Actualitat

The Regional Ombudsman of Valencia, José Cholbi, has recommended the City of Burriana to speed up the procedures opened in order to get rid of the strong odour from the local slaughterhouse waste which is being unfairly supported by neighbours.

That is the Valencian Ombudsman’s decision to the ex officio enquiry, opened last October, in order to investigate the awkward situation borne by residents of the area due to local slaughterhouse discharges into the city sewer system. It has been reported that, neighbours, as well as teachers and students from Villa Fatima, Penyagolosa and Salesianos School, are supporting this nuisance for several years.

The Council stated the Ombudsman that so far they had opened two infringement procedures: one of them to adopt corrective measures, and the other dealing with disciplinary actions for the waste discharged into municipal sewer system. According to the Council’s report it is causing unhealthy conditions near to the collector connection, which seriously compromises the smooth operation of biological purification treatment at the local sewage.

In view of the information provided by the City of Burriana, relating the proceeding of both corrective and disciplinary actions, the Ombudsman insists on the seriousness of the alleged situation and urges that procedures be carried out as soon as possible.

In this regard, the Ombudsman reminds the City of Burriana that the Courts are consistently stating that nuisance activities, such as slaughterhouse discharge, may have a destructive impact on the fundamental right to inviolability of homes as well as the constitutional rights to health, housing and an adequate environment. Therefore it is inescapable that public authorities are to ensure strong protection.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman informed the Mayor that the Valencian Statute of Autonomy provides that “everyone has a right to enjoy life and a healthy and balanced environment”