Despite the ignored complaints by the residents over poor infrastructure, a disastrous and expensive waste management contract, buses as old as the hills, all of those criticisms will be ignored as Torrevieja is back in the spotlight nationally, giving away a 300,000 euro home.

The El Hormiguero TV show, which has a huge following nationally, is giving away “the biggest prize in its history”, according to the presenter, Pablo Motos, in the first programme of the 19th season.

The presenter announced the prize of a house in Torrevieja valued at 300,000 euro, as the programme’s production company, 7yacción, has teamed up with the developer MPC Group, which has given one of the houses in the Nature Views Torrevieja development so that Pablo Motos can give it away as a prize to those who go to a cinema.

The development is near to the Los Balcones area, bordering Orihuela and close to the motorway connection, known as “La Coronelita”, where approval for up to 205 homes was granted earlier this year, giving the green light to the project initially presented by the company Amay Gestión Inmobiliaria SL. These are two plots with a surface area of ​​6,156.55 m² and 12,213.00 m², respectively, which gives a total buildable surface area of ​​3,548.04 and 6,890.00 m² (t), establishing the maximum number of homes at 85 and 120 units. These are homes arranged in a free grouping with a maximum of two floors. These two blocks are among the few that remain to be built in this sector, located next to the CV-95, the road that connects Torrevieja and Orihuela, next to the lagoons.

The draw, as indicated in the program on Monday, will take place next week, after the cinema verifies that the ticket is authentic, and the one used to access the screening.

“The semi-detached villas stand out at first sight for the perfect balance conveyed by the combination of straight, pure and minimalist lines, together with other more wavy and organic parts, which give the whole an elegant appearance. On its terrace you can enjoy your evenings with your family, sunbathing, or cooling off in the 10 m2 pool included,” they explain on the developer’s website.

The Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, explained the project to boost the image of Torrevieja, even though there is little reference to Torrevieja, explaining more about the virtues of the property and the fact it is close to the motorway.

Dolón has not given exact information about the location of the object of the draw, but he has explained that the last details are still missing to finish it completely.

The advertising campaign promoting a business operation of new homes is costing the council 580,000 euro plus IVA, of public money that could have otherwise been used to improve the infrastructure and services frustrating the current residents.

It is worth pointing out that 700,000 could buy two modern electric buses, around 14 waste disposal trucks (second-hand but decent), or employed 40 local people for a year on a full-time salary.

So, if you own one of the 30,000 vacant properties already in Torrevieja (according to the Institute of National Statistics), or just want to sell up and move elsewhere, it might be worth you contacting the mayor’s office to financially assist you with your advertising costs.