DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2011

JÚZCAR STAYS BLUE AND HITS WORLD HEADLINES


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Júzcar is a small municipality in the Serranía de Ronda. On Sunday its residents voted for it to stay blue. The news was flashed around the world and appeared on many TV news programmes as the village of the Smurfs lives on.

This remarkable story started earlier this year in June with the Sony film company. They wanted a village, somewhere in the world, to be painted blue and to be the home of the Smurfs for the promotion of the new movie – The Smurfs 3D. They decided on Júzcar, just one of the many famous white villages of Andalucía, and in so doing changed the life and wealth of the entire valley.

Júzcar and the other surrounding villages of the Genal Valley are not on the main road but off the beaten track. So the fact the mayor of Júzcar had to hire three additional local police officers to control the increase in traffic shows just what an impact the promotion of the movie had. People came to see the village with its nameplate ‘Primer Pueblo Pitufo’, eat in its bars and restaurants, stay in its hotels and guest houses, buy its local produce and take part in Smurf themed events.

The PSOE mayor, David Fernández, decreed that once the Spanish general election was out of the way villagers would vote on whether to stay blue or revert to white. Sony had made it clear it would pick up the 60,000 euros bill for the repaint. The debate was should Júzcar stay as the village of the Smurfs or revert back to being a sleepy backwater.

On Sunday 141 people voted to stay blue with just 33 saying they wanted to be white. Six people sent in blank votes. A total of 250 people were allowed to vote; those who are on the town hall census along with people who own businesses in the village. Voting was from 10.00 to 18.00 and 73.6 per cent of those eligible to vote turned out.

Speaking after the vote David Fernández pointed out that his village had been transformed into an example of sustainable tourism in the Ronda region. “We have been visited by around 80,000 people. We are in times of crisis and these initiatives are very necessary, the village can remain blue during this time.”

So if the children are bored over the holiday season or you just fancy a drive, why not head up to the village of Júzcar for a unique blue day out.

CHARITY SLASHED

The Catholic charity Cáritas which helps the homeless and those in need in the parishes throughout Spain has seen a dramatic collapse in its income in Ronda. Up to the end of November 48,600 euros had been received compared with 131,000 euros last year. Seventy per cent of the funds are used to purchase food stuffs and necessary household items for needy families.

JOBS STIMULUS

The regional government is investing seven million euros in developing projects to create employment in the Serranía de Ronda. This will see the formation of at least a dozen employment schools and workshops next year. Funding will go to the municipalities of the Genal – Guadiaro – Serranía consortium which excludes Ronda. It is hoped that over 220 unemployed people will benefit from the schemes.

PROVINCIAL CASH

Málaga province is handing over 510,000 euros to eight municipalities for projects that have up to now been put on hold. Those to receive the cash are Algatocín, Benarrabá, Gaucín, Jimera de Líbar, Jubrique, Montejaque, Parauta and Ronda. In Ronda funding will be made available to finish the roundabout and road resurfacing on the industrial estate. Elsewhere schools, tourism and infrastructure will benefit.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2011

CONCERN OVER PROPOSED AVE ROUTE


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The town of Ronda has wanted the AVE high speed rail system to come to its station for years. Now the ministry of public works has finally announced the project has been approved there is anger amongst residents who suddenly find themselves living alongside the proposed route.

Around one hundred residents of Llano de la Cruz have formed an association to have the route changed. Its president is Cristina Piek who owns the Hotel Fuente La Higuera which instead of currently being in open countryside will have the twin tracks going past its door.

Cristina Piek says there are up to 100 properties in the valley along with 200 houses and four rural hotels. Some 2,500 people live in the zone and their lives will be disrupted by the AVE rail track that will link Antequera with Algeciras via Ronda passing through their midst.

The association points out that the economic and environmental consequences for Llano de la Cruz with its numerous farms and vineyards as well as rural tourism bases will be very negative. Piek also stated that the noise from construction and the trains will generate a high degree of stress.

The ministry is proposing that the majority of the line will follow the existing single track which currently just carries local and freight trains. This will go from Antequera via Almargen, Alcalá del Valle, Setenil then through Llano de la Cruz to La Indiana.

A new AVE station will be created at La Indiana just on the outskirts of Ronda. However the service will pass through Ronda itself and the town hall wants this section placed underground. It argues not only will this not divide the town but will create useable space where the present rail track exists.

