During last week’s strong winds, while María Martínez was having a quiet meal in his house in Cabo Roig, he heard a loud bang coming from the garden. On investigation he found that a palm tree from the street outside had collapsed into the garden breaking his perimeter fence. Now, for over a week, he has been living with the tree within the perimeter of his house.
The impact, says Martínez, destroyed more than two metres of metal fencing and hedges. “The same day I notified the Local Police, who came quickly, carried out the inspection and told me that they would pass the information to the responsible department. They then warned me that it could take a while until the crane was available,” he says.
The incident was also reported by the Cabo Roig and Lomas Residents’ Association, which tried to mediate between Martinez, also a member of the neighbourhood association, and the Town Hall.
“On the 7th, we made arrangements to have the palm tree removed and we were informed that they had issued an order to cut up the specimen. The technician had to have an insurance company assess the damage,” they explain.
Last Monday, due to the Council’s inaction, José María informed the councillor for the Coast, Manuel Mestre, of the situation. According to the local association, the councillor responded by apologising for the delay in removing the palm tree “on the grounds that the administrative procedures at the City Council are complicated”.
The straw that broke the camel’s back came last Wednesday when several workers showed up at the house, but they were unable to remove the palm tree because the crane they had brought did not fit through the gate, nor did they have the material means such as chainsaws to remove it manually.
“They have now asked him to prune his hedge to make the work easier for the town hall staff,” the association complains. “This council does not look after its neighbours, nor its infrastructure,” said Martínez.
The Council has now said that workers will return on Monday 16th to remove it.
