Around 300 residents of Lomo Negro will assemble today, starting at 6:00 p.m., at the cultural centre in Los Cristianos to protest and put forward various suggestions to the Arona City Council in order to formalise their status and ensure the continuity of their residences in this area situated near El Fraile.
The “unlawful community” of Lomo Negro, spanning approximately 400,000 square metres of rural agricultural land, has been under scrutiny and legal proceedings for years. The Civil Guard and the Canary Islands Agency for the Preservation of the Natural Environment have both investigated this unauthorised development, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office also conducting its own ongoing inquiry.
As per current regulations, this land is not permitted for residential use under any circumstances. Nevertheless, numerous houses have been erected on the land, with water connections documented before 2015, a situation that contradicts its classification as rural land.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The Association of Lomo Negro Residents, acting on behalf of the community, has outlined to DIARIO DE AVISOS various proposals that they have devised and will present to the relevant authorities to address this issue. The primary suggestion involves a reclassification of the land to that of a rural settlement. The residents believe that this specific alteration can regularise their situation. Moreover, they request a halt to the ongoing administrative processes and advocate for a form of “pardon” that would allow the properties to be legalised without incurring fines (ranging from 80,000 to 150,000 euros) or immediate evictions.
The residents are proactive and cooperative, stating their willingness to cooperate. In line with this, they propose dedicating a portion of the plots to cultivation and utilising renewable energies as part of their commitment to the environment and sustainable development of the area.
A resident who has resided in Lomo Negro for over 5 years expresses her apprehensions: “We desire to live peacefully, assured that our homes are in compliance and that we will not face sudden eviction. We are ready to collaborate with the city council and provide whatever is necessary to regularise our status.”
A Demonstration as a PIVOTAL MOMENT
Today’s demonstration outside the cultural centre serves not only to capture the attention of municipal authorities, as voiced by several of those impacted, but also aims to raise public awareness about the predicament of hundreds of families who have built their lives in Lomo Negro and now face eviction from their homes in a matter of days. “It is illogical: around 300 individuals will be displaced and there are no alternative accommodations being offered,” they bemoan.
The community anticipates that “the council will consider their suggestions and initiate a constructive dialogue to reach a just and sustainable resolution for all.” They believe that the gathering at the cultural centre in Los Cristianos marks a critical juncture in the battle for the legalisation of their homes or, at least, in the quest to initiate a dialogue.
