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Residents at Villas Caravaning in La Manga are facing a new crisis after being warned that their water supply could be cut off next month unless a debt of more than €732,000 is addressed.

 

The latest warning was circulated by the community administrator, who informed homeowners that water company Veolia plans to suspend the supply from July 1 if steps are not taken to reduce the outstanding balance.

 

According to the notice sent to residents, Veolia has proposed an initial payment of €200,000 followed by monthly payments of €130,000 until the debt is cleared. However, the administrator said the community does not have the funds to accept those conditions.

 

The email claims the community currently has just €16,846 available, while unpaid community fees owed by residents have reached €582,324.

 

The situation is the latest chapter in the long-running problems affecting Villas Caravaning, which has been at the centre of legal disputes, financial difficulties and concerns over the condition of the site.

 

Earlier this year, residents faced the possibility of losing their electricity supply before an emergency payment helped avoid disconnection. That payment was reportedly made by Caravaning Costa Cálida S.L., the company that owns a large proportion of the complex and rents out plots for caravans and prefabricated homes.

 

The company has faced difficulties of its own. Much of the campsite has effectively been closed since Cartagena City Council, acting on a court order, sealed off plots and communal facilities including swimming pools, sports courts and the on-site supermarket. According to the community administration, the resulting loss of income means the company is no longer in a position to provide financial assistance to the homeowners' association as it has done in the past.

 

Residents who owe community fees are now being urged to bring their payments up to date in an attempt to avoid the threatened cut-off.

 

In the meantime, administrators have outlined a contingency plan should the supply be disconnected. A water tank would be installed outside the complex, allowing residents to collect water for everyday needs including cooking, washing and drinking.

 

Not everyone at the site agrees with the way the situation has been presented.

 

Juan García, president of one of the residents' associations, described the warning as "another manoeuvre to instil fear" and argued that local authorities would not allow hundreds of people to be left without access to water.

 

He claimed the latest developments are part of ongoing pressure being placed on property owners and said many residents remain determined to stay and defend their homes.

 

Mr García has also called for greater transparency over the community's finances. He said his association collected 277 signatures requesting an extraordinary meeting to examine the accounts, but claims the request was rejected because some signatures were deemed invalid and the minimum threshold had not been met.

 

Questions over the financial position of Villas Caravaning have been growing for months. Earlier this year, residents sought court intervention over concerns about the site's management, safety standards and mounting debts.

 

A municipal inspection previously identified a series of serious deficiencies, including fire safety concerns and electrical issues, while utility debts have continued to increase.

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena