NEARLY HALF OF SERRANÍA’S RURAL TOURISM IS ILLEGALBy David Eade
According to data produced by the Registro de Turismo de Andalucía (RTA) in the 21 municipalities that make up the Serranía de Ronda 45 per cent of the rural houses for letting or properties that offer holiday lodgings are illegal.
The CIT Serranía de Ronda says that on a survey of internet offerings around 200 properties are operating on a clandestine basis and are not registered on the RTA. These 200 rural houses account for 1,160 places out of the 445 properties and 2,600 beds available in the area.
The CIT in co-operation with CEDER started a campaign to ensure that all rural properties met the tourism norms and this has borne some success. At the start there were 260 illegal properties or approximately 60 per cent of those on offer and that has now been reduced to 45 per cent.
Now a new campaign is underway. Meetings are being arranged with all the municipal authorities so that the owners of illegal rural rentals can be informed on the risks they run on operating on a clandestine basis and the advantages of working within the law.
The CIT says its offers a free service to help those wishing to be listed on the RAT register. The organizations also offer technical assistance to legal rental properties. They key aim is to promote a regulated high standard of lettings that will attract tourists to the Serranía.
The illegal properties offer unfair competition to those who operate on a legal basis. They also operate without any form of control as to the quality of their properties or facilities and many fall below the minimum standards required by law.
The tax authorities are also alert to these operations. For instance during the Easter holiday season when the majority of rural rentals were fully occupied – based on the prices shown on their websites – they would have generated 136,000 euros without paying any tax. Not only are they guilty of tax avoidance but they often undercut the legal rentals.
Over the May holiday weekend the occupation level was put at 60 per cent in rural lets and at 75 per cent in hotels in the Serranía de Ronda. This was a lower figure than in previous years.
LA CONCEPCIÓN BARRACKS COULD BE NEW TOWN HALLRonda is studying the possibility of locating the town hall and municipal departments at the site of the former La Concepción military barracks. Currently the building is standing abandoned but the municipality has agreed with the Ministry of Defence that the site should be handed over to the town.
The mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, has spoken often of the need to find a new location for the town hall as the present building in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent, in the old town, does not have sufficient space. In addition being in the historic zone access is both difficult and limited whereas the barracks are located the other side of the Tajo gorge close to the bus station.
At present the idea is to construct a purpose built municipal building on the site. It was always stated that the barracks would include badly needed parking spaces and these would be spread over three floors. The development would also allow for a 4,000 square metre plaza which would become a central zone for activities in the town.
The architects who have drawn up the new local development plan (PGOU) that has still to be formally passed have given the green light to the idea of transferring the town hall to the former barracks. However it is being stressed that the proposal is still only in the discussion stage and other uses may yet be decided upon for the former military HQ.
The mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, has spoken often of the need to find a new location for the town hall as the present building in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent, in the old town, does not have sufficient space. In addition being in the historic zone access is both difficult and limited whereas the barracks are located the other side of the Tajo gorge close to the bus station.
At present the idea is to construct a purpose built municipal building on the site. It was always stated that the barracks would include badly needed parking spaces and these would be spread over three floors. The development would also allow for a 4,000 square metre plaza which would become a central zone for activities in the town.
The architects who have drawn up the new local development plan (PGOU) that has still to be formally passed have given the green light to the idea of transferring the town hall to the former barracks. However it is being stressed that the proposal is still only in the discussion stage and other uses may yet be decided upon for the former military HQ.
AVOID USING A-7 THROUGH SAN PEDRO
Over the coming months motorists from Ronda using the San Pedro road to the coast are strongly advised to go on to the A7P toll road rather than joining with the A7 at the San Pedro junction – especially at peak periods.
Work is due to start on excavating the actual underpass which will be a kilometre long and run from El Ingenio to the Ronda road junction. This will result in the cutting of the A-7 in the direction of Cádiz to Málaga.
Traffic that would normally travel on this route will be diverted on to the southern by-pass. Around 60,000 vehicles use the road on a normal day and they will now be sent on the by-pass that runs through the urbanisations between San Pedro town centre and the beach.
Local mayor Miguel Troyano stated: “In principal this work should have started on Monday but there is no certainty so the road could be cut on the Tuesday or Wednesday.” However was is certain is that the diversions will shortly be put in place some six weeks after they were due to start. The closure will then be partial but when it starts will continue for up to 18 months.
RONDA MARKETS
Liz Aylmer and Jenny Stock contacted Ronda News to send their good wishes and to ask could we list the arts and crafts market that is held in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent by the Ayuntamiento de Ronda on the first Sunday of every month. It is organized by the Casa de Cultura. That and the weekly general market held every Sunday at the Feria ground are now listed below.
