RONDA HOSPITAL TO BE BEST IN PROVINCEBy David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The work on the new hospital to serve Ronda, the Serranía and parts of the Sierra de Cádiz are 20 per cent completed. They were visited last week by the regional government’s delegate, María Gámez, and the delegate of health, María Antigua Escalera, along with the town’s mayor Antonio Marín.
Gámez said the rains had not delayed the construction work on the 40.8 million euros medical centre which is still due to be completed in 2012. She promised that Ronda would be the best hospital in the province for privacy and comfort with 186 rooms all for individual use. The hospital will meet the needs of the 93,000 people in its designated area.
During the same visit María Antigua Escalera ruled out allocating a second ambulance to the Valle del Genal as demanded by local residents. The protests intensified after the recent report of a 74-year-old woman in Algatocín who had to wait 90 minutes for attention and two and a half hours to be taken to Ronda’s hospital after suffering a heart attack.
The ambulance allocated to Algatocín was in Ronda attending to an emergency there. Escalera did say that the cover in the area would be renewed – there are already five ambulances – and improvements will be made.
STOP WORK
The owners of a parcel of land on which Ronda’s new sports complex is being built have gone to court to demand the work is stopped. They insist the town hall has not complied with the agreement to purchase the site. The owners say they have asked the town hall for payment on numerous occasions without success so have now taken court action.
WITHDRAW IT
After a lengthy four hour debate Ronda council has passed a motion calling on its counterpart in Marbella to withdraw its own motion demanding that the AVE high speed train should come to the Costa del Sol before Ronda and the Serranía. The move was passed by PSOE and the non-aligned councillors but opposed by the Partido Popular – which controls Marbella – and IU.
MORE HOURS
Ronda’s town hall is now operating more hours to make it more accessible to members of the public. The servicio de atención al ciudadano will open its doors at 8.00 and work through to 20.00. It is all part of a plan to modernise the town hall and means that people can make enquiries or applications throughout the day from planning to marriages.
POLICE REPORT
Ronda’s National Police chief, José Alés, is being transferred to Málaga. He has given a review of the crime levels in the town stating delinquency is very low and the number of cases of domestic violence has fallen over the past three years. Theft and brawls are the many problems faced by the police that will see its numbers increase by 33 per cent.
POO FINE
Pet owners in Ronda who allow their dogs to leave excrement on the streets or parks face fines of 500 euros. In addition dogs have to wear a collar and be on a lead at all times whilst certain breeds deemed dangerous must be muzzled. Notices advising residents of the regulations are being placed in residential areas as well as in parks.
