The Almería prosecutor is investigating seven Carboneras councillors for delaying a vote to annul the Algarrobico hotel licence. The move triggered disciplinary action and renewed pressure from environmental groups.
The Almería provincial prosecutor has launched an investigation into seven councillors from the Carboneras town hall after they postponed a crucial vote on revoking the building licence for the controversial Algarrobico hotel. The session, originally scheduled for 17 June, was delayed by five PSOE councillors and two non-affiliated members, sparking immediate backlash from environmental groups and prompting a formal complaint to the prosecutor’s office.
The hotel, long seen as a symbol of unchecked coastal development, has been at the centre of legal battles for over two decades. The delayed vote was intended to finally cancel the 2003 construction permit, but the councillors argued that further reports were needed to clarify potential compensation for the developer. Environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and Salvemos Mojácar, countered that multiple court rulings—most recently from the Supreme Court—had already established that the company was not entitled to compensation.
Salvemos Mojácar described the councillors’ move as a clear act of administrative misconduct and filed a complaint, naming José Luis Amérigo, Ángeles Carrillo, Felipe Cayuela, Francisco Capel, Vanesa Fuentes, Mariana Esteban, and Isabel Hernández. The prosecutor’s office has since requested the official minutes from the June council meeting and an explanation for the suspension, which the municipality has already provided. According to sources, this is standard procedure following such complaints.
The PSOE’s provincial leadership responded swiftly, opening disciplinary proceedings and temporarily expelling the five party councillors involved. The incident also drew criticism from Greenpeace, which, together with the Junta de Andalucía and the Ministry for Ecological Transition, appealed to the Andalusian High Court (TSJA) to force the council to annul the licence. The TSJA issued an ultimatum, giving the town hall 20 days to act or risk the court annulling the permit itself.
On 7 July, in an extraordinary session, the council finally voted to revoke the hotel’s licence. The decision passed with the support of the mayor, Salvador Hernández (Ciudadanos), and the seven councillors present. Four others—including Felipe Cayuela, two PSOE members, and Ángeles Carrillo—left the chamber before the vote. Those PSOE councillors who supported the annulment were allowed to remain in the party.
Salvemos Mojácar welcomed the prosecutor’s investigation, calling it a positive sign that possible administrative wrongdoing is being taken seriously. The group hopes the case will set a precedent and lead to accountability for actions that have delayed the hotel’s demolition for over 20 years. However, they warn that the process is far from over, as the developer still has the right to appeal the licence annulment.
While the Algarrobico case highlights the complexities of enforcing environmental and urban planning laws in Spain, it also reflects broader tensions between local authorities, environmental groups, and the judiciary. The issue of delayed or contested decisions by local officials is not unique to Carboneras. For example, recent disputes over the relocation of unaccompanied migrant minors in Ceuta have also exposed friction between different levels of government, as detailed in this report on regional resistance to central government initiatives.
The Algarrobico hotel remains standing on protected land, with its future still uncertain. The case continues to serve as a reference point in debates over urban legality, environmental protection, and the responsibilities of public officials in Spain. The outcome of the prosecutor’s investigation could influence how similar cases are handled across the country, especially where local decisions have national environmental implications.
For context, the Algarrobico hotel was built on land later declared non-developable, and its demolition has been demanded by environmentalists for years. The drawn-out legal process has underscored the challenges of reversing past planning decisions and the importance of clear, enforceable urban regulations. The case is closely watched by both local residents and national observers concerned with the integrity of Spain’s coastal management policies.
