Hi Helen,
I think everyone knew that eventually this would happen.
I had some Dutch friends making enquiries with the Ajuntament in Gandesa about reforming a very large masia, not a donkey shed! At first, the Mayor of Gandesa thought they were English, but they explained that they came from Holland. His reaction was, oh that's good, because we have just about had a belly full of the "Brits" around this area, building what they want without any permissions. He then said that the Generalitat of Catalunya had earmarked 3 villages where there are large numbers of "large" illegal builds, Gandesa being one of them. Apparently they have chosen the 4 largest to make examples of, and they will be issued with a 36000 euros fine, or the Ajuntament will take the house down, and the fines will be proportionate for the smaller builds.

Around the Mora area, i have heard stories of large groups of English families on adjoining fincas, now demanding from the Mayor that they want mains water, electricity, sewage system and beat this one "school buses"........is it any wonder they want to stop everything?????????????

As usual, whenever groups of Brits go abroad for any reason, be it football matches, on holidays or building what the hell they want, where they want, the minority spoil it for everyone, so we all get tarred with the same brush.

Would you EVER buy a piece of land in the UK, and just build what you wanted, without permissions, without Architects, without proper septic tank systems etc. etc. etc.???????

If the answer is NO...............then why do it in Spain???????

This is an EU country exactly the same as the United Kingdom.

THIS IS NOT GUATEMALA, OR PERU OR PARAGUAY, OR MEXICO.

THIS IS SPAIN................................so give some respect to the authorities, as you would at home.

Then maybe.........just maybe, they will respect us.

Enough said, i think!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jools