dimarts, 15 d’abril del 2014
Throughout this week the debate on what to do on the beach of the Ahuir increased
Throughout this week the debate on what to do on the beach of the Ahuir increased sharply on Monday 14 April the social confrontation culminated in a rally rejecting offspring development proposals and policy municipality. We are all local media and Raise the Provinces and in the general edition. We are in Gente, Onda naranja COPE, Radio Gandia SER
dijous, 10 d’abril del 2014
The Auhir beach and the European Parliament.
The last activity we will perform is monitoring the proposals received
from the moment the campaign for the European elections began.
Jordi
Sebastià, COMPROMIS candidate and leader in the PRIMAVERA EUROPEA
candidacy, has been the first one to talk. He has claimed the first
thing he will do in the European Parliament will be asking for some kind
of protection for Ahuir Beach
dimecres, 9 d’abril del 2014
Final report
Third year secondary students of Escolàpies school in Gandia are going to address the issue of the l'Ahuir beach that is currently a very polemical subject in Gandia. An example of the importance of this issue is the amount of media interest being shown, with articles and reports appearing on an almost daily basis. Another example of the social importance is that the issue was a subject of satirical critiques in the recent Fallas.
Why this subject? We are looking into this issue because not only is it currently very topical in our region, it has also been considered important by politicians from higher up the political scale; a good example being the recent declarations by the former minister Cristina Narbona, these being only the latest in the important debate that is taking place. The beach is also very important for tourism in Gandia, something that has been highlighted by the majority of the people interviewed for our project. One of the political parties in the town hall of Gandia COMPROMIS, has presented a parliamentary initiative in the Spanish parliament that will propose the purchase of the beach by the central government
The l'Ahuir beach is one of the few virgin beaches left on the Valencian Mediterranean coast. This affirmation is supported by all the interviewees, the images we have in the blog and anyone who visits the beach. Recently, the municipal government in Gandia has started a debate about the possible development of the beach, as was explained to us by the coordinator of the municipal government, Sr.Victor Soler.
Other important considerations were the facts and legal situation relating to the urban development of the beach. To obtain this information we asked the majority of the interviewees and in addition we spoke with the respected expert in urban planning, Sr. Rafael Durà. In our investigation we have not overlooked the proposals put forward in the competition of ideas, but in addition to these we have had the assistance of the well-known engineer Sr. Bernardino Montserrat
Press
The social debate regarding the future of the l'Ahuir beach is one of the most
recurring themes in the local and regional press lately. Since the local
government raised the possibility of developing the area articles on the
subject have appeared on an almost daily basis, the latest being that the PSPV-PSOE (Valencian socialist party) is currently holding a conference in
Gandia about the influence of the economic crisis on environmental policy.
Debates have been held at the university and the Centre for local study and investigation (CEIC) Alfons el Vell that has published a report on the matter. The Economic Circle of la Safor is also to undertake activities
related to the proposals.
Recent news related to the proposals of the opposition parties
There follows a list of some of the news stories that have appeared about the l'Ahuir beach:
Gente de la Safor
Cadena Ser:
Las Provincias:
El periodic:
El País:
El levante emv:
Saforguia:
Noticias la información:
Europapress:
Arturo Torró:
El boletín:
Infonoticias:
Mundoguia:
Recent news related to the proposals of the opposition partiesThere follows a list of some of the news stories that have appeared about the l'Ahuir beach:
Gente de la Safor
The Green Party of Gandia:
Cadena Ser:
Las Provincias:
El periodic:
El País:
El levante emv:
Saforguia:
Noticias la información:
Europapress:
Arturo Torró:
El boletín:
Infonoticias:
Mundoguia:
These are only some of the news
stories that have appeared about l'Ahuir beach. There are many more because, as
we have mentioned, the debate on the future of the beach is open and public
feeling about the issue is strong.
The Levante newspaper and the magazine "Gente" carry stories about our investigation
The Levante newspaper and
the magazine "Gente" carry stories about our investigation
The newspaper Levante-EMV, in its local edition today, April 2nd, has published an article explaining about our investigation, which forms part of the project "Scola Europa 2014".
The digital magazine and website, Gente de la Safor has also mentioned our investigation,
which reflects the amount of interest in the subject we have chosen for our project.
These facts come to mean the interest of the city and the county that has the theme we have chosen for the work.
Also the newspaper Las Provincias has become prayers of our research
We conducted an information leaflet to spread the coneixemnt Beach Ahuir, the campaign will be Easter in Playa de Gandia during the month of May in the city of Gandia
This is shown in the information leaflet that will be distributed.
