Anti-squatter Politician Caught Squatting On Protected Land — With Chairs And A Drinks Menu

Visitors hoping for a serene hike to 1 of Valencia’s astir celebrated viewpoints precocious recovered nan view… blocked. Not by fog aliases trees, but by a section Vox councillor who appears to person confused nationalist onshore pinch backstage property.

The funny lawsuit takes spot successful Estivella, wherever José Ramón Mateu — businessman, Vox councillor and, apparently, aspiring feudal lord — decided to cordon disconnected portion of nan Garbí viewpoint to build a barroom and complaint visitors for access. The problem? The onshore belongs to nan municipality hall.

According to Levante-EMV, everything escalated erstwhile locals headed up to observe nan Nit de les Estreles (Night of nan Stars) and recovered not constellations, but a padlocked fence, rows of integrative chairs, and a freshly secured ermita filled pinch tables. The original fastener had been surgery and replaced. Mateu claims he bought nan land. The politician insists this is “impossible”, arsenic nan area is registered arsenic nationalist municipal property.

Spanish surrealism

To make matters moreover much surreal, Mateu had submitted a connection to instal a refreshment guidelines — connected Friday July 18. It hadn’t moreover been reviewed when, nan very adjacent day, he stormed successful pinch folding chairs and a caller lock, for illustration a fund Bond villain mounting up a themed cocktail lounge.

Sources adjacent to nan assembly opportunity their keys nary longer unfastened nan gates. And yes — Mateu allegedly wants to complaint group to enter. Because if there’s 1 point Spain’s earthy beauty needs, it’s a screen charge.

A 40-metre-high illuminated cross

But hold — there’s more. The councillor’s imagination includes a 40-metre-high illuminated cross, a hiker accusation constituent and a full-scale revival of la fonda del Garbí, an aged upland lodge. The issue? The full area has been portion of a protected earthy parkland since 2002. According to Valencian law, only conservation-friendly activities are allowed. Replacing stars pinch spotlights doesn’t rather meet nan brief.

It’s much than a small ironic that Vox regularly whips up fearfulness complete alleged “squatters” taking complete Spain, erstwhile successful reality, little than 0.06% of homes are affected by unlawful business — acold from nan nationalist situation they often suggest.

The anti-squatter squatting

And yet, while nan statement rails against imagined threats to backstage property, 1 of its ain councillors has efficaciously “squatted” connected nationalist land, locking nan gross down him and putting up chairs. If anything, this is simply a textbook lawsuit of forbidden business — conscionable pinch amended PR and a barroom menu

Unfazed, Mateu insists he has nan deeds, went to a notary, and — successful existent bulldog tone — declared: “Let them return maine to court. I’m consenting to walk immoderate it takes connected lawyers.” A classical emotion story: man meets mountain, man ignores nationalist ownership, man installs barroom and blames bureaucracy.

The municipality hallway has reported nan incident to SEPRONA, Spain’s quality protection unit, while galore locals are near wondering whether nan adjacent astonishment will beryllium a toll booth astatine nan guidelines of nan trail.