Carmena’s Team Dismisses Proposals For Cuatro Caminos

19 May 2016 – Expansión

The Town Hall of Madrid has rejected plans for the old engine sheds in Cuatro Caminos presented by the Metropolitan Residential Cooperative because it considers that they breach the General Urban Development Plan.

The Town Hall explained that the proposal must be redirected legally because, otherwise, “it would infringe the legally established rules”. It also warned that the reason for the breach of the General Plan is due to Metro’s refusal to modify the level of the engine sheds, on the basis that such a change would make it impossible to access to them from the current tunnel under Calle Reina Victoria.

According to the Town Hall, the Partial Plan and the proposed development deviate from the objectives and conditions established, given that the engine sheds would remain at their current level, even though the General Plan requires them to be placed underground. “There are alternatives and we hope that this project will be sorted out soon so as to fulfil the expectations of the cooperative members”, said a representative from the Government’s Sustainable Urban Development Department, José Manuel Calvo.

Sources from the cooperative consulted by Expansión expressed their surprise and indignation because, after more than a year of meetings with technicians and managers from the Town Hall, they are now reporting a “very serious legal problem”, which has not been mentioned until now. “We understand that this is more about the political battle between the Town Hall and the Community (of Madrid)”, say the sources, who lament the fact that the hostages in this battle are 450 families.

The same sources also warn that they are considering taking legal action against those responsible for this situation and that they do not rule out bringing criminal charges or filing an administrative appeal against the Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the Town Hall explained that, with this decision, it is seeking to eliminate the “serious legal uncertainties” that would result from a breach of the General Urban Development Plan and whereby provide the cooperative members with “greater legal guarantees”.

Original story: Expansión

Translation: Carmel Drake