We reported last month on the movement created by a group of young Herradureños, to make La Herradura a local autonomous entity. In other words, to break free from Almuñécar and have it’s own Town Hall and control over a local budget. It seems that, not only has the movement gained momentum with a large number of new members, but has also attracted the attention of the four opposition parties, according to their spokesperson Juan Carlos Cacín Barbero.
The weekly meetings have recently been attended by representatives from the PP, PSOE, IU and PA, all of whom have voiced ‘initial support’ for the movement. Let’s face it, politicians will hang onto the coat tails of any movement that appears even slightly popular, until it’s not longer needed of course.
The independence group have even tried to get a meeting with the Town Hall to voice their views, but they appear to have been ‘knocked back’, or at least slowed down, “After a meeting with the PA, which was attended by Louis Aragon and Manue Novo, we completed the first round of interviews and requested a formal meeting through the Deputy Mayor for La Herradura, Maria Victoria Ruiz. However, we have been given a preliminary date for this meeting to be held next June, the reason given that there are no free calendar dates until that time. We have taken this as a ‘no’, but we would still like to know the present and honest view of the government, and we have done everything possible to establish this”, said another group spokesperson, Mark Arenas.
The group are looking to hold a meeting involving all the parties just after the Easter holidays, in order to get cross-party agreement which would lead to a full council meeting where their proposals for independence could be heard.
In the meantime, the group continue to recruit members, which seems to be going very well, with over 100 joining in the first couple of weeks according to Mark Arenas. In addition there will be information published locally, “Where we will provide information to local people and interested parties on the movement and its goals. The campaign of information will also include flyers and brochures explaining what it would mean to have more power in La Herradura, and how taxes could be reinvested in the town itself, for example”, said Cacín.
We will continue to report on the progress of the group as they press for their dream of an independent La Herradura.