Blind terror in Almeria

March 4, 2010  •  Almeria, Andalucia  •  2 Comments

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• FEAR: Demolition terror has blinded expatriate Terry Haycock

A BRITISH man has been blinded by the fear of his home being demolished.

Terry Haycock has also suffered a mini-stroke as a result of the protracted negotiations over the status of his three-bedroom villa.

The pensioner, in his sixties, has suffered temporary blindness and facial paralysis, according to his lawyer.

It has seen him hospitalised on numerous occasions since he received a demolition order on his home in Almeria, last month.

“He’s going in for more tests this week and his wife is very distressed.”

Friend Christine Payne, 65, said: “He’s not doing well and the continual threat of demolition is only making it worse.

“He’s going in for more tests this week and his wife is very distressed.”

He is not the only homeowner to be suffering from serious illness due to the threat of demolition of eight homes in the Albox area.

Another owner Muriel Burns, 70, has been admitted to hospital suffering from respiratory problems brought on by the stress of the affair.

82, insisted her nervous tension had been directly caused by the threat of demolition to their 200,000 euro villa.

“My wife was in a terrible state at the beginning of Christmas when I had to take her to the doctors and she was on medication,” he revealed.

The homeowners have all been handed demolition orders, which are due to see their homes knocked down this Spring.

Yet each of the eight owners insist they got planning permission the correct way through their local town hall.

However, it now appears that the Albox authorities allowed the homes to be built without permission from the regional government.

It is estimated that over 100 million euros was spent by expatriate families in the Albox area.

But despite that, Albox mayor Jose Garcia insists he has a legal obligation to carry out demolitions.

Most owners are retired pensioners who bought the land in good faith.

Maura Hillen, of Pressure group AUAN, which is representing those facing demolitions, said: “Most of these people are under extreme pressure over the demolitions.

“I am sure we are going to see many other people succumb to the stress.”

Local Spanish lawyer Gerard Vazquez, who is representing the Haycocks, described the situation as “a disgrace”.

He added: “We are not dealing with moving papers around here, we are dealing with peoples’ lives.

“These are old-age pensioners, threatened with losing their homes.”

The British Consul meanwhile, has arranged a joint meeting with the Junta’s planning office this month.

One of those affected, Graham Beesley, told the Olive Press he is confident something will be achieved.

“I’ve had a telephone call from the embassy and they want to resolve it. He told me not to get my hopes up but I’m feeling fairly confident. We’ll wait and see.”

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