Shropshire woman in Spanish holiday home legal battle

A Shropshire woman among a group of 10 Brits launching a legal battle against a Spanish property firm today said they were facing a long wait before the case came to court.

Lisa Fullwood, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, paid a deposit of 60,000 euros (£52,600) for a holiday home in south-eastern Spain in 2005.

But she and other investors are angry about the state of the development built by the Corvera Golf and Country Club, SL, and have accused the firm of misleading them over leisure facilities that have never been built.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is so far representing 10 owners who had agreed to purchase 13 properties.

But it believes there are more than 100 people affected in the UK and at least another two families from Shropshire.

The group has begun legal action alleging breach of contract amid fears they may lose their dream homes on the Corvera Golf and Country Club and their deposits.

Many used their life savings as deposits for homes costing between 190,000 euros (£166,500) and 550,000 euros (£482,500) after being promised top quality properties on the development near Murcia, which should have included a five-star hotel, indoor swimming pool, spa, medical centre, equestrian centre, leisure facilities and tennis courts, as well as a commercial centre with bars, restaurant and shops.

But the group claims none of the five-star leisure facilities have been built, and they are now being chased for final payment and face the threat of being sued by the developer under Spanish law.

Ms Fullwood, who runs Ice Models modelling agency based in Shrewsbury, today said: "We are waiting for a preliminary hearing in the Murcia court. Each court process can take a minimum of a year and even if we do get our money back it may be another four years. I bought mine in 2005 so it could be a 10 year wait."

Nobody was available for comment from Corvera Golf and Country Club SL today.

By Russell Roberts