JÚZCAR VOTES ON STAYING BLUE

The Serranía de Ronda is famous for its white villages but Júzcar is now known around the world for being blue. The buildings were painted by Sony as part of its international promotion for the new Smurfs movie in which Júzcar was transformed in to their home.

This has brought thousands of visitors to the Valle del Genal to see blue Júzcar and the town hall has had to employ an additional three police officers to control the traffic. Local businesses have prospered, Júzcar has been placed firmly on the map but should it stay blue?

Now the general election is out of the way the residents will go to the polls to decide the future colour of their village. Mayor David Fernándéz says everybody over 18 years of age who is registered at the town hall along with business and property owners will be able to vote.

The mayor has written to everybody to explain how it is important for them to vote. However he stresses he is not stating any preference and whichever way the vote goes that is fine by him. He adds that if the village goes back to white it will regain its tranquillity and be visited just by the lovers of nature and those seeking rural tourism.

It will cost 60,000 euros to repaint Júzcar white and the bill will be paid by Sony. However the village has been enjoying its moment of fame and it may well be that this Saturday – December 17 – the residents vote to stay blue and enjoy the fame of the Smurfs for a while longer.

HAVE A GAY ST VALENTINE’S DAY

The Serranía de Ronda village of Montejaque is staging a unique event to boost rural tourism to the area. It has announced the first Encuentro de Solter@s Gays which will run over the 10 th – 12 th February weekend with the objective of celebrating St Valentine’s Day, which of course is on the 14 th.

It is organised by the tourist office and as the title suggests is for single Gays although a look through the programme suggests they should also be donkey lovers. The town hall says the objective is to encourage visitors to the stunning beautiful Montejaque area as well as encouraging singles to meet their perfect partner.

DRINK THEFT

Thieves have started returning to the industrial estate in Ronda. The latest robbery was at Distribuciones Cantero which handles alcoholic drinks and general food stuffs. On this occasions the thieves made off with 500 boxes of drinks and cash. The value of the stolen items was 80,000 euros and a van was taken from a nearby chicken product company to remove the booty.

JOBLESS UP

The number of unemployed in Ronda has risen again. In November another 28 workers went on the dole bringing the total to 4,756. However whilst the total of women out of work has risen to 2,478 the number of men has dropped by 11 to 2,289. In November 941 new work contracts were signed of which 915 are temporary and the rest permanent.
INDY ADVANCE
The move to make the outlying enclaves of Ronda into separate municipalities continues. Serrato and Montecorto will be the 102nd and 103 rd municipalities in Málaga province. The regional government has issued for public inspection information on the transition which should be completed in the next two years. One problem: the law says they must have a population of 2,500 whereas its 600.
GET WALKING
The Andalucía project ‘Por un millón de pasos’ which encourages people to walk for the benefit of their health has been launched in Gaucín and El Colmenar. Residents are being encouraged to take exercise and to eat a sensible diet to prevent illnesses and cancer. Currently 161 people in Gaucín and another 98 in nearby El Colmenar – Estación de Gaucín over 6,200 kilometres.
PLANNING PROTEST
The PSOE group on the Málaga provincial authority have protested at the cancellation of the scheme which saw town planning assistance given to the rural municipalities to draw up their local development plans. The cuts say the socialists leave these town halls without any support, have thrown dozens of people on to the dole queue and have put a break on development projects.

HORSE SCHOOL

The equestrian school in Ronda now has 50 pupils. The school is located next to the municipal stud. The lessons are open to all at the basic level and include various styles of riding. There are special sessions for the handicapped where working with the horses is used as a therapy. The Andalucía government pays 60 per cent of the costs with the town hall the balance.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2011

MURDER SUSPECT FREED AS TRIAL STARTS


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The parents of 13-year-old María Esther Jiménez Villegas received a shock when they arrived at Málaga court for the second day of the trial of the alleged killer of their child last Thursday. The judge ordered that seventeen-year-old Rubén ‘El Vaca’ be released from detention as minors can only be held for a set period of time. For the period of the trial he will live in a supervised apartment and is banned from visiting Arriate where the murder took place and his family lives.