Liz Aylmer and Jenny Stock contacted Ronda News to send their good wishes and to ask could we list the arts and crafts market that is held in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent by the Ayuntamiento de Ronda on the first Sunday of every month. It is organized by the Casa de Cultura. That and the weekly general market held every Sunday at the Feria ground are now listed below.
SERRANÍA HISTORY
Editorial La Serranía and the Hotel Bandolero have also contacted us with information on the II Jornadas de Historia de la Serranía de Ronda that is being held in Júzcar between May 16 and 17 (see poster at top of the page). The period for registration is now open but places are limited so if you wish to attend contact Júzcar town hall at: http://www.juzcar.es/ http://www.juzcar.com/ or telephone 952 18 35 00.
Editorial La Serranía and the Hotel Bandolero have also contacted us with information on the II Jornadas de Historia de la Serranía de Ronda that is being held in Júzcar between May 16 and 17 (see poster at top of the page). The period for registration is now open but places are limited so if you wish to attend contact Júzcar town hall at: http://www.juzcar.es/ http://www.juzcar.com/ or telephone 952 18 35 00.
DOG POO
Five people in Ronda have been fined 500 euros for allowing their dogs to foul the streets, parks or gardens of the town. The fines came in the first week of a municipal crackdown on dog owners who do not respect public spaces. The action marked the arrival in office of Josefa Valle as the councillor in charge of parks and gardens.
Five people in Ronda have been fined 500 euros for allowing their dogs to foul the streets, parks or gardens of the town. The fines came in the first week of a municipal crackdown on dog owners who do not respect public spaces. The action marked the arrival in office of Josefa Valle as the councillor in charge of parks and gardens.
PP WOE
The future direction of the Partido Popular in Ronda is in the balance. The Málaga provincial organisation has to decide shortly whether to call a local congress of members or install a manager to run the party’s affairs. The PP is in disarray, split in to two factions, after loosing its role as coalition partners of the Partido Andalucista where it controlled Ronda’s affairs.
The future direction of the Partido Popular in Ronda is in the balance. The Málaga provincial organisation has to decide shortly whether to call a local congress of members or install a manager to run the party’s affairs. The PP is in disarray, split in to two factions, after loosing its role as coalition partners of the Partido Andalucista where it controlled Ronda’s affairs.
RED FACED
CEDER, the centre for economic development in the Serranía de Ronda, has a red face after it emerged that it gave 130,000 euros to an illegal property in the Hoya del Tajo that is being investigated by the courts. The money equated to 25 per cent of the construction cost of the property which is an equestrian centre and deemed to generate tourism activity.
CEDER, the centre for economic development in the Serranía de Ronda, has a red face after it emerged that it gave 130,000 euros to an illegal property in the Hoya del Tajo that is being investigated by the courts. The money equated to 25 per cent of the construction cost of the property which is an equestrian centre and deemed to generate tourism activity.
FARM FEST
Agricultural in Ronda has been badly hit by the town hall’s decision to cancel the May Fair – the oldest such event in Andalucía. Now the various co-operatives have come together to organise their own agricultural and livestock event although a date has yet to be agreed. The Partido Popular says the sector has lost three million euros due to the cancellation of the May Fair.
Agricultural in Ronda has been badly hit by the town hall’s decision to cancel the May Fair – the oldest such event in Andalucía. Now the various co-operatives have come together to organise their own agricultural and livestock event although a date has yet to be agreed. The Partido Popular says the sector has lost three million euros due to the cancellation of the May Fair.
COUNCILLOR’S PERK
The councillor for town planning in Pujerra is to receive one of seven social housing units being constructed in the municipality. The 90 square metre house with a garage will cost 100,000 euros and has been funded by the Andalucía and Málaga authorities. The socialist town hall says the process was both legal and public with the opposition PP offering no objections.
The councillor for town planning in Pujerra is to receive one of seven social housing units being constructed in the municipality. The 90 square metre house with a garage will cost 100,000 euros and has been funded by the Andalucía and Málaga authorities. The socialist town hall says the process was both legal and public with the opposition PP offering no objections.
ENGLISH POSTER
English artist, Jennifer Waterhouse, who has lived in Spain for 20 years, has designed the poster for this year’s flamenco festival in Gaucín that will be held between July 24 - 25 – the 13 th edition of the event. In 2008 the poster was created by another foreign resident, the American painter and sculptor, Bayard Osborn, who has lived in the village for many years.
English artist, Jennifer Waterhouse, who has lived in Spain for 20 years, has designed the poster for this year’s flamenco festival in Gaucín that will be held between July 24 - 25 – the 13 th edition of the event. In 2008 the poster was created by another foreign resident, the American painter and sculptor, Bayard Osborn, who has lived in the village for many years.
