I enclose the following news item for the “Gazette” (if you are not already aware of it):

Those readers concerned about the effect that the proposed new building developments on the Peñón del Lobo will have on the coastal footpath between Herradura and Almunecar will be pleased to know that the Junta de Andalucia has recently placed an information board at the Cotobro end of the “Fishermans’ Pathway,” which has a a map showing the route and details of the wildlife to be seen. They have also placed a wooden viewing platform along the path, at a point overlooking the Marina del Este

Yours sincerely

M le Claire

The emergency services attended the scene of the accident which occurred at 16.20 hrs on Saturday just prior to the Cerro Gordo tunnel. The injured motorcyclist was taken to hospital in Motril.

The cyclist was not carrying any documents that could identify him at the time of the accident although it was later possible to establish his nationality – relatives are being informed before more information is released to the public.

(news: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalusia)

As always, Zoe is offering handmade, quality pieces that cannot be found anywhere else and if you are thinking of a New Year’s resolution… they are planning a fine art course, which will begin in January.

For more information check out the website at www.indigointeriors.es or visit the shop in C/Gonzalo Barbero 12, La Herradura. Tel. 958 640 632.

The conference has been sponsored by the European physics society, EPS and the American one, APS, as well as the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation.

The Ed and Mylo have been asked to contribute to this event… however, we have decided that our best contribution would be our absence.

The course is sponsored by the Junta de Andalucia through the provincial coordinator of Civil Protection and consists of 250 hours of training, both on theory and practical levels and involves nine firefighters.

The head of the group, Antonio Ávila, after his first sea dive, explained some of the difficulties they expect to encounter during rescues. “The difference is the visibility at sea is good or acceptable, while in marshes is will be very different, and of course the buoyancy is very different in seawater and we will therefore notice our equipment more,” he explained.

Here’s hoping the enjoy the remainder of their course and put the training to good use in the future.

Ms. Reinoso also recognised the hard work of teachers and caregivers, who take care of these youngsters during their first term.

The Mayoress has praised the work done by the Almunecar maintenance workers who, in the days prior to the return, sorted out minor problems and general maintenance at the eleven locations that are shared by the six centres. Four are located in Reina Sofia (Paloma), two in La Herradura and La Carrera, while Los Marinos, San Miguel and Torrecuevas each  has a centre.

“The most exciting works are the provision of a kitchen at the centre in Torrecuevas; there are very few centres that can boast their own kitchen, and also the  reconditioning of classrooms with new materials,” said Maria del Carmen Reinoso.

The centres are open from 07.30 until 17.00 hours in order to meet the requirements of families who have work commitments and a lunch service for the children is also included.

Applications for places at these state run nurseries were taken before the summer and allocations done on a first come first serve basis, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Families pay for childcare based on the income they have, according to a scale set by the Junta de Andalucia.

(News Almunecar/Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

The request, says Censi Ruiz, is because, “we’ve never had a location where we can meet and listen to the public and up to now we have had to have these type of meetings in the street, houses or even in cafe bars. This is a situation that we must change because we are at the service of the people and want to work with them.”

Censi also explains that this is not the first time that such a request has been made, “we made similar requests of the previous administration, but to no avail,” she said.

The aim, say PSOE, is to have an administration as close to the people as possible, in the case of La Herradura, we want to be in the village centre, so the citizens no longer have to travel to Almunecar to ask questions, make petitions or voice their concerns.

Moreover, “the PSOE wants to guarantee the political and social plurality in La Herradura and, while meeting the commitment to involve residents in municipal affairs,” she added.

“This is why the socialists have created an ‘Office of Citizen Services,’  which aims to be open to the public every Tuesday. We intend to expand these hours if we are assigned a place in the village and people become aware that there is a site where you will be attended to, to this end the PSOE is going to do an intensive information campaign” concludes Ruiz.

Just as a footnote, having read about this in the local provincial press, we are still not entirely sure if the PSOE is seeking a place where you would be able to speak with just PSOE councillors, or if they are campaigning for an office for all councillors from all parties to hold meetings. We are trying to speak with our PSOE contacts to clarify and this post will be updated accordingly.

