EROTIC PHONE CALLS CHARGED TO TOWN HALLBy David Eade – Costa del Sol News
Diego Gil, the socialist deputy mayor in Cuevas del Becerro, has a mobile phone which is charged to the town hall. Now it has emerged that over a three month period he made frequent calls to erotic telephone lines running up a bill of 240 euros.
His secret was made public by the Izquierda Unida opposition. Last Friday he attended a meeting with 100 local residents and apologised for his actions but insisted he would not resign.
He admitted that he had used the phone which had run up a large bill for the small municipality but argued he had committed no crime. Red faced he attacked his accusers saying they had said he had committed many outrages which simply wasn’t true.
He admitted that he had used the phone which had run up a large bill for the small municipality but argued he had committed no crime. Red faced he attacked his accusers saying they had said he had committed many outrages which simply wasn’t true.
Gil said he had informed the mayor, Joaquin Esquina, what he had done and he had paid in to the town hall the 240 euros to cover the calls. In fact he stated the calls cost no more than 100 euros but had made the additional payments anyway.
The councillor has put his future at the disposal of the local PSOE. However the socialist party has refused to accept his resignation saying he has admitted his mistake and pointing out the valuable work he had carried out over the past three years.
He also has the backing of his mayor who stated the offence was not so serious as to require his resignation. He also believed that the cost was no more than 37 euros – but as Gil hid the pages on which the private calls were listed, so causing the suspicions of the IU, the truth may not be made public.
The IU says it first opted not to publicise the matter because it did not want to cause embarrassment to the councillor’s family. However it decided to act as it said it could not take part in a cover up over the misuse of public funds.
This is the second scandal to hit Cuevas del Becerro town hall over the last 18 months. At the start of 2009 the mayor denounced the municipal accountant, Juan María González, who is accused of taking 360,000 euros of town hall funds. He currently awaits trial at Ronda court.
SAN PEDRO ROAD TO GO AHEAD – BUT NOT YET
The new Málaga delegate for public works and housing, Enrique Benítez, has stressed that the regional government still intends to connect Ronda with the Costa del Sol by a rapid road.
The project was announced in November 2007 ahead of the 2008 elections. At the time the Andalucía minister of public works, Concepción Gutiérrez, promised an investment of between 350 and 400 million euros would be allocated to the scheme which would be finished by 2012.
Well 2010 is nearing its halfway point and not a brick has been laid. Hence 2012 is no longer a reality and the recent debate has been on whether the road project would go ahead or be dropped. It should be a toll road which presents many environmental problems but would cut travel times from 50 to 20 minutes replacing a dangerous mountain road with 365 bends with a fast highway.
Needless to say the project has become a battleground between the political parties with the Partido Popular accusing PSOE of announcing it to buy votes in Ronda but never intending to proceed. The former provincial delegate for public works, Dolores Fernández, had insisted it would go ahead but given the high cost required a viability study.
Now Benítez has restated the regional government’s promise to build the road – but not yet. Whether that is an empty political pledge remains to be seen but many are backing plans to improve the current road by removing many of the bends and adding lanes rather than embarking on the new motorway through environmentally sensitive land.
FAIR SUCCESS
Ronda’s Real Feria de Mayo – the oldest in Andalucía dating back to the Reyes Católicas – returned last weekend after being postponed in 2009 due to the economic crisis. Although it received less funding from the town hall it proved to be a great success attracting over 25,000 visitors. The event is of major importance to the farming sector including livestock sales and displays.
Ronda’s Real Feria de Mayo – the oldest in Andalucía dating back to the Reyes Católicas – returned last weekend after being postponed in 2009 due to the economic crisis. Although it received less funding from the town hall it proved to be a great success attracting over 25,000 visitors. The event is of major importance to the farming sector including livestock sales and displays.
ENGLISH UPGRADE
The famous Paseo de los Ingleses in Ronda that has sadly become in recent years very dilapidated and abandoned is now to receive a major facelift. The works on the walkway behind the Reina Victoria Hotel along the scenic Tajo will cost 273,000 euros from a loan taken out by the town hall with the Instituto de Crédito Oficial to improve tourism facilities.
The famous Paseo de los Ingleses in Ronda that has sadly become in recent years very dilapidated and abandoned is now to receive a major facelift. The works on the walkway behind the Reina Victoria Hotel along the scenic Tajo will cost 273,000 euros from a loan taken out by the town hall with the Instituto de Crédito Oficial to improve tourism facilities.
HEALTH CENTRE
The Serranía de Ronda village of Alpandeire is to have a new health centre thanks to an agreement with the Málaga health delegation. The building will cover 159 square metres, have two consulting rooms plus waiting areas for the 278 residents. A doctor and nurse will be allocated to the centre offering the basic vaccination, blood pressure, diabetics and old people care.
The Serranía de Ronda village of Alpandeire is to have a new health centre thanks to an agreement with the Málaga health delegation. The building will cover 159 square metres, have two consulting rooms plus waiting areas for the 278 residents. A doctor and nurse will be allocated to the centre offering the basic vaccination, blood pressure, diabetics and old people care.
LESS DEMAND
During the height of the economic crisis in 2009 some 340 families depended on the assistance of Ronda town hall for basic food stuffs and household needs. So far this year the demand seems to be lessening with the social welfare department reporting 17 families no longer needed help. La Dehesa, Padre Jésus and Casas de Hierro are the worst affected areas.
During the height of the economic crisis in 2009 some 340 families depended on the assistance of Ronda town hall for basic food stuffs and household needs. So far this year the demand seems to be lessening with the social welfare department reporting 17 families no longer needed help. La Dehesa, Padre Jésus and Casas de Hierro are the worst affected areas.
FOUNTAIN SAVED
The fountain in the plaza de la Vera Cruz has been at the centre of Benarrabá life for 25 years. Recently it formed the basis of a local battle between the town hall that wanted a smaller fountain because it interfered with stands for the feria and the residents who insisted it should stay. In a referendum residents voted to save their fountain.
The fountain in the plaza de la Vera Cruz has been at the centre of Benarrabá life for 25 years. Recently it formed the basis of a local battle between the town hall that wanted a smaller fountain because it interfered with stands for the feria and the residents who insisted it should stay. In a referendum residents voted to save their fountain.
ROAD FIRE
The winding mountain road between San Pedro de Alcántara and Ronda was blocked last week after a lorry fire. The vehicle was towing a fair attraction to Ronda when the petrol tank caught fire. The driver was unable to separate cab from the trailer which was soon engulfed in flames closing the road to traffic for 90 minutes whilst fire teams tackled the inferno.
The winding mountain road between San Pedro de Alcántara and Ronda was blocked last week after a lorry fire. The vehicle was towing a fair attraction to Ronda when the petrol tank caught fire. The driver was unable to separate cab from the trailer which was soon engulfed in flames closing the road to traffic for 90 minutes whilst fire teams tackled the inferno.
