RONDA’S MAYOR SAYS PA ACTIVISTS TRIED TO RUN HIM DOWNRonda’s mayor, Antonio Marín, says he has had neo-fascist slogans painted on his walls, his cars scratched and now claims that activists from the Partido Andalucista have tried to run him down.
Marín was the Partido Andalucista mayor of Ronda but then along with his fellow PA councillors abandoned the party and although they sit on the council as non-aligned they have all joined PSOE.
Curiously the mayor seemed to blame the Partido Popular who were his one time coalition partners for inspiring past attacks. PP councillor José Herrera at a recent council meeting had criticised the fact that Marín had needed a bodyguard at the Pedro Romero Feria in September – adding that never before had a mayor of Ronda needed an escort. Marín asked the PP to tone down their verbal attacks in case it encouraged more ultra right-wing attacks against him and his family.
His present claim that there was an attempt to run him down was made at a PSOE meeting. He would give no more details to the media but added that the driver of a van had raced at him when he crossed a street in the town with the councillor for security, Rafael Lara.
EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION EURO INVESTMENT IN AVE
The secretary of State of infrastructure planning at the ministry of public works, Victor Morlán, the secretary general of transport, José Luis Cachafeiro and the president of the rail infrastructure company Adif, Antonio González, last week held a meeting to lay out the Ministry of Public Works’ plans for improving communications with the Campo de Gibraltar.
The ministry stated that it is setting aside over 800 million euros on the AVE high speed train connection between Antequera-Santa Ana and Ronda. In addition Adif is spending 176 million euros improving the line between Ronda and San Pablo de Buceite that will involve the service between Algeciras and Antequera being suspended for up to six months from October 26.
Although the 176 million euros is currently being invested the 800 million euros is more long term. PSOE says that 241,000 euros will be spent on the AVE connection in 2010 on carrying out the studies ahead of laying the infrastructure between Antequera and Ronda. The Partido Popular disputes this saying the amount is only 85,000 euros.
None-the-less sooner or later Ronda will be connected to the AVE network. Once the service is underway Madrid will be just two and a half hours away from the town of the Tajo and Antequera will be reached in 30 minutes. This link will have a major impact on tourism and investment in Ronda and the Serranía.
Bus link whilst line closed
That is all in the future but for now there are no trains at all. In their place Renfe is running a bus service. Buses will leave Algeciras at 8.05 and 16.50 arriving in Ronda at 9.35 and 18.15 then travel on to Antequera. Buses will leave Antequera at 11.49 and 20.14 and arrive in Algeciras at 14.45 and 23.15 stopping at Ronda on the way. There will also be buses calling at the various stations on the Algeciras to Ronda route. Phone 902 24 05 05 for details and also the times of connections between Antequera and Madrid.
RONDA POLICE IN DOCK NEXT MARCH IN CORRUPTION TRIAL
The date for the trial of the former chief inspector of the National Police in Ronda, a sub-inspector and two officers has been set for March at the Málaga provincial court. Also in the dock facing the same charges will be a member of the Guardia Civil, the three owners of a brothel and another person.
The offences date back to 2007 when the accused and others were rounded up in a series of police raids which alleged corrupt practices at the Ronda National Police HQ.
The Málaga prosecutor in April of this year at the close of the investigation sought a total of 39 years in jail for the policemen and six years for the club owners and the ex-boyfriend of a magistrate who is said to have helped the police in their illicit activities by passing on privileged information.
The murky tale involves the police having identified women who were illegally employed at the club offering them protection in return for payments and sexual favours. The brothel owners were also involved in payments to the officers and there are additional allegations involving the use of drugs.
RONDA HOMAGE
A week of homage in Ronda first to Juan de la Rosa who died 25 years ago. He founded the Caja de Ahorros de Ronda that became a main component in Unicaja. Also a sad farewell to Ramón Corrales after whom the town’s Music Conservatory is named. A teacher he had a passionate interest in music and was an honoured son of Ronda.
PGOU SUSPENDED
In a move supported by all parties on Arriate council the IU administration has decided to drop its draft PGOU local development plan and adapt to the Andalucía development plan (POTA) instead. Explaining the move deputy mayor Salvador Cabrera said over the four year in drawing up the PGOU many things had changed. One proposal is to build a water treatment plant.
NOT DEMOCRATIC
The Andalucía High Court (TSJA) has rejected an appeal brought by the PSOE administration in Pujerra against annulling the accords reached on November 9 2008. A motion was passed on that Sunday approving projects that had to be submitted to the Diputación de Málaga. The opposition Partido Popular brought the case saying there was no justification for holding the emergency meeting which the PP did not attend. The TSJA ruled that in a democratic state it was important for the opposition to be given the information and for their to be a debate.
PSOE OUT
As expected the PSOE mayor of Benaoján, Soraya García, has been ousted after a motion of no confidence was tabled by the IU supported by the independents. New mayor is Francisco Gómez who held the post in the 1980s as a communist. He is supported by the council’s largest party the IU and the AIB which had previously been in coalition with PSOE and the PP.
BEAUTIFUL GENAL
A study of the waters of the Genal shows they are amongst the highest quality of all the rivers in Spain. However there are dangers – the lack of water treatment plants, the creation of bathing zones and the draining of water for irrigation. The latter has seen a drying up of the stretch joining with the Guadiaro preventing fish from travelling up stream.
MUSHROOM MEET
On November 20 – 22 Júzcar is holding its III Jornadas Micológicas Valle de Genal dedicated to the wild fungi that grow in the area. Hundreds of enthusiasts of these mushrooms will take part in conferences, trips out to the countryside to collect the fungi, exhibitions, cooking demonstrations plus special activities for children. For information log on to http://www.juzcar.es/ or call 607 243 048.
WOMEN BOMBERAS
The Diputación de Málaga has a policy to increase the number of women in the fire fighting service and a new course is underway with 70 ‘bomberas’ under training. Last week they visited Ronda fire station to undertake on the job training. Ronda already has the highest ratio of women fire fighters in Andalucía and the trainees tackled fires and crashed vehicle rescues.
HANDICAPPED PROTEST
Thirty parents of handicapped children held a protest outside the Gonzalo Huesa and Juan Carrillo secondary and infant school in Ronda. They were calling for the appointment of more teachers who have the specialist training to meet the needs of these children. Currently three teachers are assigned to the 39 pupils in the schools but the parents say this is “not sufficient”.
