Algarrobico hotel demolition drags on

By Eloise Horsfield

DEMOLITION of the Algarrobico hotel has been put on hold until the courts are certain that the licence to build it was invalid.

The 411-bedroom hotel was constructed illegally on the beach inside the Cabo de Gata Natural Park and campaigns – including a sit-in by Greenpeace – have fought hard against it.

Last month the Junta and Madrid’s Supreme Court criticized Carbonaras town hall for allowing it to be built, and a ruling on October 4 prevented any further work being carried out.

“It is clearer than water,” said Junta environment boss Juan Jose Diaz Trillo, confirming he was ready to sign a benchmark agreement to knock down the hotel.

Meanwhile, developer Azata maintained it was unaware of any legal issues and that the hotel was legitimate.

But now a judge has said that demolition should only take place when it has been ruled that there was no licence to construct – which has not yet been confirmed.

The ruling said that destroying the building would “cause irreparable and irreversible damage” to Azata unless the original licence was declared null and void.