A neighbourhood association for Nerja and Maro is collecting signatures against the macro, urban development project that includes an 18-hole golf course in Maro.

The project, which also includes 680 dwellings and several luxury hotels, is to be situated in an area known as the Pago de Tetúan. The building developers behind it are Sociedad Azucarera Larios S. A. (Salsa).

Salsa (Larios) owns 250 hectares of land in the Maro area, as well as more land on El Playazo, as well as in the centre of Nerja.

The neighbourhood association has so far collected 700 signatures to demand that the Town Hall, governed by a tripartite council, does not sign the deal or even consider it at a Plenary Meeting of the Town Council.

The association has also proposed alternative ideas for the land concerned, involving sustainable agriculture and/or environmental tourism.

The Town Hall, on the other hand, or more specifically the Mayor, Rosa Arrabal and the Counillor for Urban Development, have said that they do not agree with the deal which was drawn up by the previous municipal administration under the conservative party (PP) and that they are at present negotiating certain changes to the original deal with Larios.

The Mayor also points out that whatever happens, these sort of land-development projects need the approval of the Regional Government, anyway.

(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)