{
  "id": 16866383,
  "title": "Torrevieja to Remove Illegal Roundabout After 20 Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/torrevieja-to-remove-illegal-roundabout-after-20-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T07:15:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Leader",
    "slug": "the-leader",
    "url": "https://theleader.info/2026/10/28/torrevieja-to-remove-illegal-roundabout-after-20-years/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Torrevieja Council has approved a plan to dismantle the contentious roundabout situated near IES Las Lagunas secondary school on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas, concluding a 20-year legal battle involving an illegally built junction, several road accidents, and a court order mandating its dismantling. The roundabout was erected in 2006 by property developer Jost, responsible for the Sector 13-A-3 development, without obtaining the required planning permission. Despite being built on public land and not meeting required road safety standards, the infrastructure was approved by the council and has been in operation ever since. The final decision, signed on September 21, 2026, by Urban Planning, Accessibility and Urban Services Councillor Sandra Sánchez, authorizes a demolition project prepared by CM Proyectos e Instalaciones 2017 SL under a minor contract.\n\nCritics have long pointed to the roundabout's insufficient size and unsafe design. Positioned roughly two meters above the IES Las Lagunas school's ground level, the roundabout encroaches upon the service road serving the school. Numerous accidents have occurred due to vehicle collisions, damaging and dislodging the double safety barrier on the carriageway leading to central Torrevieja. In one severe incident, a vehicle veered off the road and into the school grounds. Originally designed to provide access to a commercial zone without the developer needing to relinquish land within their own project for necessary road improvements, the council was ultimately obligated to remove the structure. Although formal enforcement proceedings were initiated in 2012, six years after construction, the developer contested the council's actions through the courts. In 2017, a court ruling determined that the municipality was liable for restoring the site to comply with planning regulations, as it had accepted the infrastructure in 2006. This decision placed the responsibility and cost of removal on taxpayers, with demolition estimates reaching around €148,000.\n\nPrevious attempts at demolition in 2019 were halted due to legislative changes affecting public contracting procedures, which prevented the work from proceeding through the planned negotiated contract. The issue has remained unresolved despite ongoing safety concerns surrounding the school. While other road safety enhancements have been implemented along Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas to decrease vehicle speeds, the roundabout itself has remained unchanged. The adjacent area, featuring artificial grass near the carriageway, is also popular with schoolchildren. The approval of the latest demolition project marks a significant milestone in resolving a planning dispute that has persisted across multiple municipal administrations. It also prompts questions about the council's protracted enforcement of planning regulations when it is the responsible party for an unauthorized development on public land. While the current decision only authorizes the demolition project, it does not confirm a contractor's appointment or a specific start date for the work.",
  "summary": "Torrevieja Council has approved a project to demolish the controversial roundabout outside IES Las Lagunas secondary school on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas, bringing an end to a 20-year planning dispute involving an illegally constructed junction, numerous road accidents and a court ruling ordering its removal. The roundabout was built in 2006 by property developer […] The post Torrevieja to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}