Lorca faces a new chapter in flood risk management following the latest revision published in July by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS). The document significantly expands the designated areas, with an increase of over 50% in preferential flow zones , and remains open for public comment until October 31.
The City Council confirms that, since the announcement, they have received over one hundred inquiries and requests from affected individuals. To provide answers and guide the appeals process, the council has organized informational meetings with residents, associations, and community groups in the municipality.
What changes in the new map
The update defines new potentially flood-prone areas within the municipality and readjusts existing boundaries. According to the governing team, the document introduces up to ten additional zones compared to the previous plan, a modification that increases urban planning and land use restrictions.
Among the most debated issues are the so-called "islands" within risk areas —spaces excluded from the affected zone amidst designated areas—whose technical rationale has not been clarified. This configuration raises concerns among property owners and presents inconsistencies that the City Council wants to review.
The City Council insists that the new mapping, in addition to expanding priority traffic zones , comes without a prior response to the objections submitted in previous rounds. This is the fourth update since the work began, and there are still no official responses to the previous appeals.
Impact on hamlets and owners
The municipal assessment identifies significant impacts in several outlying districts, particularly Campillo, Torrecilla, La Escucha, Purias, and Cazalla. In these areas, the proposed boundaries would affect agricultural properties, residential plots, and land with development potential.
Local representatives warn of economic losses stemming from land depreciation, as well as the potential impossibility of building or carrying out certain professional activities on the land included in the map. This uncertainty is also hindering investment decisions and renovations.
- Restrictions building and licenses in areas designated as at risk.
- Reduced patrimonial value of affected plots.
- Limitations for professional and agricultural uses in affected districts.
Calendar and participation forums
The document is available for public review until October 31st , during which time citizens and organizations can submit comments. The City Council reminds everyone that it is important to carefully review the plans and compare them with the actual situation of each plot.
In mid-September, a meeting will be held at IFELOR with approximately 200 affected residents, neighborhood associations, and representatives from CECLOR and the Chamber of Commerce . The meeting aims to unify criteria and channel contributions of a technical, heritage, and social nature.
The city's objective is to reach a consensus on well-founded objections and offer support to residents throughout the entire process. To this end, documentation and technical staff will be made available to help interpret the impact of the new map in each individual case.
Institutional positions
The councilor for outlying districts and infrastructure, Ángel Meca, has criticized the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS) for not responding to previous objections despite four revisions of the plan. In his opinion, the latest proposal has an unjustified impact on several areas and will entail a significant economic and social cost.
The city councilor for urban planning, María Hernández, has described the demarcation as absurd , given that it incorporates a dozen new areas and creates "islands" in the middle of high-risk sectors without a convincing explanation. She also lamented that the official notification arrived in the middle of August , when many residents were on vacation.
The local government insists that, in addition to the mapping process, protective infrastructure is needed in the most vulnerable areas of the municipality, such as flood control dams or dikes, to reduce the real danger of flooding. “New maps without construction,” they maintain, “do not solve the underlying problem.”
With the flood risk map at the center of the debate , Lorca faces crucial weeks: a period of public consultation, a large meeting at IFELOR, and an effort to formulate technically and socially sound objections. The focus is on the more than 50% expansion of affected areas, the impact on outlying districts like Campillo and Purias, and the explanations that the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS) will offer to property owners and the City Council regarding the configuration of the new areas and the unjustified "islands . "
