According to Vélez-Málaga Council, the TSJA ruling will allow them to repay the remaining €2.7 million owed to residents of El Copo relating to noise pollution over a period of fifteen years.
The municipality became the first in the country to be ordered to pay compensation to local residents who had suffered noise pollution for a period of thirteen years without any remedial measures being taken by the authorities.
The TSJA judgement in the case, known as the ‘Ipanema case’, was made in 2008 and amounted to €2.8 million. Various unsuccessful appeals were made by the Council but eventually they had to begin paying the compensation.
To date the Council has paid just over €2 million, but because of all the delays and numerous appeals, the TSJA awarded the residents costs, interest and legal expenses amounting to an extra €2.7 million.
The Council is now intending to pay the remaining amount of €2.8 million over a period of 15 years.
So, with 13 years of not addressing a problem, constantly appealing the ruling, failing to pay the legally awarded amount on time, proposing to pay the balance over 15 years, it will end up being over 30 years before the problem is completely resolved.
If the Council had acted upon the original complaints it would have cost the Council and taxpayer nothing. If they had paid the compensation when awarded by the Court it would have cost the Council and taxpayer €2.8 million. Now it will cost the Council and taxpayer €4.8 million. Just the sort of outlay a bankrupt Council needs.