Parcent Party

Residents of a tiny Costa Blanca community threw a party to celebrate victory in a long campaign to prevent three massive developments swamping fragile countryside.

Plans for hundreds of new homes surrounding the village of Parcent were finally laid to rest by the Valencia government after nearly four years of fighting by pressure group Veins de Parcent and latterly the town council.

It was good excuse for a celebration and 200 members of the pressure group and guests gathered in a local restaurant to toast victory.

In January 2006 the then Partido Popular ruled local authority gave provisional approval to the three development schemes despite massive opposition – the decision coming days before the controversial LRAU ‘land grab’ law was laid to rest.

The neighbourhood group formed to overturn the ‘PAIs’ and the current council was elected the following year promising Parcent Town Hall would add its weight to the cause – recruiting the backing of MEPs along the way by making the village a “model example” of democracy at work.

STONE

In October the regional government ruled against the plans and last month – after an appeal by the developers – set the decision in stone.

However, on a more cautious note, five town councillors still face a criminal trial on charges brought by the largest developer accusing them of breaching the law in decisions taken to veto the plans.

The Parcent five have appeared before a judge at Denia to make statements but a ruling has yet to be made on the future of the case.

Meanwhile, Valencia’s decision has been heralded as a “very good omen” by campaigners across Spain fighting against developments that ignore the human rights of property owners and seeking to protect the environment.