Fines for homeowners who ignore new Weevil laws

DENIA Department for the Environment will be launching a community wide campaign in an effort to eradicate the Red Palm Weevil, a beetle that has already destroyed hundreds of palm trees throughout the Costas and Balearic Islands.

At a recent meeting attended by representatives from Pedreguer, El Verger, El Poblets and Gata councils, local government Councillor Juan Carlos Signes said that the need to totally eradicate the plague has never been greater and that serious actions must be introduced as quickly as possible.

He pointed out that it was essential the government worked closely together with the private sector and that all property and land owners were obliged to treat or remove any effected trees within their jurisdiction.

Councillor Signes emphasised the importance of this point by adding that he proposed to introduce fines up between €300 to €3,000 to those who ignored the instructions and that in such cases, the council would have the right to access private property and remove proven effected trees without the owners consent.

The Department of Agriculture announced that as part of the new measures, they have installed a new composting machine capable of crushing diseased palm trunks and that this facility will be accessible to both professionals and private members of the community.

By Benny Davis