The Platform SOS Save the Sierra de las Estancias against the 400 kv line route
The Plataforma SOS Salvemos la Sierra de las Estancias, made up of farmers, rural tourism entrepreneurs, residents of Taberno, Albox, Oria, Vélez Rubio and Taberno, together with the associations Somos Albojenses, Oria Verde, Grupo Roquez de Chirivel and Grupo Espeleología de los Vélez have called for a tractor pull on Saturday 22 January, which will start at the petrol station at the entrance to Chirivel, next to the A-92.
So far the mayors of Albox Francisco Torrecillas, Oria Marcos Reche, Taberno Antonio Martos, the Deputy Mayor of Vélez Rubio José Marrero, the councillor of Chirivel Mabel Martínez López (PP) and the Mayor of Antas, Pedro Ridao, have confirmed their attendance.
The meeting point for this tractor pull is set for 11am at the petrol station in Chirivel, from where tractors will set off along the Avenida Andalucía in Chirivel in the direction of Vélez Rubio along the A-92, where the tractor pull will end.
The organisation has stated in a press release that “the purpose of the demonstration is to protest against the publication in the B.O.P. of Almeria on 22/11/21/21 of the date on which the farmers and landowners were affected by the A-92. de Almería dated 22/11/21 of the list of affected assets and rights 400 kV double circuit Baza-Ribina overhead power transmission line with towers over 80 metres high with 22 cables, included as an Annex in the announcement of the Industry and Energy Unit of the Government Subdelegation in Almería; with the intention of making it clear to all the bodies involved, our most radical opposition to the construction of the 400 kv line along the current route, as this project seriously undermines organic farming, we are talking about the largest production area of organic almonds, it will generate a serious environmental impact, and will not only affect the landscape, but would have negative consequences on protected species of fauna and flora, which have not been taken into account in the Environmental Impact Study; As a result, it will only cause further depopulation, if possible, in the villages in the north of the province, as it will also harm the development of rural tourism, as a means of economic growth in the area. This will inevitably lead to depopulation and abandonment of the many rural villages in the north of the province, such as Cerricos, Las Pocicas, El Saliente and La Yegua”.
Likewise, the construction of this line will seriously damage religious tourism and the visual impact of the Sanctuary of El Saliente, the largest Marian pilgrimage shrine in south-eastern Spain, where devotees come from Almeria, northern Granada and eastern Murcia, many of them walking the pilgrimage routes in September and having to cross underneath this macro-electricity line.
“Also from the Platform we denounce the harmful effect that the macro power line can produce on bees and their pollination in the almond trees, as we are talking about the largest production area of organic almonds; around 40,000 hectares would be harmed”.
“We insist that this type of construction should go through the police zone of the motorways, in this way it does not damage or cause so many negative impacts. The alternative chosen by the administration is the longest in kilometres (therefore entails much loss of energy efficiency in its transport) and is also the one that most damages the entire almond crop, crossing farms and farms in production of almond trees with the environmental damage that this will cause, destroying roads and affecting the health of farmers, pilgrims to the Saliente, hikers and neighbours in general”.
“Finally we call on all neighbours, affected and not, to be present that day in the Tractorada either with cars or tractors to make ourselves heard before the various administrations involved in this project and to reconsider their position on the current route proposed for the 400 kv line”.