There is in diffusion in social networks with a Facebook, Escolàpies Europa Gandia, i twitter @escolapiesEU
In parallel we have organized an online poll in this blog and also be made directly through Saturday in May in the town of Gandia on the street interviews
Indicators for twitter, facebook and monitoring visits this page seems to follow the initiative is so important. Which can support the media presence at Levante newspaper Las Provincias magazine Gente
The newspaper Levante-EMV, in its local edition today, April 2nd, has published an article explaining about our investigation, which forms part of the project "Scola Europa 2014".
The digital magazine and website, Gente de la Safor has also mentioned our investigation,
which reflects the amount of interest in the subject we have chosen for our project.
These facts come to mean the interest of the city and the county that has the theme we have chosen for the work. Also the newspaper Las Provincias has become prayers of our research
We conducted an information leaflet to spread the coneixemnt Beach Ahuir, the campaign will be Easter in Playa de Gandia during the month of May in the city of Gandia
This is shown in the information leaflet that will be distributed.
There is in diffusion in social networks with a Facebook, Escolàpies Europa Gandia, i twitter @escolapiesEU
In parallel we have organized an online poll in this blog and also be made directly through Saturday in May in the town of Gandia on the street interviews
Indicators for twitter, facebook and monitoring visits this page seems to follow the initiative is so important. Which can support the media presence at Levante newspaper Las Provincias magazine Gente
dimarts, 8 d’abril del 2014
Interview with Sr.Vilaplana
Interview with Sr.Vilaplana
Jesús Vilaplana is a biologist, professor at the University Polytechnic of Valencia and also a member of the environmental group "Gemmas" with who we discussed the highly polemical issue of the l'Ahuir beach.
Jesús Vilaplana is a biologist, professor at the University Polytechnic of Valencia and also a member of the environmental group "Gemmas" with who we discussed the highly polemical issue of the l'Ahuir beach.
During the interview he affirmed that it would
not be profitable to develop the area because of the costs of installing
infrastructures (sewerage, mains water supply, refuse collection...) would
outweigh the benefits, principally because any urbanisation would have to be
low-density; this being very expensive and, according to Sr. Vilaplana, bound
to fail.
He also commented on the necessity to restore
natural zones that have been lost due to the poor maintenance of the current owners,
whose only interest when buying the area was to profit from it.
Professor VilaPlana is inclined towards action
that restores the ecology of the space and links it to
the natural space of the marsh.
Interview with Víctor Soler
On the 26th of March we had the opportunity to interview a representative of the town council, Sr. Victor Soler; spokesperson for the government, deputy mayor and responsible for the areas of administration, modernisation and coordination of the government and youth in the town council, as well as being General Secretary of the Popular Party in Gandia and a member of the regional executive of the Popular Party of the Valencian Community.
He informed us that the principal objective of the proposal for l'Ahuir beach put forward by the municipal government is not to remodel or develop it, but rather to start a debate in which all of the citizens of Gandia can participate in deciding what sort of beach to have and, in doing so, to plan the future of one of the city's most important spaces. He said this is being done now to give the l’Ahuir a better future, to save a natural resource and to convert the beach into an economic attraction that contributes to the local economy. For these reasons, in the near future, people will have the chance to give their opinion.
According to Sr. Soler, the beach will improve tourism in Gandia if it makes it possible to offer tourists something more than just sun and sand. As well as the new infrastructure and services, one of the advantages will be that a different profile of tourist will visit Gandia.
He said that the options to be considered may include one of the designs put forward in the project competition, or one which proposes to leave the beach as it is, however all of these proposals form part of the debate, and it will be the citizens of Gandia who decide. The biggest problem in his view, is that once something has been built it would be very difficult to demolish and if the mistake is made of planning the beach badly it would be very hard to restore it, so it is for these reasons that the debate is very important and that not only the government of Gandia takes the final decision.
In this debate he said, the issue of whether to build is not closed; the members of the municipal government are in favour of choosing the best proposal - whether this be to allow building or to make a natural park. However, they do want to make changes, because it is a natural resource that tourists and people on the whole know little about.
Sr. Soler seems to be in agreement with the conservation proposals put forward by the ecologists and the university; the idea that the beach be changed without urban development being a valid one, but he believes it would be a mistake to do nothing at all, leaving this virgin beach in its current, neglected condition.
He also confirmed that there are both Spanish and European regulations protecting the sand dunes and the flora and fauna which mean building is impossible in some areas.
Victor Soler, an ex-student of Escolàpies replied to all our questions and left us with these words, describing the beach as "an undiscovered treasure".
