The Official State Gazette published authorisation for Aguas Bellavista, S.L to build a water, bottling plant within Villamena.

This authorisation enables them to extract water (aguas minero-medicinales) and bottle it for the next 25 years. It was awarded without prejudice to third party rights and without excluding the necessity of obtaining other necessary authorisations required by law.

The BOE does not state that the company needs to undergo an environmental prevention procedure, it is located in the vicinity of the Padul Lagoons, which is included in the Andalusian Wetlands Inventory and located within the Sierra Nevada Natural Park and Special Conservation Area. It further states that work must commence within six month.

However, the Mayor of Villamena, Manuel Luís Vílchez, was unequivocal in his response to the BOE. He said that although the company already has authorisation from the Junta de Andalucía to extract water, he and his cabinet would not give permission for the construction of a bottling plant.

Without this permission the only thing that the company can build is a 20-sq/m store, which is all present legislation permits; you can only build on two percent of the total area on agricultural land.

(News: Villamena, Valle de Lecrin, Granada, Andalucia)