As the new law recently brought into being by the Junta stipulates that you cannot simultaneously be a mayor and a parliamentary deputy – for very obvious reasons – this means that he will have to resign from the Motril mayoralty and a substitute found within his team.

Javier Arenas, who is the PP Candidate for First Minister (Presidente) in the upcoming regional elections on the 25th of March, places a lot of faith of Rojas to gain Granada for his party.

The Mayor of Motril is not the only PP mayor in Andalucia to do the same, as there are four others, which some see as a direct confrontation with the new law; a law that the PP is dead against… in Andalucia, at least, because in Galicia, where the PP control the regional parliament, they have no problems with it.

Indeed the PP who now control the Central Government have started legal proceedings to repeal the Andaluz law, so that their candidates can continue to be mayor’s as well.

Editorial comment: It is impossible that one person can efficiently occupy the post of mayor in a large town like Motril, with its 60,000 inhabitants, and at the same time efficiently fulfill their obligations as provincial deputy at the Junta de Andalucia. If a person can do both efficiently, then they are grossly overpaid for either post.

At a time when citizens are questioning the huge cost of maintaining the whole political infrastructure in Spain, with its overlapping areas of responsibility on a national, regional, provincial and municipal level, the very idea of politicians receiving two full salaries for posts that they are dedicating 50% of their time to, is abusive… and that is without even going into the high salaries received by politicians in general and the corresponding drain on public economic resources.

Although the motives behind the PSOE-run Junta’s decision to bring into being the new law are more politically motivated than for any other reason, it is indeed a very necessary law.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

If it had not been for these problems, it would have been the first 5-star hotel on the Costa Tropical, having opened in the summer of 2008 – but instead it stands dormant, with all the financial investment in it frozen, which has been ruinous for the developers/owners.

At present the hotel is immersed into two court cases, although one has already received a definitive ruling, resulting in the annulment of the Town-Council accord of the 3rd of August 2000, which authorised the building of the hotel on greenbelt land. In the worst of scenarios, this could result in a demolition order.

Almuñécar has asked for a ‘stay of order’ whilst a (legal) negotiated settlement is found that would avoid this and allow the hotel to open.

At the same time the Town Hall has entered into talks with the Junta to dissuade this regional authority from challenging the municipal building licence for the 7-star hotel in Cotobro. The ex-mayor, Juan Carlos Benavides, had granted a building licence just before the last local elections – in which he lost the mayoralty, but it was a very rushed arrangement and subsequently faulty.

The Junta consequently took legal steps against this licence and as a result, the hotel could be tied up in legal knots for years to come, without one brick being laid. The Mayor, Trinidad Herrera, wants to reach an agreement with the Junta to avoid precisely this.

So, the Town Hall is working on two fronts to unblock the administrative blockage on both the Hotel Cercado de Santa Cruz, with its 77 rooms, and the Hotel Bahia Fenicia, with its 180 rooms and projected 200 luxury dwellings to be built in three phases.

The Junta, for its part, is willing to withdraw its legal actions against the Cercado if the Town Hall modifies its development planning for the area on which the hotel sits. So far, the Town Hall has approval from the Consejeria de Cultura in Granada and is awaiting a favourable response from the Department of the Environment. If Almuñécar does receive a favourable report from this department, then it can go ahead and change the land category.

The Councillor for Urban Development, José Manueal Fernández, feels optimistic about the results and considers that both projects can be freed up in the next three months.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Google Earth panorama of greenhouses

“Thanks to the greenhouse,” said the owner of one that is on a beach near La Rábita, “I have been able to bring up my three kids. Now, at 61 years old, where am I going to find work if they make me take it down,” concluding with, “It’s not fair that they take this away from us so that the sea can swallow it up.”

The fact is that these greenhouses have been standing between El Pozuelo and La Rábita for over 30 years – longer than Costas has been in existence. The owner, Antonio Jesús Vázquez, started from scratch when he was only 23 years old, and it should be pointed out, with permission from the authorities back then.

The area where the greenhouses sit is a spit of land that the flash floods of 1973 created and some of the owners even received loans from the same administrative body which today is telling them that they have to go. The then young men that started to work that recently created land saw it as a break from the past; a break from working land for the large landowners that their fathers had sweated away over – it was a chance to be their own men. It was a patch of land sent from heaven, literally, as the huge flooding of 73 had created a no-man’s land; somewhere that didn’t belong to the caciques.

