By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The land of the Cornisas del Tajo make up one of the most embolic sights in Ronda yet they are under constant threat from developers. One such project that has had to be approved after court rulings are for 16 hectares known as Casa Rúa where a luxury hotel and 22 houses are scheduled to be built.
This case involving the Sánchez Robles family goes back to 1980 and after modifications were made a revised construction plan was approved as it had been backed by the courts on the basis of the local development plan (PGOU) that was in force at that time.
However the scheme has met with stiff opposition from ecologists who are angry at the negative visual impact it will have on one of the most famous scenic areas in Ronda. The Partido Popular –Partido Andalucista administration agrees and is now hoping to purchase the lands from the Sánchez Robles family.
The development project for the Cornisas was always opposed by Izquierda Unida and Silvema – Ecologistas en Acción and support has now also come from the Plataforma en Defensa del Tajo. They all argue the construction of the hotel and houses will have a major negative impact on a rich natural zone much of which is meant to be protected.
This has led the Ronda administration to open negotiations with the Sánchez Robles family to see what can be agreed. Mayor María Paz Fernández says purchase will be difficult because the town hall is deeply in debt. However it is hoped the Spanish or Andalucía governments may step in or indeed the EU to protect one of the most valued historic landscape scenes in Spain.
In past years the town hall had sought to purchase the lands to prevent the development going ahead and nine million euros had then been mentioned. Negotiations are now proceeding between the mayor’s team and the family which are said to be carried out on good terms with the preserving of Ronda’s natural beauty as the objective.
WON’T PAY
A shock for companies who’ve provided services for the former administration in Ronda and are waiting for their bills to be settled. Many have received letters from the town hall saying they’re not paying the invoices which were not authorized by the PP. The companies have carried out the work or supplied the goods and are now taking the town hall to court.
BIKER DEATH
A 34-year-old motorcyclist was killed last Sunday on the A-397 San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda road. The tragedy happened at km 19.5 in Igualeja around 11.00. The Málaga 112 emergency centre reports the Guardia Civil and ambulance service attended the scene but could do nothing to saver the biker’s life. The road is the major black spot in the province for motorcyclists.
TOUT ARRESTS
Police arrested an employee of one of Ronda’s leading hotels for re-selling tickets for the Pedro Romero Corrida Goyesca on the black market. Three different guests at the hotel reported his activities to the police. When detained by officers he had 14 tickets he was trying to sell. The popular bullfight is sold out every year but it is illegal to re-sell tickets.
MAYOR ACCUSED
More controversy in Cortes de la Frontera where PA mayor Antonio Granero recently sacked his deputy and another councillor. Now Granero has been denounced before Málaga court by a PA supplementary candidate accusing him of cheating and fraud. Manuel Gallego says he has a signed letter in which the mayor promises him the post of delegate for security but he was never appointed.
PACT BROKEN
Málaga’s Izquierda Unida has broken the pact with the Partido Andalucista under which both governed Cortes de la Frontera. This follows the sacking of an IU councillor by the mayor after he accused his PA deputy of signing contracts in his name, one of which favoured his son. The IU councillor protested his innocence and the PA could face a no confidence motion.
DOCTOR’S DEATH
Recently the researcher and scientist Dr José Manuel Rodríguez Delgado died at the age of 96 in San Diego, Texas. The Ronda-born doctor moved to the USA accepting a scholarship at Yale in 1946. He dedicated his life to the study of the human brain and has an institute named after him. Ronda is now to honour him posthumously as a favoured son.
ON FOOT
Following on from its famous Pedro Romero feria Ronda has been celebrating another major tradition its annual cattle market held on the same fair ground. Around 500 mules, horses and donkeys were at the event which attracted 5,000 people from throughout Andalucía and Badajoz. This year 100 animals came from Pruna in Sevilla province accompanied by the local mayor all travelling on foot.
SEED EXCHANGE
Genalguacil in the Serranía de Ronda celebrated last weekend a special event in which plant seeds were exchanged between residents of the rural municipality. Under the banner ‘Enzemillate Canijo’ the objective is to preserve the traditions of the Serranía and the rural culture by swapping plant seeds plus holding a series of events including workshops, a craft market and activities for the children.
