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ARCHIVED - Ecologists present objections to proposed 5-star hotel in San Pedro del Pinatar
The hotel would be near Pinatar Arena but would encroach on the Ramsar wetlands of the Mar Menor
The Ecologistas en Acción association has joined the naturalist group ANSE in presenting objections at the Town Hall of San Pedro del Pinatar to the proposed construction of a hotel linked to the Pinatar Arena sports complex, highlighting the “incompatibility” of the project with the area in which it is located.
The association claims that the proposed site in the Los Imbernones area of San Pedro is currently classified as non-buildable land, and that the size of the complex under consideration would make it necessary to undertake a complete re-design of the ordinance of the area, including a satisfactory justification of the need to create access roads.
In addition, Ecologistas en Acción consider that the accompanying environmental impact report is insufficient as it does not include a detailed study of the possible effects on wildlife species identified in the Red Natura 2000 management plan: the site is extremely close to the Regional Park of the Salt Flats and Sand Dunes of San Pedro as well as the birdlife protection zone and Community Interest Site of the same name, and even occupies part of the Ramsar wetland area of the Mar Menor.
Should the project be allowed to go ahead, they add, it would mean the inland side of the Regional Park being almost completely enclosed by built-up areas and, in consequence, the complete isolation of this protected area. In addition, the ecologists warn that the land between San Pedro and El Mojón on which the hotel would be built is liable to flooding, and in the light of all of these objections they request that rather than give its approval to the project the Town Hall should modify local planning regulations in such a way as to encourage the conservation of the natural environment.
The plans for the construction of an 18-million-euro 5-star hotel in Los Imbernones were unveiled early in December and were almost immediately criticized as “senseless” by the ANSE naturalists’ association. However, the area is already home to the Pinatar Arena complex, which offers training facilities for football professionals, and the addition of a 400-room luxury hotel would turn it into one of the main tourism hubs of the Mar Menor area in competition with La Manga Club.
With a maximum of six floors, large areas of the proposed hotel would be devoted to dining rooms, kitchens, a spa facility and a gymnasium, and it would also include conference rooms, banqueting halls and outdoor leisure areas and pools. Among those expected to stay at the hotel would be the football clubs from all over Europe which come to train at Pinatar Arena, and an extra pitch is planned at the hotel itself. Access would be from the main road between San Pedro and El Mojón, on which Pinatar Arena is located.