But thanks to a court decision handed down from the Regional Supreme Court of Andalucia, the pending demolition ordered by the Delegación de Costas has been put on hold. The court decided that until the farmers appeal has been resolved, the demolition cannot go ahead – it’s a reprieve, but it may only be a temporary one.

Editorial Comment: everybody agrees that the thousands of square metres of plastic greenhouses that adorn the eastern coast are an eyesore – they make money but are uglier than piles on a camel. There’s no argument there. The Valle de Río Verde made the correct decision to keep farming under plastic out of the valley because tourism and plastic farming just don’t mix.

The governmental department that protects our coastlines – or are supposed to – are very necessary, as they uphold the public nature of coastline and water courses – great, fantastic and well done but there comes a point when this entity is so busy protecting public domain that they are marginalizing the general public. The department’s zeal is almost fanatical where it should be understanding and lax where it should be vigilant. A clear case of its laxity is that bloody great monstrosity of a hotel sitting on a beach in the middle of a national park near Carboneras.

An example of its fanatical zeal is the sabotage to Carchuna beach use, where a kilometric low wall has destroyed all the parking. What difference does a 3-metre strip make to the Carchuna beach, if it were used for parking? None, whatsoever but Costas marked out where the beach ended with almost Germanic precision, without any of the hispanic give-and-take, and thoroughly handicapped the town’s meagre tourist industry.

Getting back to these greenhouses which have been there since 1973… sure, they’re an eyesore and have been so for nearly four decades so what the hell difference does it make now, when everybody is struggling to keep their incomes and put food on their tables? Give them a 50-year lease starting from 73 and then pull them down, if the sea hasn’t already done so by then, because what the elements create they take back sooner or later.

(News: La Rabita, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

But rather than sitting around lamenting the administrative bungle, the Asociaciion de Voluntariado Ambiente Monte Verde, which was founded six years ago and chaired by the Green Party councillor for Orgiva, has started replanting again.

The said councillor, Jordi Jutglar Iglesias, explained that the Town Hall had requested a grant to sow the hillside above the cemetery road with saplings and build a mirador (flat area that affords a panoramic view, in this case) .

The funds were granted, which totalled 106,000 euros and a company was hired to carry out the work. Unfortunately, the building company decided to get the planting out of the way instead of waiting until the summer had passed, allegedly.

Undaunted, and with the help of 16 British volunteers who are here doing an environmental course, the association is busy re-planting pomegranate trees, cypresses, pines, Spanish evergreen oak, carob trees, strawberry trees (arbutus), etc. The association is funding the replanting themselves.

In the meantime, the regional department for the environment has sued both the Orgiva Town Hall and the building company for several hundred thousand euros for three reasons: the project was adjusted to the seasons, the terrain is very steep and subject to erosion and for not seeking permission to commence the project (referring to the private firm).

(News: Orgiva, La Alpujarra, Granada, Andalucia)

The carcass was discovered by locals in the early evening who reported the find to the police, who in turn contacted CREMA (Centro de Recuperacion de Especies Marinas). This institution deals with injured marine life, with the task of returning them to health and the sea.

In this case, apart from the adequate disposal of the carcass, they will conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

One of the most interesting feats of this institution occurred in the year 2000 when a turtle was brought to them with a fractured skull and part of its lower jaw missing. It took ten months to returned the turtle, christened Robo Cop, to its natural habitat, but not before putting metal plates in its head and rebuilding its jaw with a substitute-bone resin.

As for co-ordination with other entities, the case of the Arctic seal that was found on a Malaga beach required a team effort between British Airways, The Royal Navy and the Junta de Andalucia, because its destination was the Northern coast of Scotland and it entailed car, train, aeroplane and ship transport.

(News: Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

The Town Council is looking forward to the economic boost that the new tourist status will bring and is pledging to give the town a facelift.

Mayor, Trinidad Herrera, plans to invest one and a half million euros in the facelift project which aims to revamp squares and streets, improve lighting and revitalize the cultural-historical heritage of the whole town.

But the main project being promoted by Trinidad Herrera is to strengthen and recondition the neighborhood of El Castillo (around the castle) to make it more attractive to tourists. The mayor says she understands that this area is already very beautiful, but believes there is no real incentive for tourists to walk around the streets.

