By Linda Hall • Published: 05 Nov 2019 • 11:00
EXTREME WEATHER: Calpe has suffered flooding in the past Photo credit: Mine
THE Marina Alta was recently subjected to two bouts of extreme weather conditions in the same month. The gota fria or what Spanish meteorologists now prefer to call an Isolated High-level Depression (DANA) habitually occurs in late summer and autumn but owing to climate change, these are now more frequent. A Sustainability Observatory (OS) report warned not long ago that the Marina Alta is one of 15 Spanish hotspots susceptible to flooding. The coast between Javea and Valencia City has more vulnerable urban zones than any other area in Spain, found the OS, which also mentioned Calpe. The OS pointed out that tourism has produced “important developments” in areas clearly at risk from flooding without taking this into account. The OS findings coincided with claims from Calpe’s Cultural-Ecologist Association (ACEC) which warned that the 606-bed hotel due to be built in the El Saladar district is located on a site prone to flooding and has a vulnerable ecosystem. This appears to have been overlooked when the Italian company AR Hotels was given planning permission to build the two 35-storey blocks near Calpe’s salt beds, the association said. The ACEC acknowledged that the hotel’s location does not theoretically prevent it from being built, so long as special measures including reinforced foundations are taken. But whether or not the two blocks are finally constructed depends on the Valencia region’s Upper Court of Justice following an appeal from Opposition councilors. This was not based on the hotel’s location but the fact that it exceeded the permitted volume of construction based on the size of the site. See more Costa Blanca North News
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Originally from the UK, Linda is based in Valenca and is a reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering local news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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