By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The Picudo Rojo beetle that has caused devastation amongst the palm trees on the coastlines of the Mediterranean has arrived in the Serranía de Ronda.
Ronda biologist Andrés Rodríguez says temperatures of around 30 degrees have attracted the beetle to the zone as they are cold blooded and need heat to survive.
He has found examples of the insect at the Cerro del Almendro urbanisation on the Ronda to Campillos road just five kilometres from the centre of the town of the Tajo.
The first red beetles were found in a privately owned palm tree after it had been pruned by specialists to treat it against the plague. Now Ronda’s delegate for the environment, Rafael Flores, has confirmed the same specialists have traced other examples of these beetles on the urbanisation.
The owners of the trees have now been advised of what courses of action they should follow and the required treatment for each of their palms. The treatment has to be applied to the centre of the palm where the beetle’s larvae attack and the removed fronds have to be burnt.
It is not believed that the deadly beetles have yet infected the palm trees in the urban areas of Ronda. However it is suspected some of the palms in the historic centre have been attacked and new methods of prevention are being examined.
THIRTY YEARS OF THE LEGION IN RONDA
The Unicaja foundation along with the Tercio ‘Alejandro Farnesio’ Cuarto of the Spanish Legion has inaugurated an exhibition in Ronda dedicated to the 30 year of the military force in the town of the Tajo. It features over 120 photographs showing the life and times of the Legion between 1981 and 2011.
Chronicled in images are the Legions' participation in a large number of social, political and cultural events in the town as well as the traditional festivals such as the Semana Santa parades. The activities at the barracks are also shown as well as the force’s work on numerous peace keeping missions overseas.
The exhibition is part of the celebrations for the 30 th anniversary of the re-founding of the Tercio de la Legión and is open to the public in the Sala de Exposiciones Fundación Unicaja. Opening hours are 10.00 – 13.30 and 18.00 – 21.00
ANGRY WORKERS
Discontent at bankrupt Ronda town hall where officials and employees have been told they face cuts in their productivity payments and social help. Unions have threatened protests in the coming weeks. Those employed in the sports delegation are the worst hit and have been told there will be no extra payments for October and their November and December salaries are not guaranteed.
TAX FREEZE
Ronda’s to freeze its local taxes and charges for 2012. The move was announced by the mayor Maripaz Fernández who says it will be put to the vote this week. The mayor said that at a time when many families were suffering from the economic crisis it was not right to increase their burden. Her administration hopes to improve management to save costs.
RONDA MOTORWAY
One of the main proposals in recent years from the Partido Popular has been a motorway to connect Ronda with Antequera. PP president in Andalucía Javier Arenas was in the town of the Tajo last week and said there was a lack of access and communication in Ronda. He also pledged his support for Ronda’s application for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
PLANS CRITICISED
Izquierda Unida has roundly criticised the announcement of two plans for tourist reception centres in Ronda. IU councillor Rafael Ruiz says it was hypocritical to ask the regional government to declare Ronda a natural monument and at the same time present it with these proposals. Ruiz said there are far better locations for such a centre which the IU says is certainly required.
RESIGN CALL
The Partido Andalucista in Cortes de la Frontera has called on the mayor, Antonio Granero, to resign. Granero is a member of the PA but the party says it no longer has any confidence in him. Cortes is in financial crisis, Granero has sacked two councillors and there are court cases against him. He may stay as mayor and join the non-aligned councillors.
NO INTERNET
Andalucía PP MP, Mayte Domínguez, has protested that the school in Jimera de Líbar does not have an internet connection despite numerous complaints. The mayor has offered to pay for the service herself and also offered the facilities of the Guadalinfo centre. Domínguez said it should have been a minor problem to solve but the lack of action has created a major headache.
PAY DAY
The PP mayor of Gaucín, Pedro Godino, says he has now paid the 34 municipal workers their salaries for July of 47,000 euros. This still means he has to find 85,000 and 90,000 euros for August and September. Godino said he did not know the total municipal debt but the town hall’s main problem in making the payments was the lack of liquidity.
BLOCKED PAYMENTS
Many of the small town halls in Málaga province are now in crisis with Gaucín and Cortes de la Frontera being the first to leave their workers unpaid. Worse news is on the way as the tax ministry in Madrid has blocked the October payments to Gaucín, Cortes, Atajate, Genalguacil and Ardales because of the money they all owe to the central government.
GOING SWIMMINGLY
Málaga province is funding two projects in Serrato and Montejaque. Serrato will have a municipal swimming pool. Work has already started and it will be finished by the end of the year co-financed by the province, regional government and the municipality. Next year a day centre for both handicapped and elderly people will be built in Montejaque again financed on a three-way basis.