María Esther was murdered at the end of January and Rubén ‘El Vaca’ was arrested in February. He was held in preventative detention for six months by order of the court and that was extended for another three months. The lawyer representing her family says they are now satisfied with the arrangements and that he cannot approach them or any witnesses.

The prosecutor and the family lawyer are both seeking an eight year jail term for the accused, the maximum allowed by the Ley del Menor. They are also seeking a further five years during which he will be free but his movements and actions will be monitored.

Rubén ‘El Vaca’ declared his innocence at the start of the trial on Wednesday. However the prosecutor says he is guilty and more and more evidence proving his guilt is being provided all the time. He was arrested by police just two weeks after María Esther was found battered to death in the pump house of a swimming pool on rustic land behind the village of Arriate on January 20.

BENAOJÁN RESCUE

On Saturday the fire service had to undertake a rescue when a 27-year-old climber was involved in an accident in Benaoján. He had slipped and fallen leaving him suspended some 70 metres in the air. His climbing companion called the emergency service who rescued the climber from the site on the Vía Ferrata some 100 metres from the village.

ECONOMIC CRISIS
Ronda is in economic crisis. Unemployment now stands at 4,728 people. In addition the Mercedes Benz concession has closed down and the SEAT dealer has not paid its staff since August so they are protesting in the street. The municipal radio station’s staff are unpaid with many other companies in difficulties and laid off workers say the town hall isn’t interested in them.
PIGGING OUT
Guardia Civil have arrested four people in Gaucín, Benaoján and Cortes de la Frontera for stealing pigs. They’re also accused of forcing entry into the premises of a pig centre in Benarrabá where the animals were housed. They were arrested in the company of a fifth person after the van used in the thefts had broken down after being involved in an accident.
BAD STATE
Rural development agency CEDER has carried out an inventory of scenic areas in the Serranía de Ronda that have been left to deteriorate. It found that 109 areas are in a poor state and is allocating over 800,000 euros to have them restored. In many cases rubbish including builders’ waste has been dumped there. The project will take a year to be completed.
CORTES ACCOUNTS
The socialist group at troubled Cortes de la Frontera town hall has cast doubts on the accounts presented by the mayor Antonio Granero. After an external audit, the former Partido Andalucista mayor who has been dumped by his party says the deficit is over 9.4 million euros. PSOE says that in 2008 the municipal accounts were positive and cannot have deteriorated so quickly.
TOP PARADOR
Ronda along with Jaén have been voted on the internet as the best two Parador hotels in Spain. The Ronda hotel was singled out because of its stunning views of the Tajo gorge, one of the most visited sites in Andalucía. They also appreciated the fact the hotel created in the shell of the former town hall is in the centre of town.
LEGION HONOUR

Ronda, home to the Tercio Alejandro Farnesio 4 regiment of the Legion, has been named a “Legionnaire of honour”. The military unit has been stationed in Ronda for 30 years and various commemorative events have been held. In the presence of the mayor a street within the barracks was named after the town and a statue with both coats of arms was unveiled.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2011

FORMER GAUCÍN MAYOR GUILTY OF TOWN PLANNING OFFENCES


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The former mayor of Gaucín, Francisco Corbacho, who had first sat as an independent then as a member of the Partido Andalucista, has been found guilty of town planning offences. He was in the dock along with the municipal architect, three current councillors and two ex-councillors. They were accused of between 2000 and 2003 granting planning licences for land which in some cases was protected.

All the accused except one councillor were given a fine of 12 euros a day for 21 months plus are barred from holding public office for nine years. The other councillor has a lesser sentence of 12 months of fines plus seven years ban from office because he only participated in one of the cases involved with the licences.

This is one of the first cases that has involved a municipal architect. Francisco Arenas had worked at the town hall from 1988 and had given permission for the projects to proceed whilst fully aware that to do so was against the planning law. The plans had been signed by his daughter.

The three sitting councillors barred from office are Francisco Medicina, Francisco José Macías and Carmen Cantudo. All currently are independents but had previously been associates of Corbacho in the Partido Andalucista. The two former councillors also represented the PA.

Ex mayor Francisco Corbacho already has a previous conviction for embezzlement and obstructing justice plus planning to misappropriate public funds dating back to 2008. The Supreme Court had suspended his employment in public office, handed down a nine month fine and also barred him from office for seven years.

