Ready to protect rural land
Agency will take action against illegal building, not town halls in half of the region
THE REGIONAL land protection agency (AVPT) opened for business in Elche on Wednesday.
It will take over exclusive responsibility for protecting the legality of urban development on land classified as not for building on, in those municipalities that have signed up.
“So far 215 (out of 542) of the region’s municipalities have agreed in full council meetings to pass these powers to the agency,” said regional councillor for territorial policy Arcadi España.
“Affiliated town halls will no longer initiate sanctions or restore illegalities committed from this date on, as the agency will assume effective responsibility and will be responsible for processing, resolving and enforcing them, although municipalities that have specifically requested can send in violations from before this date.”
AVPT president Imma Orozco said this was ‘an important achievement that will help to prevent illegalities being committed on rural land, which is a limited and non-renewable resource that it is fundamental to preserve for the fight against climate change’.
“The rules are there to obey and the agency is starting the complicated task of acting in a dissuasory and exemplary manner, on the understanding that prevention is the most effective method of protection,” she said.
The agency’s managing director, Manolo Civera highlighted the effort that was required to set it up from zero, adding that its personnel would be completed by the end of this year.
“The collaboration of town halls and the security forces will be vital so they can be the eyes of the agency on the ground,” he said.
The AVPT will also enable the conclusion of procedures to minimise environmental and territorial impact that were established in the LOTUP regional land law, in that it will be possible to comply with the requirement for licences granted by town halls to be supervised by the agency.
In order to encourage more municipalities to sign up to the agency, it was due to hold a meeting yesterday with the existing members, provincial governments and other regional government departments.
Elche town planning councillor Ana Arabid praised this example of the regional government’s willingness to decentralise its administration from Valencia.
“The agency will doubtless help to protect our land more effectively by promoting rational and sustainable use of land,” she said.
“The principal objective is the AVPT is to draw up an inspection plan to prevent illegalities on land not for building, and raise awareness that nobody can build without a municipal licence.”