Here is the video of the interview:
He informed us that the principal objective of the proposal for l'Ahuir beach put forward by the municipal government is not to remodel or develop it, but rather to start a debate in which all of the citizens of Gandia can participate in deciding what sort of beach to have and, in doing so, to plan the future of one of the city's most important spaces. He said this is being done now to give the l’Ahuir a better future, to save a natural resource and to convert the beach into an economic attraction that contributes to the local economy. For these reasons, in the near future, people will have the chance to give their opinion.
According to Sr. Soler, the beach will improve tourism in Gandia if it makes it possible to offer tourists something more than just sun and sand. As well as the new infrastructure and services, one of the advantages will be that a different profile of tourist will visit Gandia.
He said that the options to be considered may include one of the designs put forward in the project competition, or one which proposes to leave the beach as it is, however all of these proposals form part of the debate, and it will be the citizens of Gandia who decide. The biggest problem in his view, is that once something has been built it would be very difficult to demolish and if the mistake is made of planning the beach badly it would be very hard to restore it, so it is for these reasons that the debate is very important and that not only the government of Gandia takes the final decision.
In this debate he said, the issue of whether to build is not closed; the members of the municipal government are in favour of choosing the best proposal - whether this be to allow building or to make a natural park. However, they do want to make changes, because it is a natural resource that tourists and people on the whole know little about.
Sr. Soler seems to be in agreement with the conservation proposals put forward by the ecologists and the university; the idea that the beach be changed without urban development being a valid one, but he believes it would be a mistake to do nothing at all, leaving this virgin beach in its current, neglected condition.
He also confirmed that there are both Spanish and European regulations protecting the sand dunes and the flora and fauna which mean building is impossible in some areas.
Victor Soler, an ex-student of Escolàpies replied to all our questions and left us with these words, describing the beach as "an undiscovered treasure".
Here is the video of the interview:
Interview with Bernardino Montserrat
On the 14th of March
last, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sr.Bernardino Montserrat, who is an
engineer and specialist in projects of urban development.
During the course of the interview Sr. Montserrat made it clear that for various reasons he is in favour of some development at the l'Ahuir beach. The first of these is that the intervention, (complying with all the different planning and environmental protection laws) would be very positive for the economy of Gandia, complementing the present type of tourism offered by the city while also helping to protect the natural environment of the beach. This affirmation was quite difficult to understand, so Sr. Montserrat went on to explain this point more carefully.
He considers that at the moment the land of l'Ahuir is quite degraded, with illegal building, ruins and abandoned agricultural plantations, etc. He considers that an urban development, including the building of a few luxury hotels on part of the land would enable the rest of the area’s natural environment to be restored. This is because the coefficient for construction is so low that these buildings would only occupy a small area, meaning that the remaining 80% of the l`Ahuir could regenerate and be joined to the natural parkland of the marsh.
During the course of the interview Sr. Montserrat made it clear that for various reasons he is in favour of some development at the l'Ahuir beach. The first of these is that the intervention, (complying with all the different planning and environmental protection laws) would be very positive for the economy of Gandia, complementing the present type of tourism offered by the city while also helping to protect the natural environment of the beach. This affirmation was quite difficult to understand, so Sr. Montserrat went on to explain this point more carefully.
He considers that at the moment the land of l'Ahuir is quite degraded, with illegal building, ruins and abandoned agricultural plantations, etc. He considers that an urban development, including the building of a few luxury hotels on part of the land would enable the rest of the area’s natural environment to be restored. This is because the coefficient for construction is so low that these buildings would only occupy a small area, meaning that the remaining 80% of the l`Ahuir could regenerate and be joined to the natural parkland of the marsh.
Actual situation of the l'Ahuir beach
CURRENT LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT
At the present time the l'Ahuir beach is in its natural, virgin state. Its future seems to be either as an urbanised, fully developed beach or one where low-level development maintains part of its original, natural aspect.
In 1983 the beach was classified as "urban" meaning that it could be developed and the owners at that time saw the possibility to profit from this, however problems arose three years later in 1986, when Spain became part of the European Union.
The beach is separated from Gandia's main beach, but with every kind of services available and is suitable for the practise of water sports and nudism.
Situated in the province of Valencia, it is one of the beaches of the Valencian Community and is 1.760 metres long. The beach projects back from the shoreline by an average of 70 metres. The density of occupation is low with the beach being separated from the promenade of Gandia’s main beach.
The beach consists of fine, golden sand, with good bathing conditions in calm water without strong currents. The area behind the beach has vegetation and is protected. The beach has been awarded the FEE blue flag. There is a lifeguard service, and a three colour flag system to warn of dangerous bathing conditions.
REGULATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
There are two directives of the European Union that affect the situation of the beach, the first being the Birds Directive regarding the conservation of wild birds. The second is the Habitat Directive for the conservation of natural habitats and their flora and fauna.
DIVERGENT OPINIONS
After interviewing technicians, university professors and representatives of the local government, it is clear that there are three different opinions:
1. Many of those interviewed agreed that the current situation of the beach cannot continue and that action needs to be taken. The divergence of opinions can be resumed as:
a. Those who favour an environmentalist approach; helping the beach ecosystem to recover and linking it to the nearby marsh to create a single natural park that would include the marsh, the dunes and the space between them - which would be the area between the dunes and the road (the area currently approved for development). This would require the purchase of this land from the current owners (private and companies)
b. Those who believe that by applying the current local, national and European planning regulations it would be possible to have some development in the space between the road and the sand dunes. This would result in an area that is natural but also includes some building; generating wealth and creating jobs while protecting the beach.
2. The alternative option would be to take no action at the moment, leaving the area undeveloped until further studies and investigation show what the best course of action should be, so that nothing irreversible is done now that might be regretted in the future.
Projects for the l'Ahuir beach
There are a
total of 11 projects for the beach:
1. l'Ahuir Marsh: The hope is to transfer the
building development to the so-called "private equipment" sector,
thereby freeing the l'Ahuir zone from buildings. They hope to extend
longitudinally the roads and parks from the exisiting beach to the area of l'Ahuir.
2. Argue: Buildings integrated into extensive natural spaces.
4. Encounter with l'Ahuir: The buildings are concentrated along the
Eastern, (the Nazaret-Oliva road) Southern, (the urban zone of the beach) and
Northern (Xeraco beach) borders where the lowest density housing is
situated. The central space, free of
buildings, has a golf course with a large lake. The proposal includes the
extension of the wooden promenade between Gandia and Xeraco, with curious forms
that meander between the sand dunes.
Nests of l'Ahuir: Proposes the erection of concrete structures covered
by wood where, in the form of nests filled with birds (as shown in the image)
the future buildings would be developed.
These superstructures barely touch the territory and are autonomous and
independent of it
6. Rebirth of l'Ahuir: The proposal is for a large central space with
lateral organic walkways. The
low-density housing discourses between spaces prepared for playing golf and
green park areas with lakes and other aquatic structures. Ahuir sargantana:
The proposal is structures around the principal roads. The idea is for a central road with curves
running parallel to the sea, intersected by other perpendicular roads having
the same, sinuous route. Natural parks
parallel to the sea and in contact with the urban area of Gandia beach would be
respected and the project proposes a use of the land that combines open spaces
with equipment. Labhuir: A proposal that
renounces the buildable area. With a schematic diagram, the project
illustrates a proposal for the distribution of different uses in function of
the pre-existences , concentrating the building in these.
9. Marjal fractal. An interwoven construction in the form of blocks
aligned as though they were the sides of a triangle, through the base of which
runs the main road, on which the accesses and parking for the proposed building
is concentrated. The rest of the sector
is organised in a fractal mesh of pathways that combine greenery and water.
10.
Symphony of flora, water and fauna: The project is structured around three zones; toward the South, (Gandia beach) the proposal is for an area of entertainment and culture, to the North, (next to Xeraco beach) another area with hotels where relaxation and health dominate and in the central zone an area with low-density housing. All of this is integrated with a road network, parks and water features, forming a variety of different scenery and environments.
Symphony of flora, water and fauna: The project is structured around three zones; toward the South, (Gandia beach) the proposal is for an area of entertainment and culture, to the North, (next to Xeraco beach) another area with hotels where relaxation and health dominate and in the central zone an area with low-density housing. All of this is integrated with a road network, parks and water features, forming a variety of different scenery and environments.
11.
Between marshes and dunes: This proposal concentrates the building in the central zone of the project, precisely between the marshes and the sand dunes. The building layout takes the form of plots of land and the forms of the buildings adapt, with different aspects and changing widths according to the demands of the plot and the roads. Towards the East is an area where the greatest presence of water is found, and to the West the original state of the land is maintained.
Between marshes and dunes: This proposal concentrates the building in the central zone of the project, precisely between the marshes and the sand dunes. The building layout takes the form of plots of land and the forms of the buildings adapt, with different aspects and changing widths according to the demands of the plot and the roads. Towards the East is an area where the greatest presence of water is found, and to the West the original state of the land is maintained.
The Radio Gandia web's has opened online voting to say which project like the most. now it seems that 4 and 10 are most like, there have been many votes, more than two hundred thousand, the signal of interest issue.
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