The Andalusian Ombudsman has issued a resolution reprimanding Salobreña Town Council for applying the waste collection fee to cortijos and rural homes where the service is not effectively provided.

It was the local, conservative, opposition party, Partido Popular, that brought this to the attention of the Regional Ombudsman because it considered that the ruling party had infringed current legislation by requiring payment of this rubbish-collection tax in areas without nearby containers or where garbage collection is not actually provided.

The PP says that the Mayor’s party is charging this tax when there are no rubbish hoppers within 300 metres of cortijos and in some cases where no service is provided at all.

Furthermore, the PP Spokesperson says that the Town Council has refused to comply with the Ombudsman’s instructions to return the sums charged to the property owners.

“It is unacceptable that rural residents continue to be charged for a service they do not receive. The Andalusian Ombudsman has been clear, and the Town Council must comply with the resolution and return the money improperly charged,” read the communiqué from the the local PP branch.

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

Keywords, Cortijos, Rural Housing, Rubbish-Collection Tax, No Collection Service Provided, Regional Ombudsman

news, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, salobrena, cortijos, rural housing, rubbish-collection tax, no collection service provided, regional ombudsman

Reader’s comment: “Moot point maybe, but doesn’t the rubbish from these properties end up in the waste processing system somehow whether through local basura, or one more distant (unless it gets burned of buried on the property)? Theoretically someone gets to pick up the tab for processing and disposal of the rubbish; and while it’s under discussion, what about the mountains of builders waste and objects from house clearance that get dumped at recycling points? Hmm.. I wonder if this gets accounted for in building or renovation licences?” – George