BENAOJÁN AND MONTEJAQUE HAVE NO DRINKING WATER

Málaga province has stepped in to give urgent aid to the 2,600 residents of Benaoján and Montejaque who have no drinking water.

The Serranía de Ronda villages discovered last Friday that their water supply was not fit for human consumption. The president of the Málaga province authority, Elías Bendodo along with the deputy for the environment, Juan Jesús Bernal, met on Monday with the mayors of the two communities.

The regional government says that three tests have been carried out in recent days on the Molino Santo well and serious contamination was found. At present this contamination has not spread to the water supply.

Whilst the problem is sorted out the residents are thankful that their neighbours are the Spanish Legion whose barracks are nearby. The military have offered three vehicles that can carry 2,000 litres of water each to supply the 1,600 people in Benaoján and the 1,000 in Montejaque.

GHANA VISIT

The Ambassador of Ghana in Spain, Fidelis W Yao Ekar, last week visited the town of Ronda and met with the mayor Marípaz Fernández. He had travelled to the town of the Tajo with his wife to offer thanks for the work of the Associación de Cooperación Internacional Solidaria ‘Sierra de las Nieves’ which gives aid to hospitals in the West African country.

WORKER BATTLE

Ronda recently declared war on its workers in the municipal companies cutting their budgets, suspending agreements and withdrawing social help. Now it is the turn of those employed at the town hall to feel the heat as the Partido Popular –PA administration attempts to slash costs. The unions are furious at the announcement that municipal employees either accept cuts or will be sacked.

DRUGS TRIO

Guardia Civil from Ronda have seized over 30 kilos of marijuana found at three dwellings in Benaoján. Officers have also arrested three people from the village who have been charged with owning the drugs, cultivating the plants, preparing them for sale and trafficking. They also confiscated 800 euros in cash and the equipment used in weighing the marijuana and running the sales outlets.

POOR HARVEST

Lack of rain and the summer heat has badly affected the chestnut harvest in the Genal Valley and elsewhere in Málaga province. Growers predict they’ll only gather half the crop of chestnuts this year compared with last of 3.9 million kilos. The chestnut is a major source of income in Igualeja and 70 per cent will be exported to Italy, Germany and France.

A CORKER

Celebrations amongst the 210 town hall workers and those employed in gathering the annual cork harvest in Cortes de la Frontera. Their last pay packet was for June but now the town hall is to settle the salaries owed for July, August and September. This has been made possible as 1.2 million euros has been banked from the sale of the cork collected.

WAR HOMAGE

On All Saints Day families visit the cemetery to pay tribute to their deceased relatives. However in Ronda it was also the day the Asociación Memoria Hístorica paid homage to those who were killed during the Civil War. The association is campaigning for all those buried in common graves in Ronda to be identified and then given the dignity of a proper burial.
HURRY UP
The mayor of Ronda has called on the regional government to speed up the process of making Serrato and Montecorto the 102 nd and 103 rd municipalities in Málaga province. In May the green light was given for the villages to pass from ELA self administrating entities to full municipalities but it could take up to two years them to become totally independent.
CHURCH THEFT

On Saturday night one or more thieves broke in to San Antonio’s church in the Dehesa area of Ronda and stole 200 euros. Damage was also caused to the church building. The raid was discovered on the Sunday morning when the priest arrived to say mass. Police are investigating and believe the culprits tried to make off with some of the religious images.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2011

PICUDO ROJO ARRIVES IN SERRANÍA


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.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2011

FILED CASES AGAINST MARÍN TO BE RE-OPENED


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

When the former mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, was released after his arrest for alleged corruption in the Acinipo case he proclaimed his innocence stating he had seen off numerous other court challenges in the past and would this one too. However his confidence may have been misplaced as those very same cases are now coming back to haunt him.

The prosecutor and investigators in the Acinipo enquiry are now to re-open the files of all the cases brought against Marín that were filed by the judges. There were numerous official complaints over the years and although Acinipo is primarily linked to irregularities in the construction of the proposed Eroski commercial centre it has been anticipated that the investigation would be widened.

The Efe news agency has been reporting that all these past cases will now be looked at anew by the Acinipo team. Officers of the organised crime squad (Udyco) will be examining at all the documentation relating to town planning projects approved by Marín whilst mayor along with the terms of the contracts and payments.

