Approximately 100 inhabitants of the area of Lomo Negro situated in Arona, demonstrated yesterday in front of the Island Council. The residents arranged the protest as a response to orders for the demolition of their residences and concluded their march outside the Cabildo headquarters, where the General Budget for the year 2025 was presented by Rosa Dávila, president, and Lope Afonso, vice president, during a press briefing.
In the main hall, the sound of whistles from the demonstrators resonated while the representatives unveiled the financial details, compelling Dávila to instruct the closure of the room’s doors for the account presentation to proceed more effectively.
The demonstration, organised by the Lomo Negro Neighbourhood Association, reiterated its focus on the right to adequate housing and the demand for effective solutions to the threat of eviction they currently face. Under the slogan “We are not criminals, we are owners!”, the community aimed to bring visibility to their predicament.
Dávila remarked that the situation stems from “a purely local issue and the circumstances are highly complex,” which results in significant challenges in resolving it. Along similar lines, Afonso described the situation as a “matter of adherence to urban planning laws,” clarifying that “it is not under the direct jurisdiction of the Cabildo,” although he assured they are “open to engaging with anyone.” Nevertheless, the residents asserted that they have not received a response after requesting a meeting with the president.
Designated as rural agricultural conservation land, these areas face regulations that ban the construction of residential properties, which led the Natural Environment Protection Agency (ACPMN) to issue demolition directives that were widely received by affected residents last September. Despite the neighbours’ efforts to reach agreements, both the Cabildo and the Arona City Council consider it highly challenging to foresee a solution.
“That is the law. That land cannot be developed until 20 years have elapsed since the last indication of construction,” stated Luís García, the Urban Planning Councillor for Arona, last September concerning this urban development.
“We will go to Madrid”
Chary, the president of the neighbourhood association, voiced her disappointment yesterday after the comments made by island representatives: “We will have to go to Madrid to hold protests in Congress or the Senate.” This organisation, representing approximately 700 individuals residing in about 300 homes, insists that “its members are registered, pay taxes such as IBI and waste collection, and some have water meters installed in their properties.”
As she emphasised, they constructed their homes as an “alternative” to the lack of access to affordable housing within the municipality.