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

What has caused all the problems to date is that the hillside has been retaining water, which has softened the ground, causing parts to slip, resulting in cracks through many of the new buildings in the area.
The stabilizing work cost over a million euros, which is a small price, considering the damage that the earth movements have caused and the loss of equity on affected properties.

However, locals have had to put up with the noise and inconvenience of the works during the hottest and busiest month of the year.
The work that has concluded corresponds to the first phase; i.e., the sinking of the drainage shafts, both vertical, as well as the horizontal connecting ones, all leading to the main gallery.

The shafts are between 14 and 23 metres deep, having lateral draining sub-shafts, which take the water to the central gallery (cave). The amount of flow is equivalent, on some occasions, to 37 litres per second, in other words, 133 metric tonnes of water an hour, which equivalent to two Olympic swimming pools in every 24 hours.
Precisely because of this huge amount of sweet water, there is talk of utilising it this ‘windfall’ for the irrigation of private and public garden areas. (Waste not; want not.)

The next step in the process is to build a sort of screen, or wall, which will be built in the lower section of the hillside, near the central gallery.
The Agencia Publica de Puertos de Andalucia (APPA) carried out emergency work last year, costing some 400,000 euros, on the central gallery, which had been built to drain water when the first houses and the port were done. Since that time, the gallery has reportedly fallen into disrepair, resulting in the subsequent land slips.

Whilst this emergency work was still being carried out, it was decided to carry out a second project involving drainage shafts, which is the work that has just concluded.

So, with the repair to the underground gallery, the sinking of the 30 drainage shafts and the soon to be built lower wall near the gallery, the adequate drainage of the hillside should be ensured, despite the characteristics of the hillside being prone to accumulating water below ground.
One reader (of a briny origin) tells us that the shafts that have been sunk actually on the road stick out about a metre above the road.

(We’ll miss you Glen!) However, she has encouraged the group to carry on without her and to continue with their monthly meetings, workshops, talks and social gatherings. One of the challenges was finding a new online platform for the women to join and connect with each other.

Previously, WomenWorks was established on Ning – a software platform for social networks. However, the Ning platform was closed due to Glen leaving. In the interim, a temporary WomenWorks group was set up on Facebook. As of July 23rd, all members have been invited and encouraged to sign up on the new WomenWorks site on another social networking site called Xing.

It is free to sign up and the website is https://www.xing.com/net/womenworks. You will be required to set up a profile (just as was required on the old Ning site), but you can start with an abbreviated version. New members are always welcome.

The next meeting will take place on Wed. Sept 7th at 11:00 am (venue to be confirmed later). Sheila Martin, the WomenWorks steering lady, will be conducting a workshop on Internet Marketing. Also, she will be giving a brief overview of the Xing site so everyone can get signed up.

Another event to mark in your calendars is the Mind Body Spirit gathering on Saturday Sept. 10th from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Boatyard Bar, Playazo Beach in Nerja. For maps and directions, see www.boatyardbar.com. There will be plenty on offer in the field of natural health and healing, therapies, jewelry, organic vegetables, essential oils etc.

Also on Sat. Sept. 10th, Renate van Nijen, who has been an internationally exhibited artist for over 25 years, will hold the inauguration of her art exhibition at 8:00 p.m. at the Civic Center in La Herradura. It will be a retrospective exhibition of her artwork. However, it will also be the launch of her newest book “Cheers” the hidden voices of alcoholism. Check out her website at www.renartsbookworld.com.

The Almuñécar International Womens Group will have the next planning meeting after the summer break on Sat. Sept. 24th at 11:00 at Hotel Arrayannes. This group meets for coffee on the second Saturday of every month at Bar Pinball in Almuñécar and has planning meetings on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Any women who are interested in joining this social group are encouraged to come to the coffee meetings. The group arranges various weekly and monthly events, activities and outings. They have an Art Group, which is quite new and has proven to be very popular. The next Art Day will be on Thurs. Oct. 6th at 11:00 a.m. Venue to be confirmed.

There is also talk of a Photography Day to take place in November. The group also has a book club and a gardening club among others. The best way to meet the lovely ladies in this group, and to find out more about the many activities they arrange, is simply to attend one of the meetings. To receive their monthly newsletter, you can contact them by e-mail at: almunecarwomensgroup@googlemail.com.