COSTA DEL SOL NEWS

COSTA DEL SOL NEWS
Southern Spain's largest selling English language newspaper

Thursday, December 1, 2011

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER 2011

DOUBLE VOTE AND PSOE VICTORY


As the voting statistics for the general election are analysed it’s emerged the Partido Popular achieved double the votes in Ronda compared with the May municipal poll. Marí Paz Fernández came to power with 5,406 votes for the PP but 9,897 backed Mariano Rajoy. The difference between PP and PSOE in Ronda was 14.57 per cent, one of the lowest recorded in the province.

The Serranía de Ronda has always been a bastion for PSOE. In last week’s general election 13 municipalities backed PSOE with the highest vote 1,015 in Cortes de la Frontera. Izquierda Unida took traditionally communist Arriate where PSOE came second with the PP trailing third. However the Partido Popular managed to win majorities in Benalauría, Benarrabá, Gaucín, Igualeja, Jimera de Líbar and Júzcar.

ROBBERY APPEAL

Asaja, representing the young agriculture sector in the Serranía, has held a meeting at Ronda town hall with officials and representatives of all the police forces. They’re concerned at the number of robberies from farms. Whilst Asaja appreciates it is difficult to patrol such a wide area they asked police to investigate scrap metal merchants, the sales of machinery and stolen olive oil.

NOT GUILTY

The former president of the Asser association for the deaf in Ronda has stated that he is not guilty of misappropriating funds between 1997 and 2008. It is alleged that at least 17,000 euros are missing much from member’s fees. The investigation is now in the hands of Ronda court and whilst it continues the ex-president says he maintains he’s innocent.

HOLA! HONOUR!

On Saturday a ceremony was held in the form of an extraordinary session of Ronda’s council at the Convento de Santo Domingo convention centre. It was to confer the status of Hijo Predilecto on Antonio Sánchez Gómez at which famous bullfighter Francisco Rivera was in attendance. Sanchez Gómez is famous throughout Spain for founding ¡Hola!, the most popular gossip magazine in the country.

CORTIJO RENTED

When the Partido Popular came to power in Ronda is announced it intended to sell one of its prize assets, the Cortijo San Juan covering 77 hectares. However when offered at auction there were no bids. Now it’s agreed a rental that will bring in 85,240 euros a year which will hardly dent the town hall’s debts but does remove its running costs.

ANGRY RESIDENTS

Those living on Ronda’s calle Los Remedios are hopping mad. Road works started in September but have been idle for a month. The street is dug up, machinery lies abandoned and rats run free. “They say it will be finished by Christmas but we are not mad, Easter is more likely,” said one resident. Red tape over the constructor’s documentation is to blame.

GOING CATALAN

Ronda’s famous Hotel Reina Victoria, which is designed in the English style and was built for the railway line connecting the town with Algeciras where it has a twin (Reina Cristina), has a new management company. Catalonia has taken over from Husa and it is the Catalan company’s fourth hotel in Andalucía. Next year will see a major investment on refurbishing the interior.

WATER ROW

Back on October 28 the villages of Benaoján and Montejaque had their water supplies turned off because of contamination detected at the Molino Santo well. Now the Partido Popular has raised the issue at the Andalucía parliament demanding an immediate statement on the issue. The regional government says there was a danger of gastroenteritis and since then the taps have been dry.

RONDA MARKETS AND EVENTS

MARKETS

General market – normally every Sunday – new location on the Feria ground by the Hipersol Supermarket.

Arts and Crafts market – first Sunday of the month – in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent by the Ayuntamiento de Ronda.

EVENTS

February – Carnaval Semana Santa – Easter Holy Week – April 17 - 24 declared of National tourist interest in Andalucía.

May -101km foot and bicycle race organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion in Ronda.

May – 2 nd Sunday – Celebrations for the patron of Ronda, Virgen de la Paz.

May 24 –Procession of the Virgen Maria Auxiliadora.

May –Real Feria de Mayo – the oldest traditional cattle fair in Andalucía.

June – Festival of Corpus Christi.

June -1 st Sunday – Procession of the Virgen de la Cabeza.

August – Festival of Canta Grande flamenco singing.

August – International Folklore Gala.

September – Fair and fiesta of Pedro Romero with the famous Goyesca bullfight – declared on National tourist interest in Andalucía.

October – Real Feria de San Francisco – traditional celebrations in San Francisco quarter.

December –January –Christmas celebrations, Belen nativity scenes, January 5 Three Kings procession.

The Casa de Cultural is adjacent to the Alameda, holds events and has details of what's on. It can be contacted on: 952 87 21 42. For other details click on the Tourist Office link.

USEFUL LOCAL NUMBERS

European Emergency number for all services - 112.

Local Police – 952 87 13 69 Guardia Civil – 952 87 14 81
National Police – 952 16 12 20 Fire Brigade – 952 87 19 58

Ronda Hospital – 951 06 50 00/01

Trains:
Renfe - 952 87 16 73
Buses:
Los Amarillos – 952 18 70 61 Comes -952 87 19 92 Portillo – 952 87 22 62
Taxis: 952 87 23 16

TOURIST OFFICES

TOURIST OFFICES
There are now three tourist offices in Ronda.

The Ronda municipal tourist office is by the bullring.
http://www.turismoderonda.es

The Junta de Andalucía tourist office is nearby in the Plaza de España by the Parador Hotel.

The tourist information office for the Serranía de Ronda is in the San Francisco quarter in the calle Espíritu Santo that links the entrance through the old walls and the church of the same name. It is open seven days a week and also sells wines and produce from the Serranía.