HIGH-RISE DEBATE

Residents oppose building near Calpe Salinas but council says it's protecting Roman ruins

GIVING a controversial green light to new high-rise development in a Costa Blanca resort is part of a delicate environmental balancing act, claim politicians.

Calpe town hall has received a 250–signature petition demanding there should be no building on land north of the protected salt lake Las Salinas – home to visiting flamingos – and a demonstration is planned for tomorrow (Saturday).

However, the council maintains it has removed a height restriction for construction at Plaroche to protect another important site, the Queen’s Baths and its Roman ruins.

Councillor Carole Saunders explained the land near Las Salinas did have planning permission for development. “There has always been permission to build on this land outside the 100-metre protected border around the lake. For the last 25 years it has been classed as urbanisable.

“The people who own the land at the Queen’s Baths also own this land near Las Salinas; therefore, we will ask them not to build at the historic Roman site – despite a tribunal verdict allowing this – and we will allow them to build higher at Plaroche.”

Mrs Saunders said the protection zone around the lake “would always be in existence”.

And she said allowing higher apartment blocks with underground parking would prevent the construction of one long block of homes. “Instead of a single 10-storey-high building, blocking out everything, the buildings will be higher with spaces in between and gardens around them.”

The politician said it was unfortunate people did not want to understand the situation facing the local authority.

She said Valencia wanted to protect the Queen’s Baths but no one was prepared to pay something like €30 million to compensate owners.

“We are desperately trying to save the Roman site. I have personally campaigned to save Las Salinas for years; development is not something I would agree to lightly,” she added.