MAYOR ORDERS 17 ILLEGAL BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHEDThe courts and prosecutors are currently investigating a dozen cases of illegal buildings in Ronda. As the mayor Antonio Marín has been implicated in some of these proceedings perhaps it is not surprising that he has opted to act first and order the demolition of 17 such structures.
The buildings targeted are either constructed on protected land or have no town hall licences. The mayor has based his case on the Andalucía planning law (LOUA) and says “all the buildings, chalets etc have been realised on integral protected land – especially serious are five of those that have been built in the Hoya del Tajo, a site of maximum protection.”
All the demolition orders have been subjected to town planning disciplinary action with resulting fines. The mayor added that current legislation does not permit these buildings that have been indentified by the inspection service in the large area covered by the municipality of Ronda –some 500 square kilometres.
The town planning inspection service has used a helicopter to fly over the entire municipality and it is linked to a satellite so it can record properties and check their exact location on the planning charts.
The size of the fines depends on the size of the properties but can vary between 30,000 and 300,000 euros. The levy also is based on the time it takes to restore the land to a legal state by demolishing the offending constructions.
One of the buildings involved is the stable complex in the Hoya del Tajo that the courts are investigating. Currently the Málaga prosecutor and three Ronda courts are looking into a possible dozen illegal buildings with cases against the owners and also those deemed responsible at Ronda town hall which has led to the mayor being called to given evidence in recent weeks.
The opposition Izquierda Unida through its spokesperson Rafael Ruiz stated that it had always demanded that the planning laws be applied but unfortunately in the past this had not prevented these illegal constructions. Ecologistas en Acción said it wanted to study the mayor’s ruling more closely but observed that in some of these illegalities he was himself implicated.
NEW UNDERPASS TO LLANO DE LA CRUZ The work to upgrade the Bobadilla to Algeciras line is continuing on a round-the-clock basis. On Tuesday the existing rail track at the entrance to the Llano de la Cruz rural zone of Ronda was removed. At present a small tunnel takes traffic under the railway but this is not large enough to take emergency vehicles or large lorries. Now a new underpass is being constructed adjacent to the tunnel that has required a number of nearby homes to give up park of their gardens.
Down the line Adif, the railway infrastructure company, is investing 2.8 million euros in removing the six level crossings at Jimera de Libar. The works will take 15 months to complete. The funding comes from the State and is money allocated to schemes that boost development of the economy and employment so appears to be additional to the investment in the line upgrade.
Ronda station itself receives over 164,000 passengers a year and has now been adapted for people who have mobility problems. The 833,000 euros scheme has been carried out by Adif. Amongst the improvements are special ramps to give these passengers better access to trains. There is also an underpass and lifts which can carry up to 60 people at a time.
POLICE TRIBUTE
Ronda town hall has unveiled a monument on the esplanade in the town outside the National Police HQ. It is dedicated to all the officers of this security service who have died whilst on active service. The ceremony was carried out by the mayor Antonio Marín and also in attendance was the chief of the Policía de Andalucía Oriental, Pedro Luis Mélida.
Ronda town hall has unveiled a monument on the esplanade in the town outside the National Police HQ. It is dedicated to all the officers of this security service who have died whilst on active service. The ceremony was carried out by the mayor Antonio Marín and also in attendance was the chief of the Policía de Andalucía Oriental, Pedro Luis Mélida.
DRUGS BOOM
The economic crisis seems to be behind the major increase in drugs use this year in Ronda. The drugs dependency association ARDE says it has helped 219 people, the highest number since it started in 1986. Its major concern is the leap in the number of young people being drug dependent with 35 per cent of the total aged between 14 and 16 years.
The economic crisis seems to be behind the major increase in drugs use this year in Ronda. The drugs dependency association ARDE says it has helped 219 people, the highest number since it started in 1986. Its major concern is the leap in the number of young people being drug dependent with 35 per cent of the total aged between 14 and 16 years.
BARRACKS USE
The large Concepción barracks in the centre of Ronda that have stood empty for years could become the new town hall. Mayor Antonio Marín has held another meeting with the director general of the State Defence secretariat to discuss the future of the complex. Apart from municipal buildings there would be a large plaza, green zones and 600 underground car park spaces.
The large Concepción barracks in the centre of Ronda that have stood empty for years could become the new town hall. Mayor Antonio Marín has held another meeting with the director general of the State Defence secretariat to discuss the future of the complex. Apart from municipal buildings there would be a large plaza, green zones and 600 underground car park spaces.
NAZARI WORKSHOP
The young students who for the past two years have been training at the Nazari workshop school in Cortes de la Frontera have now completed their courses and received their diplomas. The ceremony was attended by the regional government’s employment delegate in Málaga, Juan Carlos Lomeña, who also took time to visit the future Nazari culture interpretation centre where the workshops are based.
The young students who for the past two years have been training at the Nazari workshop school in Cortes de la Frontera have now completed their courses and received their diplomas. The ceremony was attended by the regional government’s employment delegate in Málaga, Juan Carlos Lomeña, who also took time to visit the future Nazari culture interpretation centre where the workshops are based.
NAPLES BELEN
Every Christmas Unicaja holds an exhibition of Belen nativity scenes at its exhibition centre in the calle Pedro Romero. This year is no different but the exhibit is. Instead of small ‘belenes’ there is a giant 35 square metres display using 100 figures created by craftsmen in Naples set in a Andalucía landscape designed by the prestigious association of ‘Belenistas’ in Jerez.
Every Christmas Unicaja holds an exhibition of Belen nativity scenes at its exhibition centre in the calle Pedro Romero. This year is no different but the exhibit is. Instead of small ‘belenes’ there is a giant 35 square metres display using 100 figures created by craftsmen in Naples set in a Andalucía landscape designed by the prestigious association of ‘Belenistas’ in Jerez.
