OUTCRY AS HOUSE BUILT IN 1770 DEMOLISHED IN ORIHULA

The Orihuela Council has demolished a house, built approximately 1770 , on calle Trinidad 11, in the historic centre of the city. It’s destruction has generated great controversy among some sectors of Orihuela society that advocate main- taining a patrimony that is falling apart. “One more example,” many say, of the ignorance and insensitivity of the Council towards an already depleted heritage.

The old part of the city was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1969 due to the num- ber of monuments, churches and palaces that unite culture, history and tradition and that remind us that it was a city that, historically, had an important strategic and defensive significance. However, since then little has been done to preserve what many refer to as a giant with feet of clay.

José Aix, Town Planning Councillor, explained that the demolition was carried out, due to the inaction of the owners, and in this case to "protect pedestrians from falling masonry," who adds that "his priority is the safety of the people . "

According to the Councillor, he has written on several occasions to the owner to restore the property. However, Javier Sánchez Portas, director of the Historical Archive, said that the owner was never located, nor do there appear to be any heirs. The last entry in the property register is dated 1953.

"In the middle of the 21st century, we are throwing away an 18th century dwelling as if it seems that we have plenty of heritage," mourns Sánchez Portas, who attributes this type of action to "the insensitivity of the Town Planning councillor, who is also from Heritage, as well as the lack of knowledge of municipal staff and architects". It is, in short, "the result of the contempt that the City Council has towards heritage", he adds.