Pong protest gathers pace
Ex- councillor authored report backing controversial manure plant plan
THE COMPULSORY landscape integration report for the controversial manure treatment plant in Orihuela was drawn up by the municipality’s former Partido Popular ( PP) councillor for environment, Miguel Ángel Fernández, revealed opposition Cambiemos Orihuela councillor Carlos Bernabé on Monday
He noted that the project is promoted by the big farming company Grupo Lucas.
“It is the same old story” said Sr Bernabé.
“The ones in power are trying to make big money by destroying the environment.”
Sr Bernabé announced that his party has submitted a petition to reject the project to the full council meeting. and will urge council officers to issue a negative report on the project.
He claimed that the landscape integration report argues that if the scheme is not given the go- ahead, there will be a great risk of pollution.
“Is it a warning or a threat to get what they want?” he wondered.
The plant is planned to be built on a plot by the CV- 949 between Torremendo and the RM- 1 motorway from San Javier to Santomera, very close to
the boundary between Murcia region and Alicante province.
The project is on public display until the end of the month and environmental and residents’ associations, and councils of nearby villages in Murcia region have announced that they will submit complaints against the scheme.
According to the documents
on display, the plant is to mix garden and farming waste with dung from nearby farms to produce compost and natural fertilisers for the farming industry in Murcia and Alicante.
The plant is planned to treat nearly 100,000 tonnes of dung and waste a year and the company has applied for a 30- yearlicence.
The dung and the garden and farming waste are to be piled up outdoors in 30- metrewide, 200- metre- long and twometrehigh rows.
The plot stands between the Sierra del Cristo and Sierra Pujálvarez mountains, which are an extension of the Sierra Escalona mountains.