The ruling and main opposition parties have very different opinions of how the Plaza de la Libertad has turned out. That’s the one that was a car-parking area in front of the old Hacienda office.

According to the PSOE and IU opposition parties it has the glumness of the Valle de los Caidos (the Valley of the Fallen war memorial, built by Franco using slave labour).

As for the cost of eliminating much-needed parking, they see the 292,774-euro price tag as “out of proportion.” Furthermore the socialists question how funds earmarked for rural infrastructure (lanes, ditches, etc) should end up being spent in the centre of town.

In short, the square looks worse than it did before, they believe. Even the residents of the square don’t like it, apparently, and the fountain already has the nickname “the sarcophagus.”

Councillor for Infrastructure Management, Nicolás Navarro (PP), threatened to sue the IU leader if she “continued with her “slander” against the ruling party, questioning the legality of its actions.

Editorial comment: Quite apart from whether it’s an eyesore or not, the Town Council has annihilated a major parking area at the top of town, whilst the blue-zone between the Al Campo roundabout and the Port Road stands empty of parked cars because some can’t pay and others won’t.

News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)