Torremuelle watch tower could return to former state

THE surroundings of the old watch tower in Torremuelle may be about to return to their initial state as changes made around the tower may have been made without permission.

The council has announced that unless a nearby restaurant which built a wall, added seating and made other changes in the area back in 2012 can prove it had permission, it will be ordered to undo the work.

The matter has been causing arguments between locals for years and Torremuelle residents have been fighting for the tower, declared a BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest) and believed to have been in place since Roman times, to have its original looks restored. In fact more than 1,000 signatures were collected against the work at the time.

Although Benalmadena council halted the work in 2012, locals believe the halt was conveniently delayed and report that the work was rushed, possibly in an aim to get it done before the halt was put into effect.

The former council team stressed during disputes that the Junta de Andalucia regional government had approved the work, deciding it had no negative impact on the tower and in fact even improved the area.

Yet the locals refused to back down and took the matter to the ombudsman last summer, who accepted the case for consideration, and now the new council team has given the restaurant two weeks to present their proof of permissions.