Building safegaurds

By Jason Moore WHATEVER the outcome of the Andratx planning scandal because the police investigation is still very much in its early stages and all the allegations have to be proved in court, it is clear that safeguards need to be introduced when planning or building permits are issued. The Andratx case is by no means an isolated incident, there have been plenty of similar cases on the mainland with the most publicised being the Marbella scandal. Councils up and down the country are in the spotlight over planning licences. Taking all this into account perhaps the time has come for a higher authority perhaps in Madrid to rubber stamp all major planning applications. While this would prove time consuming and perhaps stall Spain's thriving building industry it is obvious something needs to be done. It is a very serious problem and is not doing Spain's reputation any good at all. The building industry is worth a small fortune to the Spanish government and if it is to go from strength to strength in needs to be transparent and very much within the law. Central administration and local authorities need to act as one to ensure that everything is within the law and that there is no room for anything which could be deemed illegal.