Tourist resort in the forest, claim
THE PROJECT to construct a campsite with a visitors’ centre and a farm for school activities in a protected area of the Sierra Escalona mountains near Torremendo has been labelled ‘an undercover tourist resort’ by the Cambiemos Orihuela opposition party.
According to Cambiemos councillor Carlos Bernabé, the development is earmarked to be in a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.
He noted the project includes a swimming pool, gym, supermarket, social club, handicraft shop, sports courts, tourist bungalows and leisure activities.
Sr Bernabé warned that it presents a serious threat to the ecosystem due to the amount of noise and waste that would be produced. He also claimed that it would not help to boost Torremendo’s economy.
The councillor pointed out that the campsite offers ‘all the services’ and local shops would not receive additional customers from the campsite.
He reminded that the Sierra Escalona was supposed to have been turned into a natural park more than 10 years ago, but the area has been targeted for ‘speculation purposes’.
Orihuela council is due to put the environmental impact assessment report for the campsite on display in the coming days and both Cambiemos and the environmental association Amigos de Sierra Escalona have announced that they will submit objections and ‘do their best to stop this project’.
Sr Bernabé said only environmentally sustainable projects should be allowed in protected areas and urged the regional government to speed up the procedure to turn the Sierra Escalona into a natural park.