Two things: a PGOU is an urban development plan to which a town hall must conform when it comes to building plans. A PGOU is presented by a municipality before the Junta who will approve it or not. A town council can ‘tweak’ a PGOU, but only so far ,without going back to the Junta for approval.

Secondly, the Alcoholera is the old factory were sugar cane was processed. Today only the chimney stack and a few old buildings remain. It is situated near the municipal swimming pool.

Right, fearing that the Town Council are up to no good, Buxus has lodged a proposal to have the site declared of Cultural Value (Bien de Interés Cultural) and thus prevent ‘development’ of the factory grounds.

According to the said association, the modifications put forward by the Mayor do not align with the standing PGOU where the factory is concerned but rather “collide with the obligation to protect it.” For this reason Buxus has demanded that the Mayor desist with her cabinets intentions.

It appears that the Mayor has plans to turn it into a multi-cinema and leisure centre. It should be remembered that the Azucarera Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza is a testament to the Revolución Industrial in Andalucía, Buxus insists.

The factory was built in 1855 and had its industrial-labour upheavals resulting in a fire 1901. After the Civil War, during the Franco regime, it was turned into a place of imprisonment for political prisoners where many locals were incarcerated or worse.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)