SCENTIFIC REPORT BACKS LOS MERINOS PROTESTORSBy David Eade
Although work on the controversial Los Merinos golf and residential complex in Ronda is on hold because of the financial crisis there has been no easing off in the battle to have the project halted.
Ecologistas en Acción, the Plataforma Cueveña en Defensa del Agua, Grupo de Trabajo Valle de Genal, Plataforma Arriateña en Defensa del Agua and COAG-Málaga have sent a report to the courts and the regional government that was prepared by hydrogeology experts at the Universities of Oviedo and Zaragoza.
This document says that there will be “terrible consequences” if the urban development is allowed to proceed at Los Merinos. The land is of high ecological value and part of the area is within the boundaries of the Sierra de las Nieves biosphere reserve.
The plan is to build 800 dwellings, two golf courses, three luxury hotels plus other leisure complexes. Los Merinos has no water reserves of its own hence would have to supply the massive development from the aquifers that for centuries have served the local villages, agriculture and maintained the ecological balance in the area.
However the university report says that if Los Merinos was allowed to proceed it would “seriously endanger and alter the ecosystems.” Furthermore it argues that the aquifer system that supplies Cuevas del Becerro, Arriate, Serrato, La Cimada and Los Prados would have to be protected so that their supplies were not lost.
High court rejects ecologist’s action
The Andalucía high court in Málaga has rejected an appeal brought by Ecologistas en Acción against the partial plan for the Los Merinos golf course – a case that a lower court had previously dismissed. Whilst this may be seen as a victory for the developers and Ronda town hall there are a number of other legal fights still to be won, one appeal having being lodged by the regional government.
On Thursday of this week the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, will appear before Ronda’s number one court. He will be answering charges that he has committed offences under the town planning law and against the environment by giving the go-ahead for the golf and residential development by his own decree.
PSOE UNDER THREAT IN BENAOJÁNSoraya García is currently the PSOE mayor of the Serranía de Ronda municipality of Benaoján. However all that may change of October 21 when a no confidence motion is presented by Izquierda Unida and the other opposition parties.
The action in Benaoján, which rarely makes any news headlines, is being watched closely by politicians because it is a further sign in the rift between PSOE and Izquierda Unida in Málaga province. The parties of the left are supposed to support each other but Benaoján is seemingly going down the path recently trodden in Mollina, Torrox, Yunquera, Velez-Málaga, Casabermeja and Ardales.
The situation in Benaoján is very simple. There are nine councillors and after the last elections the IU held three seats, PSOE two, the Agrupación Independiente de Benaoján two with a seat each for PSOE and the Agrupación Progresista de Benaoján.
As the largest elected party the IU expected to take the mayoralty in coalition with other parties. However PSOE stepped in, formed its own partnership with the two councillors of the AIB and the one of the Partido Popular.
Now the AIB has abandoned the coalition so the IU is bringing the motion backed by the AIB and APB on the basis that Benaoján is now ungovernable. For her part the mayor Soraya García is remaining calm insisting that she is getting on with the task of overseeing the development of the municipality and claiming the motion is totally unjustifiable.
SLOVAK FUGITIVE WHO LIVED IN MANCHESTER ARRESTED IN RONDA
The National Police in Ronda, acting on a European arrest warrant, have arrested a 32-year-old Slovak national who is wanted by the judicial authorities in his home country.
He has been sought by the police since August of last year. He was tracked to a hotel in Ronda but is said to have resided in the UK in Manchester. After establishing his identity officers held him in detention to await extradition proceedings.
It is alleged that in 2005 he sold and was to have installed windows for a client in Slovakia. It is said he took the 2,500 euros, caused serious harm to the client and then fled the police. He also has previous convictions in Slovakia.
STREET WEB
Installed in Ronda’s plaza de España is an internet booth. It allows users to read for free the town hall and tourist office websites or to surf the web, send emails, hold a video conference for just two euros an hour. In the coming weeks there will be 15 of these booths and they will be located in all areas of the town.
SOCCER FOUL
Ronda’s Izquierda Unida claims mayor Antonio Marín gave permission for the demolition of the soccer stadium before Eroski purchased the land for a commercial centre - the licence was issued on May 14 but the deal wasn’t completed to June 12. The IU alleges that Eroski paid 2.8 million euros in August but this sum has yet to appear in the town hall’s coffers.
PLAZA PLAN
Work is underway in Ronda’s plaza de España to install a roundabout that will dramatically alter the traffic flow in the centre. The project will take four months to complete and cost over one million euros from State funds. There had been fears that traffic would be cut in the plaza by the Tajo bridge but that has now been ruled out.
NEW LOOK
Since the Partido Popular was kicked out of the coalition in Ronda by mayor Antonio Marín it has been in disarray. A meeting was held last week attended by PP Málaga president, Elías Bendodo, where the new commission running the local party was presented that will organise the next congress. Missing is Begoña Chacón now a national MP and critics’ leader José Herrera.