The Council’s plans include a bazaar on one of the concourses and incentives for locals to open businesses and restaurants in the neighbourhood, in the hope of creating something along the lines of the Albacin, Granada.

The signing of the ‘tourist town’ agreement will see a bonus payment of 1,531,000 euros and will give Almuñecar a much higher priority when the Junta is handing out grants and aid.

There will also be collaboration between the Junta and the Town Council on tourism, development plans and be able to receive more financial incentives, depending on the annual budgets of the Andalusian Government.

All of the plans are contained in the Council statement of intent in relation to tourism, which was submitted shortly before the summer, but is lacking the signature of agreement from the Ministry of Tourism in the Junta… and although everything is agreed by all parties in principle, that final signature cannot be added until after the General Election, as it is illegal to put such legislation through just prior to an election.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Adhara workers protest before Mayor

The new Councillor for Social Welfare in the Almuñécar Town Hall has accused the previous administration under Juan Carlos Benavides of funneling grant money away from its intended use.

Put another way, Councillor Maria de Carmen Reinoso claims that whereas Almuñécar had been receiving a grant from the Junta to be used to pay home-help workers at 13 euros an hour, the previous administration only handed over 10.09 euros per hour, during 2009 , meaning that a total of 75,000 euros were spirited away from social services for other purposes.

Readers might remember that the company providing home help in Almuñécar was Adhara and that this company went bust when the Town Hall refused to hand over the money that it had received from the Junta expressly for this service. The previous administration then decided to provide the home-help service itself, but in an arguably inefficient and inadequate form.

It is a long and sorry tale that would require a separate article and far too involved to go into here, but the end result was that many aged and infirm residents of Almuñécar reportedly went without attendance during weekends and public holidays – in the case of bank-holiday weekends, this meant several days without any home help.

Getting back to the discrepancy between funds received and funds handed over, in 2009 the Town Hall handed over 89,000 euros to Adhara to pay the employees for their hours worked, but at the same time, retained 75,000 euros, which apparently were spent in other departments within the Town Hall.

It’s not a question of the funds going missing, or ending up in somebody’s pocket, but that if the town received this money to provide a social service for those that cannot look after themselves because of age or sickness, then all of it should have been used for that purpose, either directly as salary or invested in equipment etc.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

The Provincial Heritage Commission of the Ministry of Culture at the Junta de Andalucia has given the approval which represents a decisive step towards the full and final approval of the General Urban development Plan (PGOU) which has been at a stand still for years.

The meeting took place on Monday, when the Mayoress of Almunecar, Trinidad Herrera, met the said delegate at the Town Hall and took receipt of the document which guarantees the next step in the future of Almunecar.

The document, which is in the form of a letter, is dated September 9th and signed by the Head of Cultural Property at the Junta, Antonio Garcia Bascon. Sr. Bascon explains in the letter, “Having examined the documentation submitted, along with the amendments which were required and are now correct, the Special Protection Plan for Historic Almunecar can continue with a view to final approval.”

The letter is in reply to one sent by the Town Hall on August 12th, which addressed the considerations made by the ‘Special Plan for the Protection of Historical Almunecar’ by the Provincial Historical Heritage Commission in a meeting held on July 7th 2001.

The Mayor is extremely pleased with the letter and the tone of the meeting with the delegate and called it, “A great step forward along the pipeline towards final approval, which the whole town welcomes, as it will revive the economy, employment and entrepreneurship,” she said.

The delegate himself said, “Regarding the approval of the PGOU, it now has the stamp of approval from the Culture and Property section of the Junta, which was a major obstacle to the final approval of the General Urban Plan,” explained Sr. Vagisil.

Both agreed at their meeting that close cooperative ties needed to be established. In this regard, it was highlighted that initial proposals are the registration of an Almunecar Archaeological Museum in Andalucia, projects to enhance, repair and protect the necropolis, Puente de Noy and remedying the lighting project at the Peñon (The rock with the cross on it).

Sr. Vagisil said he wanted to establish a joint working effort, ‘to ensure a fair and working remedy to any deficiencies in any areas of culture and heritage in the town and  Almunecar to become an historic town and centre of excellence in the field of culture and heritage.” he said.

