GREEN groups have praised a decision by the Junta to finally repossess the land on which Spain’s most controversial hotel has been built.
Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Accion have hailed the agreement to return €2.3 million to the developer of the Algarrobico Hotel, in Almeria.
After the money, already paid in licence fees has been returned, it is understood demolition of the illegal hotel can begin.
A spokesman for Ecologistas said: “This is a positive step and shows a change in the politics of the Junta.”
Greenpeace coastal protection specialist Pilar Marcos added: “It’s an intelligent decision.”
Constructor Azata del Sol has been fighting hard to stop the process, which has so far seen an incredible 94% of the hotel built.
While Spain’s High Court has so far issued four decrees against it, builders continued to construct the hotel on the beach inside the stunning Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
The Junta has now slammed the actions of Azata, which refused to voluntarily hand over the building after the land was ruled out of bounds for development.
Dubbed ‘Hotel illegal’ by Greenpeace protesters in 2006, work on the 400-room complex was halted when the Junta claimed licences were sold under an ‘illegal’ contract.
However, a series of u-turns have led to a bizarre contradictory stance by different authorities.
A final ruling by the Supreme Court next month will be the final nail in the coffin for the hotel.
