Fine situation for Atrium hotel

The Atrium beach developers are appealing against a €3.8 million fine.

In 2012 the Supreme court ruled that Hotel Luna SA had exceeded its original planning permission and the building’s huge skeleton had dominated the Villajoyosa end of La Cala for years.  

Apartment owners in the same complex complained that the building under construction would block the sea views they had been promised.

Building was halted and this and other infringements investigated.

“We feel that the fine is disproportionate and unfair,” said company sources. 

Originally the Valencian Community authorities imposed a €12,020,242 fine, the highest ever imposed for an infringement of this type.

On appeal the Valencia region’s Upper court reduced this to €3.8 million.

At the time an Opposition councillor criticised Villajoyosa town hall for not making its own appeal, demanding the full €12 million.

“We settled for the €3.8 million, because our finance experts warned that in the end we would probably have received nothing,” said Finance councillor Francisco Perez Melero.

Worse still, when the original fine was announced the €12 million was added to La Vila’s 2005 budget.  In other words, money was spent that was never received, Perez Melero admitted.

Now that that Hotel Luna SA is appealing the reduced fine, it remains to be seen how much Villajoyosa council eventually receives.