MAJOR ROAD WORKS AHEAD FOR RONDABy David Eade
The aim is to ease congestion and make access easier to Ronda from the town’s by-pass. However the 13.4 million euros road works that start this Spring will create their own chaos over the next 30 months.
The funding for the improved access scheme comes from the regional government and FEDER European funds, both going 50 – 50. The work is due to start before Easter and will employ 234 people both directly and indirectly.
A major part of the work will involve improvements to the links with the by-pass The first is the A-397 San Pedro road, the A-369 to Gaucín and the A-374 in to Ronda. Next comes the A-397 again this time to Sevilla, the A-366 to Coín and the A-367 to Ardales. The third involves the connections of the A-374 to the local urban roads.
The project will see roundabouts replaced by flyovers, underpasses and the creation of new roundabouts. Because of the high volume of traffic that circulates around Ronda between Sevilla and the Costa del Sol this connection will also see a major roundabout with three lanes. There will also be new feeder lanes for traffic to join and leave the main connecting roads.
ROAD OF DEATH CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIMThe A-397 Ronda to San Pedro road, the most dangerous in Málaga province, has claimed yet another victim.
On Sunday a 29 year-old motorcyclist died and his 12-year-old passenger was seriously injured at km 20.5 on the twisting mountain road. The tragedy happened at just after noon when the motorcycle left the road and hit the crash barrier with such force that the biker was killed instantly. The child survived the crash but is in a grave condition in hospital.
The A-397 recorded 61 accidents last year and has the most black spots of any road in Málaga province. There is now a political debate over whether a new toll motorway should be built or the current road widened and straightened to improve safety.
The new toll road would cut travel times from Ronda to the coast to just 21 minutes instead of the 55 minutes presently experienced. The road is vital to not only Ronda but the Serranía and Sierra de Cádiz as it allows workers to travel to the Costa del Sol where there are more employment opportunities. It is hoped that a faster route would stem the tide of depopulation in the inland region as local residents could more easily commute rather than abandoning their village for the towns on the coast.
PP WARNS OF LAND APPROPRIATION
The Partido Popular councilor in Júzcar, Francisco Lanzo, has warned that the new rural roads ordinance approved by the socialist mayor, David Fernández, is nothing more than a land grab. He claims the mayor is seeking to turn private land in to public rights of way. For his part Fernández has rejected the allegations. He says the exercise is simply to establish the ownership of each rural road that currently is unknown.
The Partido Popular councilor in Júzcar, Francisco Lanzo, has warned that the new rural roads ordinance approved by the socialist mayor, David Fernández, is nothing more than a land grab. He claims the mayor is seeking to turn private land in to public rights of way. For his part Fernández has rejected the allegations. He says the exercise is simply to establish the ownership of each rural road that currently is unknown.
PROTEST TIME
The parents of children at the Giner de los Ríos school in Ronda have now agreed on a series of protests aimed at the regional government and the town hall to keep the school open. The authorities want to close the school because of the low number of primary pupils and to transfer them to the nearby Virgen de la Cabeza.
The parents of children at the Giner de los Ríos school in Ronda have now agreed on a series of protests aimed at the regional government and the town hall to keep the school open. The authorities want to close the school because of the low number of primary pupils and to transfer them to the nearby Virgen de la Cabeza.
MORE INDEPENDENCE
The outlying districts of Montecorto and Serrato are to be given more independence by Ronda town hall. Both communities are over 10 kilometres from the town and have a degree of local autonomy and hope one day to become separate municipalities. Now they will be able to keep the IBI taxes from their zones as well as controlling local services and works licences.
The outlying districts of Montecorto and Serrato are to be given more independence by Ronda town hall. Both communities are over 10 kilometres from the town and have a degree of local autonomy and hope one day to become separate municipalities. Now they will be able to keep the IBI taxes from their zones as well as controlling local services and works licences.
NO IMPROVEMENT
The calle Armiñán is the main thoroughfare through the historic quarter of Ronda. A plan exists worth over one million euros to completely refurbish and upgrade the street. However it is opposed by local people backed by the PP who fear that the works will cause much inconvenience and damage the trade of the local businesses whilst it is carried out.
The calle Armiñán is the main thoroughfare through the historic quarter of Ronda. A plan exists worth over one million euros to completely refurbish and upgrade the street. However it is opposed by local people backed by the PP who fear that the works will cause much inconvenience and damage the trade of the local businesses whilst it is carried out.
ROCK THROWERS
The local police in Ronda have detained three youths who are suspected of being the culprits in incidents where large rocks have been thrown at passing cars. The dangerous attacks took place on the town’s by-pass and the 12 and 13 year old are being held by their parents whilst the 14 year old’s case has been passed to the youth prosecutor.
The local police in Ronda have detained three youths who are suspected of being the culprits in incidents where large rocks have been thrown at passing cars. The dangerous attacks took place on the town’s by-pass and the 12 and 13 year old are being held by their parents whilst the 14 year old’s case has been passed to the youth prosecutor.
RACIST ASSAULT
Málaga court has sentenced an Argentinean to two years and nine months in jail after he stabbed a man. The row broke out in a bar in Benalauría in 2007 after a discussion on Spanish and Argentinean immigrants. The Argentinean went to the bar’s kitchen, took two knives with which he carried out the attack. He has to pay the victim 4,500 euros compensation.
Málaga court has sentenced an Argentinean to two years and nine months in jail after he stabbed a man. The row broke out in a bar in Benalauría in 2007 after a discussion on Spanish and Argentinean immigrants. The Argentinean went to the bar’s kitchen, took two knives with which he carried out the attack. He has to pay the victim 4,500 euros compensation.
DRESS REHERSAL
Gaucín is preparing for the second re-enactment of the taking of the village by French troops in 1810 ahead of next year’s bi-centenary. On March 21 the French will take the town hall, municipal archive and imprison the mayor. On the following day he will be liberated by the mountain guerrillas and people of the village. Some 200 people will take part.
Gaucín is preparing for the second re-enactment of the taking of the village by French troops in 1810 ahead of next year’s bi-centenary. On March 21 the French will take the town hall, municipal archive and imprison the mayor. On the following day he will be liberated by the mountain guerrillas and people of the village. Some 200 people will take part.
