By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The company Copisa that is behind the controversial plans to build a golf and luxury residential – hotel development at Los Merinos in Ronda have paid a further 700,000 euros to the town hall.
The payments have been made under the terms of the agreement with the town hall for the development accord. The only change is that on this occasion it was the Partido Popular mayor Maripaz Fernández accepting the cheque instead of her Partido Andalucista –socialist predecessor Antonio Marín.
This brings the total paid by Copisa to over 12.2 million euros. However Fernández noted the payment of 700,000 euros is less than the usual 866,000 euros as it does not include IVA which is subject to an appeal by Copisa.
The total agreement is for around 15 million euros and the monies have been spent on various projects in the town. The mayor said she was going to follow to the letter of the law the legality of these payments and the use to which the money would be put.
Although the payments have kept coming the project to build the golf complex with its two courses, 800 luxury urbanisation and three hotels was halted in April 2008 because of the crisis in the construction industry.
Merinos Norte is within the boundaries of Ronda but lies adjacent to Cuevas del Becerro. There have been numerous protests by its residents, ecologists and the agriculture sector as the golf development does not have its own water resources and it is feared it will drain the aquifers on which the community has relied on for generations.
The project has also been the subject of numerous court actions many involving the actions of the previous mayor Antonio Marín. Before work can be restarted Copisa will have to demonstrate how it intends to guarantee the water supply to the development.
GAUCÍN GUARDIA CIVIL ARRESTED IN CHILD PORN CASE
At the end of last week a Guardia Civil officer stationed at Gaucín was one of six people arrested in various locations in Spain on child pornography charges.
Specialist officers from the National Police discovered the downloading of paedophile images of children from a video camera which were then offered over the internet on a “peer to peer” basis through the next work. One of these links was found to be to a computer in the Serranía de Ronda which belonged to the Guardia Civil.
Officers from the technology crime unit backed up by another from the Guardia Civil detained their fellow officer and raided his home confiscating various items including his computer. He later appeared before the duty judge at Ronda’s court.
The raid in Gaucín was timed to coincide with the other five in Spain and investigators have not ruled out further arrests in the coming weeks. The case is being run by a judge in Badajoz in conjunction with the town’s National Police and the technology crime specialists. The arrest of the Gaucín based officer is said to have been met with great shock in the village.
ARRESTED FOR RAPING NEIGHBOUR
The National Police in Ronda have arrested a 45-year-old man accused of sexual aggression against a minor of 16 years who was his neighbour.
The police HQ issued a statement to say the alleged sexual attack took place on Saturday with the victim requiring treatment at the local hospital.
According to the victim she had been lured to the neighbour’s home by various excuses and once inside the sexual attack took place. The girl fought back and fled the house rushing to her parents for help. It was they who took her to hospital and reported the attack.
Special units of the Judicial and forensic police have taken statements and items for analysis. The neighbour was tracked down, arrested and awaits a court hearing.
GOING PRIVATE
It’s an example followed by other municipalities governed by the Partido Popular and now the new administration in Ronda is privatising the municipal cleaning company. It has already held discussions with the unions and the move has added urgency as Soliarsa needs 700,000 euros to survive the year. In the past Ronda has won awards for the high standard of its street cleaning.
EROSKI DEBATE
Ronda council will debate the future of the Eroski commercial centre in the town. It is due to be the largest in Andalucía and the company insists it will now start work next summer. New PP mayor Maripaz Fernández has accused the previous socialist administration of lying to residents over the development. The centre will cost 120 million euros covering 70,000 square metres.
JOBLESS UP
Summer is here and Ronda’s unemployment totals normally fall but they rose by 22 in June. The total last month was 4,354 up from 4,332 but it has to be noted over the year so far jobless totals have fallen by 326. Women still make up the majority of the unemployed yet the construction industry is the hardest hit along with the services.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Partido Popular is talking of increasing the size of administrations should it come to power but the PP is now in control in Ronda and intends to push through the process to allow Montecorto and Serrato to gain their independence. The two small tiny hamlets are over 20 kilometres from Ronda, have autonomous status and are due to becomes Málaga’s newest municipalities.
ROAD RE-OPENS
The A-367 that unites Ronda with Ardales and Málaga has been re-opened. The new section that runs from Teba to the Campillos to Ardales road had been recently closed whilst repairs were carried out on a section that had fallen away during the heavy winter rains. Traffic had to be controlled by traffic lights as the road was reduced to a single lane.
ROAD DEATH
The Operación Salida de Verano which started on July 1 and relates to the start of the heavy traffic movements over the holiday season has claimed a life in the second crash recorded by the traffic authorities in Málaga province. A 35-year-old was killed in a collision in Arriate road after two cars collided. He suffered serious leg injuries and had been hospitalised.
GOYESCA TIME
Ronda’s famous Pedro Romero fair is fast approaching and last week both the poster for the Goyesca bullfights and the Damas Goyescas – the 17 beautiful young ladies who preside over the celebrations in Goya-style dresses - were presented to the media. Celebrated matador Francisco Rivera who organises the three-days of bullfights starting on September 2 presented the poster by Sevilla artist Miki Leal.
