RONDA’S UNICAJA JOBS ARE SAFEThe Caja de Ahorros de Ronda was one of the key participants in the creation of Unicaja and the bank has maintained a high business and social presence in the town.
Hence with the pending merger between Unicaja and Caja Sur along with the Caja Jaén there have been widespread fears over employment levels in Ronda.
Now the president of Unicaja, Braulio Medel, has reassured the town and the Unicaja workers that the bank would keep all its employees in Ronda and also in its social arm, Obra Social.
Appropriately he was speaking at an event at the Santo Domingo Convent to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Juan de la Rosa – a founder of the Caja de Ahorros de Ronda.
Around 400 people are employed in Ronda by Unicaja and Medel said their jobs were safe – news that was greeted by relief by the town hall and the bank’s staff.
The CC.OO union responded by saying that in the first analysis this was “positive news”. Vicente Becerra, who is a member of the work’s committee in Málaga province, added that the words of Medel had been well received by the bank’s staff.
There appears to be no great problems to be encountered in fusing the three entities together and Unicaja is the only one with a date processing centre that is based in Ronda with 200 employees.
However the reach of the Obra Social arm of Unicaja is wide in Ronda where it also runs a number of educational establishments. Medel indicated that the bank’s commitment to these would not be reduced and the jobs of teachers and support staff were not in danger.
RONDA COURT INVESTIGATES ANOTHER ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENTThe judge of Ronda’s No.1 court has opened an investigation after a report was made against the town hall over the granting of a construction licence for a building on land that is adjacent to the Roman ruins at Acinipo that is zoned non-urban and in defiance of an unfavourable report from the regional government.
The building is said to be a residential property situated in the rural area of Peñacerrada. The judge has asked the secretary of the town hall for a copy of the minutes of a council meeting on October 9 2007 that approved the development.
The judge also wants to known how the councillors present voted, the name of the councillor delegate for town planning on October 3 2008 who granted the licence as well as a copy of the decree signed by the mayor giving his authority for the construction.
The councillors from the Partido Andalucista and Partido Popular who were at that time in coalition supported the granting of the licence whilst PSOE voted against and the IU abstained.
Since that time mayor Antonio Marín along with his fellow PA councillor have left that party and they have joined PSOE and now form a coalition with the socialists sitting as non-aligned councillors.
Currently the three Ronda courts plus the Málaga prosecutor are investigating ten possible town planning offences in the municipality. Amongst the most high profile of these cases are developments that have been allowed in the Tajo gorge plus of course the legal proceedings surrounding Los Merinos golf and luxury residential – hotel complex.
COURTING TROUBLE
Ronda’s mayor, Antonio Marín, ex Partido Andalucista now PSOE has reported to the courts acts of intimidation against him. These have allegedly included incidents involving his family, his home in the old town and an attempt to run him down in the street. PP councillor José Herrera told the mayor not to create alarm and give the peaceful people of Ronda a bad name.
ROBBERS CAUGHT
Guardia Civil in Ronda working with colleagues in Antequera have arrested three Rumanians aged 23 and 25 years who allegedly have carried out a series of robberies in the Serranía. Targeted were bars and tobacconists where they could steal objects then sell them as new. After break-ins in Igualeja and Montejaque officers set up road blocks detaining the gang after stopping their car.
BARS CLOSED
Ronda’s mayor has closed three late night bars and has also opened proceedings against another bar and a disco. All are said to be in violation of the laws governing such establishments with regard to noise and in some cases do not have civil liability insurance. Two of the closed premises are in the town centre - the other in San Rafael quarter.
EDUCATION CENTRE
The Partido Popular in Ronda wants the building that was to be a centre for furniture from the town used for educational and cultural purposes including a public and scientific library hopefully with a regional government grant. The building was finished in March 2006 at a cost of 1.2 million euros with much fanfare but has never been used and is totally abandoned.
CEMETERY INVESTMENT
Ahead of November 1 – when families traditionally visit the cemetery to pay their respects to their deceased loved ones Ronda town hall announced it has spent 366,000 euros on improving the San Lorenzo cemetery. The works have including paving the patio in the entrance area, installing fountains, improving the illumination of the grave yard and the repair and enlargement of the niches.
ENERGY SAVING
The Andalucía ministry of innovation, science and business through its Energy Agency has funded this year 50 energy saving and efficiency projects in the Serranía de Ronda to the tune of 102,093 out of a budget of 395,125 euros. The provincial delegate for innovation presented the 2009-2014 programme in Ronda which is aimed to help individuals, companies, public bodies and non-profit making organisations.
TAPAS ROUTE
Throughout November Ronda is holding its first Ronda de Tapas organised by the small and medium sized business association. Around 20 bars and restaurants are taking part with cash and other prizes for participants.
