The Senate approves the proposal to change the Spanish Coastal Law and try to save homes in the public domain

This Tuesday, during the plenary session of the Senate, the green light was given to take into consideration the Bill presented by the Popular Parliamentary Group, aimed at modifying the Coastal Law. The main objective of this proposal is "to allow the survival of coastal urban complexes of traditional typology on land that has become public maritime-terrestrial domain." As happens on the coast of Dénia with the thousands of houses affected by the Spanish Coastal Law of 1988.

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Francisco Bernabé and Vicente Tejedo, PP senators, explained the reasons for the proposal, explaining that it establishes three requirements for the protection of these urban complexes. These requirements are that they have cultural, historical or ethnographic values ​​that deserve to be conserved, that they are integrated into the coastal landscape environment and that they exist prior to their inclusion in the maritime-terrestrial domain.

The Popular Group justified its proposal by arguing that the vacancies or demolitions of these urban complexes do not guarantee the recovery of the ecosystem, leaving highly degraded spaces. For this reason, they consider it necessary to establish a legislative framework to protect these urban centers, identify them and recognize their own values ​​in each case, as well as provide tools that avoid vacancy or demolition files.

Finally, the vote reflected majority support for the proposition, with 153 senators in favor. This support came mainly from the Popular Group, with 143 votes. In addition to the four from the Plural Group of Junts and Agrupación Herreña Independiente; three from the United Left Group (one from the senator from the Gomera Socialist Group, one from Más Madrid and one from Coalició Compromís) and the remaining three votes in favor, from the Mixed Group (one from Unión del Pueblo Navarro and two from Vox).

On the other hand, the proposal was opposed by 96 votes, mainly from the Socialist Group (89), the Basque Parliamentary Group (6) and the Confederal Left Parliamentary Group (1). In addition, 10 senators abstained: eight from the Left Parliamentary Group for Independence, one from the BNG and one from the Plural Parliamentary Group.

The case of Dénia and its representation in the Senate

Those affected by the law on the Dénia coast also had support in Madrid. More than 52 coastal associations were present at the Senate Plenary Session, among which were a representation of the Association in Defense of the North Beaches of Dénia and its president, Francisco Ros.

The approved proposal will now go to Congress to continue its parliamentary process, "with the drawback that the socialist party has the majority," declared the president of the association in the Marina Alta. Furthermore, this proposal, at the moment, does not have a processing date. However, Ros has ventured that the possibilities may be favorable, since "there are several minority groups that have supported the modification proposal."

The annulment of the latest General Coastal Regulation of 2022

On February 8, the Association in Defense of the North Beaches of Dénia met with the General Director of Coasts of the Valencian Community, Vicent Martínez Mus, with the aim of knowing the status of development of the Coastal Law in the Community. Valencian. According to Ros, the Director General of Costas expressed his commitment to the protection of all existing urban plans and homes, ensuring that if necessary expropriation would be carried out paying the corresponding fair price, "and not the confiscation that is currently being carried out." just".

And the fact is that, on the same day of the meeting with those affected by Dénia, the Supreme Court annulled Royal Decree 668/2022 that modified the General Coastal Regulation, due to omission of the public consultation process, as reported by the Affected Platform through appeal. by the Formentera Coast Demarcation. With this, "all demarcations made based on the 2022 regulations have been paralyzed and it will be necessary to carry out new demarcations," stressed the president of the association in Dénia.

The prolific meeting with the Director General of Coasts assured those affected of what was accomplished this week in the Senate Plenary. A step forward for the 3.600 families with properties in Dénia that have been affected by the law and its regulations, until now. The cancellation of the last one will make "the entire process start from scratch", something that gives a ray of hope to all the Spanish associations affected so that the new documents take into account the opinion of the citizens and, in addition, provide lasting protection , permanent and sustainable the coastline without undermining "the rights of the neighbors."