus the statement by Mayor Blaya Blaya in the Costa Almeria News dated Friday 14th September.
In short what we are being told is that some 1700 properties are classified as a business, ‘Touristico’. As the law stands this means the owners should register their properties as a business to receive the license that makes them legal. The Mayor and the people who called the meeting on 4th September state “the law cannot be changed”
The CRA began a relationship with Garrigues, Spain’s biggest law firm, some nine months back with the sole purpose of seeking acceptable solutions to our problems. The problems that were of other peoples making out of incompetence and indifference. The people of Camposol, some 7,500 owners, brought their wealth to the district of Mazarron and as a result they have poured billions of Euros into the local economy.
At no time were the owners told of the ‘Touristico’ ruling. In other words it was deception of the highest order. Just imagine, you purchased a property, off plan, 5 years ago and today you have been told that what you purchased was a business!
Garrigues indicated very early in our relationship that they believe the law can be changed. Upon receipt of the ‘Report’ on the ‘State of Affairs on Camposol’ The CRA will commission Garrigues to research and produce the ‘case’ for changing the law.
It requires a clear understanding of the situation that 1700 owners find themselves in at present. The law can be changed if the Political Will exists; the law as is stands is a Political Law and not a Legal Law!
What is strange regarding the apparent stance by the Mayor of Mazarron is that he is willing to back the law as it stands at the expense of 1700 Camposol Owners. He appears to be saying that he does not believe the claims of Garrigues and is unwilling to ever consider the research and findings of Garrigues.
Yes, we agree, Masa is to blame for all the injustices dealt to the majority of owners on Camposol. The CRA does not wish to shift any of that blame; however, we are bitterly disappointed that the Mazarron Town Council appears to hold no empathy or sympathy with the outrageous treatment dished out by Spanish organisations or authorities.
We ask the Mayor and his Council, we ask all business people in the Mazarron District and we ask all citizens of the Mazarron District.
‘HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT’?

CAMPOSOL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Meeting with Masa
Thursday 13th September at 1700hrs
Those present:
Roy Pugh Chairman CRA
Mary Cooper Secretary CRA
Ken Richardson Member CRA

Snr. José Ferrer Architect Masa
Snr. Joaquin Ataz Ruiz Lawyer Garrigues
Apologies: Daniel Bascunana Masa

1. Subsidence Problems D7:
Snr. Ferrer reported that where possible all affected houses have been inspected and a schedule of work per house has been put into place.
Two teams have been allocated to this work which will start during the first week of October.
It is expected, weather permitting, that all repairs as described on the schedule will be completed by the end of March.
Updates on the progress of each property will be reported at each Masa meeting.
Where it was not possible to gain entry to a house, eight in total, we will endeavour to get in touch and arrange to carry out an inspection as soon as possible.

Roy Pugh reminded Snr. Ferrer about a house on C14 that needs urgent inspection, José promised to carry out an inspection on Monday 17th September.

Action: Mary Cooper to document the schedule of work for the residents and will ensure they are all informed well in advance of their dates for starting.
Mary will also ensure that the owners of the house on C14 are aware that Masa will be carrying out an inspection at their premises.

2. Alternative Access to Camposol Sectors B,C & D:
Mary Cooper explained to Snr. Ferrer and Joaquin Ataz Ruiz about the very dangerous situation resulting from the building of the RM3 Motorway running through the middle of Camposol.
According to plans published at the time of construction an exit road from B, C & D Sectors has been omitted. Consequently we now have a situation where roads built as service roads to the B Commercial Centre are being used as main arterial roads onto and off of Camposol and the Dual Carriageway built to carry this traffic is underutilised. This situation is being exacerbated by No Entry signs being ignored and shoppers parking their cars irresponsibly.
Grave concern is being expressed to the CRA by residents if disastrous consequences are to be avoided an early solution is crucial.
Mary asked Joaquin who should take responsibility for this error. Joaquin explained that there are three elements to consider, the Motorway Construction Company, Mazarron Town Council and Masa. The difficulty at this stage is deciding who in fact should take responsibility.

Action: Joaquin will speak to all three parties concerned to try and bring about a solution to this problem.


3. Abril 28 Licences:
Roy Pugh asked Snr. Ferrer, in the absence of Daniel Bascunana, if he would take charge of the Abril 28 requests for licences that the CRA have been gathering from residents over the last few months. José agreed to do this and promised to pass them on to Daniel.

Action: Roy Pugh to ask Daniel Bascunana for a report on progress at the next meeting.

Date of Next Meeting: 16th October at 1700hrs

The meeting regarding the turistico situation took place at Marianos last night. The meeting was late starting, and there appears to have been little or no organisation, in short, it was chaos.
The meeting was called by Ann Macdonald, some may remember in May, she was a candidate in the local elections, representing Izquierdera Unidad ( united left).
Four representatives from the " Mazarron legal & translation center " claimed that turistico designation could not be changed, and that legal recourse was the only option. Nobody was clear who Ann Macdonald was representing? Ms Macdonald stressed that the lawyers were working on their own time for nothing, and business cards were available.
One group who continued talking after the meeting ended, said they wanted more direct action, as the town hall and Masa would only listen, if there were demonstrations and disruption to the businesses in Mazarron, and the town hall. It is a pity the meeting was so badly handled and that yet again, misleading information was , under the guise of "legal expertise", which ultimately involves significant cost to the individual.
The CRA wishes to re-iterate that the issue of turistico is being persued through Garrigues, and to highlight the fact that it is a POLITICAL issue, NOT a legal one, and that the designation CAN be changed relatively easily with the co-operation of the town hall.
There will be a more detailed report on the meeting in the October edition.