Town hall property purchase wins legal backing

BENITACHELL town hall’s €228,000 purchase of a property to convert into modern offices for the council has been given a legal green light.

The acquisition of the unfinished apartment block on the corner of Calle Capelles will now go ahead and allow the local authority to centralise its various department teams.

Mayor Miguel Ángel García presented legal reports to an emergency meeting of the council called by members of the opposition – accusing them of trying to 'paralyse' the town hall’s governing team.

Former mayor Josep Femenia – whose government was toppled by a vote of no confidence last year - sparked the controversy by expressing his doubts whether the purchase could go ahead financed by council revenue.

However, Mr García hit back saying the move was endorsed by lawyers working for the Alicante provincial government as well as an independent legal opinion.

He said because the purchase was less than 10% of the council’s budget he was authorised in law to go ahead with the purchase.

He said the current town hall in the centre of the village would continue to function and it would be expanded into an adjoining house acquired by the previous government.

Mr García said it was planned that facilities at the town hall would remain 'small' and in the new building 'we will group together the administrative services.'