‘Illegal’ hotel set to be finished

THE controversial Algarrobico hotel that has caused an environmental storm could be finished after a legal judgement.

The court of administrative disputes in Almeria has formally notified the town of Carboneras that the July judgement of the superior court of justice of Andalucia (TSJA) was lawful and the building licence is now valid.

A panel of judges ruled in July that the Algarrobico building licence from 2003 was legally issued, overturning previous rulings.

With the licence now being usable, Azata del Sol (the hotel promoter) could in principle restart the construction of the hotel in the Cabo de Gata natural park.

Sources said this process lets Carboneras know the judgement is final.

The history of the half-built hotel has been a colourful one, with the 2003 building licences being deemed either legal or illegal in various court decisions.

A demolition order was proposed in October 2011.

Secretary of state for the Ministry of the Environment, Teresa Ribera, backed the order at the time and referred to the hotel as a “symbol which should disappear as soon as possible.” Greenpeace got involved in May 2014, leaving the message “Hotel illegal” painted on the facade.

However, 200 residents of Carboneras arrived at the hotel and shouted: “Yes to the hotel, we want the hotel,” whilst amending the sign to read “Hotel legal”.

Organiser of the protest, Pascual Diaz, said: “We would like the hotel open, to inject money and bring jobs to the town.”