Council launch investigation into El Copo payout

A VELEZ-MALAGA council committee, with representation from all local parties, will investigate who is responsible for the 2008 sentence for noise pollution in El Copo.

In the landmark case, the courts ordered a town council to pay 18 Torre del Mar residents €2.8 million euros in compensation for the “noise and nuisance” they had endured from neighbouring bars and discos for 13 years.

A plenary council session agreed, with the votes of all local political parties with the exception of the PSOE socialists, to determine who had been responsible for causing “so much harm” to municipal funds.

It was important to get to the bottom of the matter, said mayor Francisco Delgado Bonilla, and establish whether the former council’s negligence had been responsible for El Copo’s noise levels.

If this were the case, the council would take legal steps to recoup the amount paid.  The sentence was still open, said Delgado Bonillo, as the council has already handed over €2.1 million although Torre de Mar residents were demanding another €3.6 million.

“This is a serious matter that could cost the council more than €6 million,” Delgado said.  “And residents have the right to know what the town hall is doing with their money.”