DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2009

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
By David Eade

The regional government’s culture and heritage ministry ruled some months ago that the car park that occupied the large plaza by Ronda’s 200-year-old bullring should be removed. It insisted that Andalucía’s third most visited site should be pedestrian only and the town hall quickly complied closing the car park at the beginning of August.

This has now left the plaza Teniente Arce which leads on to the paseo de Blas Infante looking rather forlorn but not for long. The councillor for gardens, Josefa Valle, has launched an international competition for how the area can best be utilised but Ronda historians have also come up with a suggestion.

To start with the historians who are concerned about the location of the main gate to the plaza de toros that is currently on the calle Pedro Romero. However this was not always so and from1788 to 1923 it faced on to what is now the plaza Teniente Arce. The imposing main gate is very important to the bullring because apart from the Goyesca Ladies and Bullfighters entering here during the Pedro Romero bullfights in September it is also out of this gate that matadors who perform well are carried shoulder high in triumph.

It is ease to see from old photographs why the focal main gate was moved in 1923. At that time the old Teatro Vicente Espinal came within feet of the entrance but now where the door once stood faces on to the centre of the open plaza Teniente Arce. So the suggestion of the historians is that the celebrated main gate should be returned to its original position.

Whilst the heritage experts debate the pros and cons of such a move Josefa Valle has opened a competition for ideas that would see gardens created as part of a new layout of the plaza Teniente Arce. Valle explained that the town hall wanted to create an exciting vision for this site which is so important to Ronda and to find ways of utilising the space that currently lies empty.

Hence the competition that is open to Spanish and foreign designers, gardeners, architects and other professionals of international standing to come up with new ideas that would create a zone to relax in for both residents and visitors. The designs will be studied by the town hall, local experts as well as the regional government’s ministry of culture and heritage and some exciting submissions are expected for what is a world-renowned historical site.
ALGATOCÍN BLAZE
Infoca has reported that nine hectares of pasture were destroyed by fire on Monday in the municipality of Algatocín. There fire was detected at around 13.24 close to the boarder with Benalauría and was not brought under control to 15.00. Fifty fire fighters attended the scene supported by four helicopters, one with a high water carrying capacity and an aircraft. The fire alert is now at a high level and the Andalucía government has asked that everybody is especially vigilant.

LONGER PARTY
Ronda celebrates its Feria de Pedro Romero from September 3 to 6. The hours of the day fair in the town centre have been extended. On September 3 and 4 it will continue to 19.30 but on the final two days will last till 20.00. The night fair will be held at the new fair ground by Hipersol with the former fair ground across the road used as a parking zone. The two are connected by a foot bridge.

STORM DAMAGE
The recent storm that saw 50 litres per square metre fall on Ronda in just 30 minutes is estimated to have caused 1.6 million euros in damage. Some 170 rodeños have submitted claims for compensation and these have been forwarded to the Andalucía government by the town hall. The areas worst affected were the UVA, Padre Jesús and the commercial town centre.

TREE PROTEST
Ecologistas en Acción have officially complained to Ronda town hall over the felling of three hectares of pines at La Dehesa by the regional government’s public works ministry. The trees were felled as land was cleared for a new access roundabout, part of the 14 million euros road scheme. The ecologists insist the felling is illegal and no environmental impact study was commissioned.

NOT ME
Ronda’s mayor, Antonio Marín, slipped in and out of the local court last Thursday to give evidence in the case on the illegal construction of an agricultural warehouse built on non-urban land in the protected Hoya del Tajo. He blamed the councillor for public works, José Herrera, plus other councillors sitting on the Commission for Works in July 2006 when the licence was granted.

FLU CAMPAIGN
Ronda’s health delegation and the Serranía health authority are co-ordinating plans to launch an information campaign in September to advise residents and to help control the spread of ‘Gripe A’ swine flu. The campaign will concentrate on basic hygiene actions such as the thorough washing of hands that will help prevent the contraction of swine flu or the propagation of the virus.

SAX ROBBERY
The economic crisis is driving many people to petty crime but the theft of two saxophones with accessories from a house in Cortes de la Frontera on August 11 raised eyebrows. The Guardia Civil soon tracked down the culprit who was a fellow resident who lived nearby. Officers are staying quiet on how the thief was found – blowing a stolen instrument perhaps?

SELF ESTEEM
The Diputación de Málaga is to organise courses by the Instituto de Sexología aimed at improving the residents’ self-esteem, self control and communication skills. Over 30,000 euros is being assigned to the project that will be held in Benadalid, Cañete de la Real, Cartajima, Cuevas del Becerro, Gaucín, Jubrique, Júzcar and 24 other villages in largely rural, inland areas of the province.

SPRAY TIME
High summer temperatures coupled with the humidity caused by recent rain storms has meant that 10,000 hectares of olive groves are being urgently sprayed to kill off the olive fly. Failure to take action could lead to four million euros of losses for the olive growers of Ronda, El Burgo, Cuevas del Becerro, Ardales, Cañete la Real, El Saucejo, Benaoján, Jimera, Montejaque and Cortes.

USA BULL
Members of the USA Asociación de Clubes Taurinos, led by their president Lore Monnig, were recently received at Ronda’s Palacio de Mondragón by Mayor Antonio Marín. They attended the bullfights at the Málaga feria then visited Ronda. The mayor explained the role of Pedro Romero in creating the modern bullfight and that Ronda’s plaza de toros was the third most visited monument in Andalucía.