JUDGE REFUSES TO FILE LOS MERINOS CASEBy David Eade
Last Thursday the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, appeared in the town’s court to answer the case that he had broken the town planning and environmental laws by giving his personal decree to approve the controversial Los Merinos golf and urbanisation development.
Marín claims he acted within the law stating that he took the advice of reports produced by town hall officials although the prosecution says he ignored negative reports from the regional government. He also said the project was allowed for under the local development plan (PGOU). His lawyers then asked the judge to dismiss the case against him which he refused to do.
The court has been investigating a complaint laid by the Málaga prosecutor and the Izquierda Unida. The development would see the creation of two golf courses, 800 luxury villas and three five-star hotels on a site of high ecological value - part of which is within the boundaries of the Sierra de las Nieves UNESCO biosphere. As the development has no water resources of its own it is feared it would drain the vital aquifers that supply the local municipalities and agriculture.
However the legal battle is not yet over as the mayor’s lawyer are determined to return to court this week to apply once again for the case to be filed. If it is the mayor may then pursue his case against the IU alleging that their legal complaint was a political act.
Trillo slams mayor’s defence
The former Málaga delegate for the environment, Ignacio Trillo, who held the post at the time that the alleged offences took place has slammed the defence offered by the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, at last week’s court appearance.
Trillo said the mayor could not plead ignorance nor lay the blame on the town hall officials for his actions. He said the town planning project for Los Merinos was approved by the mayor, who is a lawyer by profession, in contravention of the DIA environmental impact and transformation of the lands report that was sent by the Andalucía ministry of the environment to the regional government. His approval also went against the Andalucía ministry of public works own study.
The regional government is taking its own legal action against Los Merinos. However Trillo observed that the mayor cannot ignore the clear position of the Andalucía government that has exclusive competence over water supplies and the environment. The opposition of the regional government and the Cuenca Mediterránea Andaluza water authority had been known by Marín in 2006 when he chose to issue his decree approving the golf –urban – hotel complex.
(As we went to press the mayor of Ronda issued a letter responding to Trillo’s charges. We will report on that next week.)
TEMPORARY ROAD ACCESS TO RONDADrivers using the Ronda to Sevilla road that wish to access the north of Ronda will soon be diverted along a temporary road through La Dehesa. A new road is currently being created that will pass the former cemetery that now houses the municipal garden centre.
Around 10,000 vehicles a day use the current road in to the town but that will be closed whilst a new roundabout is constructed that will filter traffic off the Ronda to Sevilla highway. The work is expected to take two months to complete and traffic on the main road will also face delays whilst the project is carried out.
This is all part of a major scheme being implemented by the regional government’s ministry of public works costing 17 million euros that was started last July and will continue for 30 months. It will see new access roads created in to Ronda including one by the existing hospital and another at the site of the new hospital on the road to the Costa del Sol.
The scheme is giving employment to 234 people, 136 of them directly and 98 who are sub-contracted to the project. Fifty per cent of the funding is coming from the Andalucía government with the balance from European FEDER development funds.
TAX REDUCTION
Ronda’s council has decided to reduce the level of local taxes and charges in 2010 by two per cent. Mayor Antonio Marín has stated the move was necessary so that residents could better cope with the financial crisis and compared the move with other municipalities which have frozen or raised their charges. The PP opposition abstained saying it wanted to study the proposals.
SECOND PHASE
The project to construct the second phase of Ronda’s ‘Ciudad Deportiva’ has gone to tender stage with a budget of 1.4 million euros and a 18 completion deadline. The works will include the provision of additional sporting facilities and stands. The stadium is adjacent to the former fair ground and sports stadium that is now being made in to the Eroski commercial centre.
NOT AFFECTED
The provincial co-ordinator of Izquierda Unida, José Antonio Castro, has said relations with PSOE on the Diputación de Málaga are not endangered by the IU backing a no-confidence motion against the socialist mayor of Benaoján. He added that Soraya García had broken her agreement with the Partido Popular and AIB hence the municipality was now ungovernable and García could be ousted this week.
TUMBLING DOWN
Over 13 centuries ago the Muslim rulers of Ronda constructed the famous walls still surrounded the old town. However the ravages of time have taken their toll and sections of the stonework are in danger of collapse. The delegation of culture has called for urgent action with money being set aside in the 2010 budget plus a plea for help to the regional government.
ANIMALS RESCUED
Seprona, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil, working with the National Police have seized eight exotic animals, birds and reptiles at an express courier company in Ronda ahead of them being delivered to customers in Spain and Portugal. The creatures were spotted by an off-duty policeman who alerted Seprona and a local young man has been arrested for trading in them.
CAVE RESCUE
Last Thursday afternoon a team from Ronda fire station equipped with mountain rescue equipment went to the aid of a youth lying injured inside a cave. The accident happened at Limosna cave in the Sierra Hidalga – an area that is difficult to reach. The 16-year-old had injured his knee in the fall and the rescuers had to lower themselves into the cave’s galleries.
ANCIENT FIND
The Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua which is funded by Caja Madrid has been carrying out studies in the Genal Valley. The main project has been to study the fish and the problems they are encountering. However researchers have found two species of dragonfly that are in danger of extinction. They date back to the period before the glaciers formed in the region.
EXCELLENT HEALTH
The Andalucía agency that monitors the levels of health care has given its accolade of high quality to the Algatocín, Benaoján, Ronda Sur and Norte health centres. The authority has also praised the on-going improvements in medical care in the Serranía de Málaga and especially in Ronda and the surrounding areas. The certificate was first issued in 2005 and is revised each year.
NO TRAINS
Renfe suspends its trains on the Bobadilla-Ronda-Algeciras line from October 26 for a period of up to six months as the section between Ronda and San Pablo is upgraded requiring work in difficult terrain with lengthy tunnels. Buses are running along the route - also to take people to Málaga to connect with the AVE to Madrid. Phone 902 24 05 05 for details of the bus services.
