The Motril Town Hall, in response to public opposition to the firework shop in the centre of town, will change the PGOU in order to make the already issued building licence null and void.
The owner of the shop, which is under construction, is not impressed at all; in fact he is livid, as he had every class of permission necessary, from the Junta as well as the Town Hall. The said shop has a reinforced bunker in the cellar for the storage of material.
However, after the recent accident at the firework factory, belonging to the same company, Pirotécnica Martín, resulting in two deaths when an explosion ripped through one of the preparation rooms, los Motrileños are decidedly jumpy over the mere mention of firework installations.
The conservative-run Town Council, headed by Mayor Luisa García Chamorro, probably sensing the general disaffection with her party across the land, is anxious to avoid alienating itself further from potential voters by siding (justly) with Pirotécnica Martín.
The shop is so close to completion that it was planning to open its door for Christmas, selling party fireworks etc. The shop does not stock the more powerful devices used for large displays, so the concern shown by locals is completely groundless.
That has not stopped the Town Council, however, modifying the PGOU (General Urban Development Plan) to include that such establishments cannot exist within 250 metres of housing.
As the conservatives enjoy an absolute majority, they will have no problem pushing the decision through the Town Council.
But not all the blame can be put at the door of the conservatives as the principal opposition party has already announced that it will abstain during the voting session.
The shop owner announced ominously, “This is not the end of it, I am going to move heaven and earth.”
Editorial Comment: it is impossible to view this ‘slight of hand’ as anything less than a a stab in the back for a local business that has faithfully followed all required legalities and spent a fortune on this venture. The Vice-Mayor justifies this ‘tweaking’ of the existing PGOU as necessary to guarantee the safety of the town’s citizens.
(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)