A Gazette online reader writes in to inform about a fire affecting a wooden building that was accidentally set on fire by a squatter.
Hello,
I am an owner of a house in Punta de La Mona on the Cotobro side.
Yesterday evening an ocupa started a bonfire at the small house that belonged to the seven star hotel, which caused massive fire and Bomberos were needed to come to extinguish the fire that almost reached my house.
The ocupa [squatter] was taken by the Policia Local and by today he had already been released and came back.
Maybe this is important to publish concerning the squatter problem.
B. M.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
The squatter issue is a thorny one, especially if they use amenities illegally, or become almost legal in the squat, by obtaining local, town-hall recognition.
But what is far worse, is the places that sit empty (they are countless) which could be put to good use.
So instead of living with Mum and Dad for ages, young people and families could have a home, at a reasonable rent – not tourist rent, but better than leaving places empty.