By Emma Randle
Cantoria council took the first step in years towards repairing the historic Almanzora Palace this week – but any hopes conservationists had for the monument’s revival were dashed on seeing only a flimsy corrugated roofing panel installed.
Almanzora Palace associations have been calling for restoration of the 19th century palace for nearly 10 years, but the position is complicated by the fact that the building is owned by three separate parties – the council and two private owners.
Despite an agreement reportedly being entered into four years ago by the previous council administration to acquire the rest of the building it never came to fruition and the palace has remained in a semi-ruined state.
The mayor of Cantoria, Purificación Sánchez, who led the Socialist PSOE party to power in the town in last year’s elections, announced this week that the council would carry out “provisional repair works” to the building that would “at least avoid further structural damage” to the part in its ownership.
