The residents of Lomo Negro have once again demonstrated this Friday in defence of their right to adequate housing and to demand public drinking water and irrigation facilities.
Dozens of locals from Lomo Negro, situated in Arona, marched this afternoon seeking a resolution to end the threats of penalties and demolitions of their homes. The protest commenced in Lomo Negro around 11:30 and concluded at 12:30 in the Plaza de Las Galletas.
“We have been sold a dream and now the Council wants to demolish our houses. We urge the Council to listen to us. We are homeowners, residents with nowhere else to go. These are our homes. Lomo Negro will not be demolished,” stated a spokesperson towards the end of the march.
“There are 520 of us living here, including children, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities… and we are without water,” she continued.
To resolve this issue, the Lomo Negro Residents’ Association advocates for the Council to initiate procedures to reclassify the land as a Rural Settlement through a specific amendment of the planning regulations and to suspend the ongoing administrative sanctioning processes while considering an amnesty, similar to past instances.
The president of the Lomo Negro Residents’ Association, María del Rosario xx, called upon the mayor of Arona to provide an immediate solution, prioritising the water supply service.
The community believes they are facing unjust treatment compared to other situations, noting that in the same vicinity where Lomo Negro is situated, the land has been designated as a Rural Settlement to assist its residents.
The workers residing in Lomo Negro are perplexed by the discriminatory treatment they endure, facing threats of fines ranging between 80,000 and 150,000 euros, as well as the prospect of having to demolish their homes.
As the residents become increasingly organised through their Association, they have conducted meetings with the Mayor and the Councillor for Urban Development, where they have demonstrated their willingness to seek a resolution and indicated that they will initiate further actions, continuing to mobilise for their right to housing.
