By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
As the municipal elections approach the town halls in Atajate and Igualeja could be plunged in to darkness. The Serranía de Ronda electricity company is about to pull the plug because it says the bills have gone unpaid for a number of years.
The amounts involved are not small either given the low populations in both communities. Igualeja is said to owe 407,000 euros which dates back over 15 years. The actual use of electricity is 192,000 euros, the huge balance is in interest.
Atajate, which is the smallest municipality in Málaga province with just 186 residents, owes 91,368 euros. Of that over 61,000 euros is in electricity and the rest interest.
The electricity company says it has reached the end of its tether. Phone calls to the town halls to discuss the matter have gone unanswered and registered letters have produced no resolution so the cutting of supply is the only other option.
Atajate and Igualeja are not alone and many of the town halls of the Cuenca del Guadiaro and Valle del Genal have collective debts of over one million euros with the company.
However municipalities such as Benaoján, Jimera de Líbar, Jubrique and Benadalid have reached agreement with the Serranía de Ronda electricity company to make occasional payments to reduce their debt.
TOP HAM
The Corbacho family own the Casa del Jamón in Ronda. They’re famous for the hams they sell and their cutting skills. Lourdes Corbacho should know her father, husband and brother have all been acclaimed as “maestros” of the art. Not to be outdone Lourdes has joined them being the first woman to enter and win at the Salón de Gourmets contest in Madrid.
PARK ACCESS
Ronda wants its gardens enjoyed by everybody including blind people or those with impaired eyesight. Hence the tourism department’s campaign to erect small signs at the entrance to each garden with information in Braille. The signs tell the visitor the garden’s layout, its key points of interest, where the entrances and exits are, locations of toilets and what plants can be found there.
WITHDRAW IT
The electoral authority covering the Ronda area has given the mayor Antonio Marín 24 hours to withdraw the publicity on planned projects entitled Ronda 2015. Marín who is standing for PSOE but was elected previously for the Partido Andalucista was taken to court last Monday by PP accusing him of obstruction and misusing public funds by paying for the material with municipal funds.
FIVE STAR
After years of dispute between Ronda and the owners of the historic Casa del Rey Moro the project to create a five-star hotel in the ruined building is gaining momentum. The protected mansion overlooks the Tajo gorge and in presenting plans for the improvement and restoration of the Casa del Rey Moro the owners say it will cost 2.5 million euros to complete.
