LEISURE BOOSTThe Zahara –El Gastor reservoir is to receive seven million euros in regional government funding in an environmental scheme designed to boost the local economy. Created in 1991 the reservoir covers 748 hectares and its boundaries are in five municipalities – Zahara, Algodonales, El Gastor, Grazalema and Ronda. The proposals are related to tourism and leisure projects to open it up for public use.
HEALTH CENTRE
Montejaque has a new health centre inaugurated last Friday by the president of Málaga province, Salvador Pendón, and the delegate for health, María Antigua Escalera. It will serve over 1,000 people, has three consulting rooms, two waiting areas, cost over 228,000 euros and will offer home care for the elderly - terminally ill plus be linked to the Andalucía on-line medical records system.
ON FOOT
The plaza de Carmen Abela in Ronda is to be converted into a pedestrian only zone. The square is adjacent to the main shopping street – the Carrera Espinel – La Bola – and the removal of traffic is said will boost business and the development of the open commercial centre. The funding will come from an ICO loan for tourism projects in the town.
SLEEPING OVER
Despite the economic crisis the hotels in Ronda have seen a small increase in trade over 2009. In the first five months of the year the number of night stays in these establishments increased by 1.4 per cent with 96,159 overnight bookings. The new councillor for tourism, Francisco Cañestro, said the figures proved that the economic climate was changing for the better.
FREE BARRACKS
The IU Andalucía MP José Antonio Castro has raised the 3.6 million euros sale of the Concepción barracks to Ronda. The land of the now largely demolished complex was ceded to the Ministry of Defence for military use and agreement to its sale is required from the original owners. The IU argues they should simply hand the land to Ronda at no cost.
SOBER DRIVERS
Drink driving is on the decrease in Ronda if local police figures are anything to go by. Over the last year officers carried out 45 controls and stopped 500 drivers resulting in the arrest of 13 drivers for being under the influence of alcohol. There has been a 70 per cent decrease in such incidents over the first six months of this year.
INVESTMENT PACKAGE
The Málaga provincial authority has allocated over two million euros to fund projects in the Serranía de Ronda municipalities of Benaoján, Montecorto, Pujerra and El Burgo. Amongst the projects are a multi-use building and pavements in Pujerra, a bridge in Montecorto, the placing rubbish containers underground in El Burgo plus the channelling of telecommunications and power cables underground in Benaoján calle La Fuente.
IBI OVERCHARGE
Ronda’s councillor for the outlying communities, Francisco Cañestro, has told residents of La Cimada and Los Prados they have been overcharged by 50 per cent on the IBI property tax bills. New bills are now being issued and any resident who has overpaid will receive a rebate. This is not the first time the wrong amount has been charged by the Málaga authority.
