The Junta de Andalusia is committed with the Mayor of Alhaurin el Grande "not to support" the construction of la nueva Variante Norte.

This is one of the agreements reached after a meeting held yesterday in Seville between the Mayor of Alhaurin el Grande, the Director General of Roads and the Secretary for Regional Planning.

The Mayor Juan Martin met yesterday in Seville with the Director General of Highways, Jesus Merino and the Secretary for Planning of Land, Vincent Granados, the responsible authorities for roads in Andalusia. A very fruitful meeting as it reached four key commitments to the development of the locality.

The first one deals with problems of the la nueva Variante Norte, a project that has received widespread rejection from neighbours and the town hall. Many arguments have been presented both by the Consistory and by the affected citizens. Unfavourable technical reports have highlighted the large economic, social, environmental impact the proposed road will have particularly on the landscape. The agreement by the Ministry of Public Works has been to respond to all alegaciones filed with reports that "discouraged and did not support" the construction of this highway, unfavourable reports which  mean a further step towards the objective of this road not  being built .

Secondly, the  City Council and the Junta are committed to "prioritise and expedite" the construction of the section of the Canada de las Palomas, a road 600 metres long and 30 metres wide which will be particularly important as it will avoid traffic of heavy vehicles through the town.

The third commitment made by the Junta is to commission a blueprint for carrying out the link road with Cartama highway, without passing through the town of Cartama, at the point of the area "Cerrajón", as well as improving the entire road from Alhaurin el Grande to Cartama, as it is the main connection of the municipality with the capital. And fourthly, the Directorate of Roads has pledged to study the possibility of constructing a link road  with the ring road  from Alhaurin el Grande to Villafranco del Guadalhorce.

Regarding the impact of this meeting on the POT, the Directorate of Roads has committed to the disappearance of the Alternative North route from POT, and reflected the proposals above.

Note that the councillor for Urban Development has convened a public meeting to be held on 1st of February to inform residents affected by the proposed la nueva Variante Norte and the details of the meeting in Seville.