Parcent is a small town in the Jalon Valley and the esidents are so delighted with what they feel they have achieved that they are throwing a party for themselves.They have been embroiled in a long battle to stop three large developments from surrounding them.Plans for literally hundreds of new homes were being planned by developers.At long last the Valencia government has put paid to these plans after 4 years of wrangling.

They began to make headway when they convened the pressure group Veins de Parcent and now this pressure group and many others who were involved want to pat themselves on the back for winning a special victory for democracy.

In 2006 it was the ruling PP council who gave provisional permission for the developments,despite massive opposition.The decision came days before the controversial LRAU law was laid to rest.When the elections came the next year the current council promised to help to stop the developments and they have done just that.They have also recruited MEP’s along the way and shows that democracy can work.

The downside to all of this is that five of the previous town councillors are being taken to court by one of the developers for breaching the law in decisions taken to veto the plan.These five have already stood before a judge in Denia to give statements about the affair.This has been a very good omen for many others who are fighting similar cases across Spain.