ULTIMATUM TO ARENAL 2000By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
Ronda town hall has run out of patience with Arenal 2000 over the 500 home urbanisation it constructed at La Planilla. Now it has been issued with an ultimatum – complete the infrastructure works or lose the two million euros deposit it lodged with the town hall.
The delegate for works, Juan Fraile, said a two month deadline had been issued to Arenal 2000. If the works had not been carried out by June 26 then it would lose the two million euros. Fraile took this tough stance after repeated requests to the troubled company went unanswered.
Work was started on the Planilla development nearly eight years ago. Yet street lighting has still to be fully installed, pavements finished and green zones planted. In addition Arenal had undertaken to create an archaeological park to house the prehistoric dolmans that were on the land and removed so the homes could be constructed.
The council has now given the licences of first occupation to the residents and the majority of the houses are occupied. However the issuing of these licences was delayed as highlighted in Ronda News at the time because Arenal 2000 had not completed the works. This led to many purchasers having to pay the finance on their new homes yet at the same time rent other accommodation or live with their families.
These same residents say there are numerous deficiencies in their homes that need to be rectified by Arenal 2000. They have been pressing the town hall to use the deposit money paid over by the company to carry out these repairs and complete the infrastructure. The town hall has now agreed and hence the ultimatum.
At a press conference to announce the town hall’s actions the deputy mayor and councillor for citizen participation, Francisco Cañestro, told the Costa del Sol News: “the parks are full of weeds and scrub, the electricity cables are in a bad state and the street lighting is very defective which is very obvious at night.”
THREE FAKE DENTISTS ARRESTED
The Guardia Civil have arrested three people who were acting as dentists in Ronda and Cortes de la Frontera without the appropriate qualifications. Two face charge of causing injuries to the patients including the use of radiation equipment and all three for impersonating professionals.
A fourth person has also been arrested and he is the owner of one of the dental clinics at which the trio were employed. He is accused of collaborating with them in the scam.
The two clinics concerned were inspected by officials from the Andalucía ministry of health as well as the ministry of work and immigrations when the irregularities came to light.
A patient of one of the fake dentists had to be rushed to the emergency unit at Cortes de la Frontera health centre after undergoing treatment at the clinic.
The charges also relate to the use of medical prescriptions using fake names, the name of the clinic owner or in one case a stamp of a doctor at the Cortes de la Frontera health centre which had been taken without his knowledge.
Medications were also purchased using the fake prescriptions from pharmacies. Amongst these was the drug Trankimazín that cost just 3.90 euros but was then sold on to patients for the inflated price of 160 euros.
ANGRY SCENES
Ronda played the last soccer game of the season against promotion rivals Motril before over 3,000 spectators. A win or draw could have seen the home side promoted to Division 2B. The ref disallowed two legal goals and turned down a penalty appeal. Ronda fans were furious after Motril were given a penalty in the 98 th minute consigning Ronda to Division 3.
SALARY CUT
IU in Ronda has called on the town hall to make cuts in order to reduce its expenses. It wants councillors and officials employed by the administration to take a 10 per cent pay cut. In addition it wants a 50 per cent reduction in the entertainment and publicity budget. The objective is to save money to create jobs and boost the economy.
TECHNO CENTRE
Tenders are being accepted to create Ronda’s new Edificio Neotecnológico to be located next to the Casa de la Juventud. The objective is to make the internet and other new technologies available to local residents. Over 430,000 euros is being allocated to the project from Plan Zapatero funds to be the economic crisis creating seven jobs. It should be operational in nine months.
ROAD CHECK
Ronda has announced it is to publish a full list of all the public rights of way in the municipality after the Andalucía high court ordered the list to be issued in full. Now any properties in rural areas that have incorporated these rights of way or fenced them off will be required to open them up or to hand the land back.
DEMOCRACY WATCH
A Ronda group including professionals, students, writers, artists and foreign residents has been established “to return to the town the sense of democracy that has been lost”. It will monitor the abuses of power to demonstrate that democracy no longer exists or is in danger. It is concerned over the actions of the mayor and his fellow ex-PA councillors being classified as political turncoats.
BONES FOUND
The Guardia Civil are investigating a find of bones in Alpandeire in the Serranía de Ronda. They were discovered by archaeologists working on a project in the area. They believe the bones are human but very old. An autopsy is underway which it is hoped can determine the age and possible cause of death to determine if any further action is required.
DANGEROUS CARGO
A freight train was derailed in Ronda station whilst carrying a dangerous cargo. The incident happened at 21.40 last Friday when 20 wagons carrying frozen liquid oxygen and acid were being pulled by a locomotive that slipped off the track. A specialist fire brigade team attended the scene, cordoned off the area including the level crossings but there was no damage or injuries.