Finally, the provincial head of Culture also announced the mayor’s intention to construct in Almunecar a ‘District Warehouse of Archaeological Remains,’ offering to work with the Mayoress and collaborate on all points and stages of this development, “because after all that Almunecar has achieved, it deserves to be recognised as a cultural centre in the province of Granada.”

The approval is in line with all the ideas of the Trinidad Herrera, who only recently took up the baton of leadership at the Town Hall, and the approval and implementation of the PGOU is believed to be one of her main challenges, especially as the town is still covered by the now outdated 1987 one. To this end, she aims to complete all the pending proceedings and continues in discussions with all the relevant authorities involved to get this plan into operation and realise the town’s potential in the short to medium term.

The reason that the PGOU had been on hold was because the previous municipal administration had been dragging its heels of presenting required documentation; the approval by the Cultural Department being one of them. The letter basically confirms that no part of the proposed PGOU puts into jeopardy any facets of the towns historical and archeological heritage.

More paperwork in the form of documents of approval from various provincial departs are still outstanding, but the Mayoress appears to believe in alacrity rather than stalling.

A key step in the progress of Almunecar and a good reason for local investors interested in this area not to go elsewhere.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

The Town Hall considers that within a question of months the PGOU could be finalised, as they intend to get the ball rolling again in September. The Mayoress considers that the PGOU is crucial to the short-term and middle-term future of the town and will provide a ‘magnificent job opportunity’ for those in search of work.

Mayoress Herrera believes that the final approval could come at the end of the year, or within the first weeks of 2012.

“There are many [development/building] projects that are frozen, pending the approval of the PGOU,” she explained, adding, “what we are not willing to let happen is for the companies that are waiting to invest in Almunecar to go elsewhere,” meaning that the Town Hall would do all that is possible to get to go-ahead for them before they lose interest.

She also pointed out that all the political parties in Almunecar are ‘more or less’ in accord, concerning getting the PGOU in its present form approved, as it is much less ambitious and complicated that in its original 2005 form.

However, she emphasised that her party is not completely happy with all the details, but that changing any part of the document would mean just more delays. The idea is to obtain the approval as soon as possible and then, without haste, write up amendments.

The final form that the document has foresees and investment of 1,540m euros and will cover the next eight years (at present we are still operating under the 1987 PGOU). The framework includes the development of nine million square metres of building land, which is equivalent to 38% of the present urban extension of the town.

This urban expansion consists of 35,000 new dwellings, of which 11,300 will be state-subsidised housing (VPO’s). Also included are 6,000 hotel rooms, two shopping complexes: El Coso, situated next to the main road near the P-4 junction, which will include a permanent bull ring; Rio Seco, which will be on the northern side of the main road (N-340), containing new sports, leisure and educational facilities, as well as extensive ‘green areas’.

As for the projected golf courses and marinas, the former will be contained within a separate ‘annex’ to the PGOU and the latter will need to be approved by the central authorities in Madrid, as well as the regional authorities in Sevilla (Junta).

(Note: for readers who are not familiar with the abbreviation PGOU, it stands for Plan General de Ordenacion Urbano and translates to General Plan for Urban Development and is an approved blue print for further municipal development.)

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

But what exactly is a municipio turistico and how will it affect the town?

Basically, it is a ‘denomination’ or category. In the words of Trinidad Herrera (the Mayoress) “The agreement will affect the development of projects, improve the quality of tourism services, protect the natural resources and environment, better the infrastructure etc.” It sounds a bit like winning the lottery, so we looked it up on the Junta’s website:

Legal term created by autonomous regions in order to distinguish those municipalities that have certain requisites, such as visiting population and a budget dedicated to tourism etc. Towns that hold the title have assumed extra responsibilities and therefore have the right to receive from the Junta specific funds in order to finance such functions.

The funds received depend on the number of visitors to the town, in part based on the hotel occupation.

Basically, the town already has long had to to use municipal funds to provide extra services to function as a tourist town, so what this agreement between the Junta and the town actually does is to ‘recognise’ the extra financial effort that Almunecar has been making as a tourist town and to allocate special funds to make up for it.

A town like Zafarraya or Baza, for example, doesn’t survive through tourism and therefore does not have to dedicate funds to promote itself as a tourism destination, whereas Almunecar does.

Almunecar is the only town in the whole province that has received this ‘distinction,’ although Nerja, just across the provincial boundary, already boasts the same category.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)