A test that was carried out at the controversial crematorium, created a fresh round of protests from neighbouring locals. It should be remembered that despite the installations being completely legal, the Town Hall refuses to issue an operating licence, due to ‘neighbourhood opposition.’ The Council defends its refusal pointing to a modification in the PGOU – one that was made after the installations were finished, however.
If there ever was a case of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) it is this one, because everybody agrees that a crematorium is sorely needed, yet even though those very people who protested might need the facilities at some point in the future, they would prefer that somebody else has it at their back door – a bit like nuclear waste.
The company that built the installations three years ago and would be running them are angry because the crematorium is completely legal from A to Z, but the Town Hall will not issue the operating licence…fearing a loss of votes, of course. The company pumped half a million euros into the installations, so its non-functioning obviously hurts.
The locals of El Balcón de San Fernando, on the other hand, have even carried out hunger strikes to prevent it opening.
On the day of the test, when the oven was fired up empty, locals burst into the installations, shouting insults.