By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The Eroski commercial centre in Ronda has been a long time coming and now it has been announced work will start at the end of July. The announcement was made by mayor Antonio Marín but as this is election season it remains to be seen if that date is fact or fiction.
The development has been billed as the largest by Eroski in Andalucía. The Basque based supermarket group has allocated 120 million euros to the project spread over 73,100 square metres.
The commercial centre will be located on land formerly occupied by the soccer stadium and old fair ground. The local development plan (PGOU) has been amended to allow the project to proceed and the regional government’s consultative council has given its approval.
Marín stated that the commercial centre will be a reality between 10 and 12 months of work starting although curiously the initial estimates were double that time scale.
The Ronda Eroski is meant to be 50 per cent bigger than the company’s existing development in Antequera. It will create 1,500 construction jobs with 1,200 employees working there once it is operational.
The supermarket will occupy 8,000 square metres with 15,000 square metres given over to fashion outlets, 3,000 square metres to services and a further 6,000 square metres on leisure and restaurants including a multi-screen cinema.
NEW IMAGE
The religious image of Nuestro Señor del Ecce-Homo has been a familiar sight at the Easter parades in Ronda for generations. Now it has been sent to the Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Histórico in Sevilla. The regional government has agreed to fund the 40,000 euros required to restore the valuable statue. Incredibly it’s returned to the workshop where it was made in 1713.
SEXUAL CRIME
Guardia Civil have stated they believe the murder of María Esther Jiménez in Arriate in January had a sexual motive although investigations remain on-going. Meanwhile the examination of witnesses by the prosecutor continues and so far 13 people have given testimony. The 17-year-old accused of her murder is being held in detention for an initial six months which can be extended by three.
BLESSED INVESTMENT
The Andalucía ministry of health, Málaga province and Alpandeire have grouped together to fund the 312,600 euros next phase of the medical centre in the Serranía de Ronda village. Málaga province is providing 138,569 euros ensuring work could start shortly. In addition the museum dedicated to Blessed Fray Leopoldo, also backed by the province, is now at an advanced stage of its construction.
BLAS AID
Blas Infante, the father of the modern Andalucía, has special links to Ronda and is honoured by the Paseo Blas Infante, a garden area over the Tajo gorge by the bullring. Sadly the zone was badly damaged in the rains and work is now being carried out to remove the constant threat of flooding. Around 58,000 euros is being assigned to the work.
PALACE ROBBERY
Two youths have been detained accused of breaking into Ronda’s historic Casa del Rey Moro dating from the 18 th century with famous gardens by Forestier. The duo are said to have stolen various antiques and crystal lamps. The police were informed the palace was robbed within the last month; when detained the youths had all the stolen artefacts hidden in a garage.
