Post by davexf on Apr 4, 2020 17:05:28 GMT 1
MAURA HILLEN STANDS DOWN AS PRESIDENT OF AUAN
Maura Hillen has stepped down as President of Abusos Urbanísticos Andalucía No (AUAN), after 11 years in the position, during which she received an MBE from the British government for her work. Maura will continue as an external consultant and spokesperson for the Association, to help the new President, David Fisher, from Chiclana, a city with 15,000 alegal houses, at least during the period of transition.
Maura says “It has been many years, with, logically, some emotional and physical wear and tear. Many journeys, meetings and above all many concerns. I did what I could. I am pleased to think that we have resolved problems for many families. I remember how things were in the beginning, with the shock suffered by foreign buyers when they discovered that their house was illegal, that it had no papers and that it ran the risk of being demolished. But, united in a common cause and with the help and advice of our Lawyer, Gerardo Vazquez, and with the help also of the political parties, IU, PSOE, PP and later Ciudadanos, other associations, professional bodies, academics and more, we have prevented many houses from falling under the bulldozer. In fact, working together were have brought about five legislative changes to make urban planning more sensible. I am content and I thank you all, as well as the members of AUAN and its committee for their support throughout the years”.
Gerardo Vazquez adds “What can I say about Maura? Many good things of course. I think that she has devoted most of her time over many years to the association. It would be a rare day when I did not communicate with her several times. She has always been willing to help with what is asked of her. And it has not been easy. In fact, many times it has been very difficult. We have had to suffer many setbacks, criticisms and external attacks. And thanks to Maura we overcame them. Without her it would have been impossible. I remember, on various occasions, how we discussed the latest setback on the way back from Madrid and Maura was always willing to continue and to try again. I have to say that it has been an adventure. And during this adventure Maura has been the quiet and measured voice. When Maura speaks it astonishes me to see how the room quietens. It has been a pleasure to work alongside her and I thank her no only personally but on behalf of the thousands of people that she has helped. Maura, I hope to continue the struggle in your company in one form or another”.
The new AUAN president is David Fisher from Chiclana, current president of a neighbourhood association in Chiclana called ChiFRA and the press officer for Age Concern Costa de la Luz Sur. David explains, “Although Maura has set the bar very high for me, I am very grateful for this opportunity to continue fighting at the Andalusian level where there are some 300,000 illegal homes that lack sanitation, drinking water and electricity (in Spanish “Saneamiento, Agua potable, y Sal = S.A.L. por favor) or they cannot get property deeds.
Also, I appreciate the opportunity to do something to help solve the serious urban problem that exists in Chiclana, with some 15,000 homes without drinking water. Currently, this is a problem aggravated by the existing health crisis. What does the City Council want, that the citizens leave their houses to get drinking water from a public stand pipe in the road? I am also very concerned that, given the contamination of wells used by many homes, there was a possibility that the COVID-19 virus would infect us in this way.”
David continues, “As always in Chiclana urbanism, there are too many questions, and instead of questions, we want solutions. During my term we are going to tell the Mayor of Chiclana, that they have wasted time by poor urban planning management, and that it is time for them to start giving solutions to these problems through Decreto 3/2019 that allows the declaration of the AFO status of their homes, thus allowing people to access basic services. We will insist on it, and we will do everything legally necessary so that the City Council does it.