Little is likely to emerge in the near future as the judge in the case has imposed a veil of secrecy. Marín and the others accused including three former PSOE councillors and two executives of Eroski face charges of obstructing justice, bribery, trafficking in influence, misappropriation of public funds, forgery and money laundering.

The trawl through past cases will go back to 2003. Almost certainly under close scrutiny will be the accords drawn up for Los Merinos development of 800 luxury homes, golf courses and luxury hotels which was given the green light only after Marín issued a mayoral decree. The former mayor is already in the dock over permission being granted for a development in the protected Tajo gorge and no doubt investigators will take a close look at those proceedings.

NOT STANDING

The resignation of the ex mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, plus three other PSOE councillors because they are implicated in the Acinipo corruption investigation has led to their former fellow Partido Andalucista colleagues who defected to the socialists opting not to take over their seats. These include Josefa Valle the wife of Marín. Instead PSOE candidates new to the council will be co-opted.

TWENTY ROBBERIES

National Police in Ronda backed up by a forensic team arrested three people who are alleged to undertaken a wave of forced break-ins in the town. Twenty official reports to the police were made in one week involving homes in the town centre, industrial units and other businesses. The trio forced the locks with break-in equipment and stole various items especially agricultural machinery.

MURDER TRIAL

Málaga’s juvenile court will start the trial in November of the 17 year-old local youth accused of murdering 13-year-old María Esther in Arriate on January 19 of last year. He has been held in detention since his May arrest. The trial has been slotted in for November 2, 3 and 4. The prosecutor and her family are seeking an eight year jail term.

NO WORK

The jobless total rose in Ronda in September over the previous month by 201. The total for the town of the Tajo is now 4,562. Of that total, the majority 2,360 are women, but just 80 women and 121men joined the jobless queue in September. The PP – PA coalition at the town hall has agreed an IU proposal giving work to 35 people.

SIXTY PERCENT

The Andalucía health authority reports that the work to construct a new regional hospital in Ronda is 60 per cent completed. The 40.8 million euros project is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2012. It was due to be finished next April but now the end of the year seems more likely. When operational the hospital will have single room occupancy for patients.

PROTEST MARCH

La Plataforma en Defensa del Tajo and environmental groups in the Serranía de Ronda held a protest march on Sunday against plans to build 22 homes and a luxury hotel at Casa Rúa at the foot of the Cornisas. The land is meant to be a protected site and the protestors argue the construction would harm Ronda’s bid for UNESCO heritage site status.

NO OFFERS

Ronda’s plan to sell off the Cortijo San Juan to raise badly needed funds has fallen flat on its face. The cortijo covers 80 hectares given over to vines and is located on the Sevilla road. Ronda was seeking bids of two million euros but none were made and there may be a second auction or the land may be rented out instead.

TOP MAN

The Consorcio Genal – Guadiaro - Serranía de Ronda, the association of the 21 municipalities covering this region, has elected the mayor of Júzcar, David Fernández, as their president. The mayor of Benarrabá is his deputy and those of Algatocín and Benalauría make up the commission. Fernández said the consortium was entering a new era with fresh ideas for creating jobs and promoting tourism.

PAYMENT PLAN

The demonstrations in Cortes de la Frontera, Cuevas del Becerro and Gaucín continue over the non-payment of municipal employees because of the lack of town hall funds. Now PSOE on the Málaga provincial delegation is proposing these authorities could be given interest free advances on allocated funding as long as it was used to pay salaries and paid back in a set period.

GOING DIGITAL

Málaga province has presented 15 town halls in the Serranía de Ronda with the models for creating a digital administration. This means that from next year the residents of Alpandeire, Arriate, Atajate, Benaladid, Benalauría, Benarrabá, Cartajima, Faraján, Gaucín, Igueleja, Jubrique, Júzcar, Montecorto, Parauta and Pujerra should be able to access their town halls online to make enquiries and to enact licence applications 24/7.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

To Malaya, Ballena Blanca and Astapa can now be added Acinipo – the Roman name for Ronda. An apt choice by the police leading latest municipal corruption case that saw a wave of arrests on Tuesday including the former mayor of Ronda Antonio Marín Lara.

Roads were sealed off as at least three police raids swept in to operation at the town hall, municipal offices and the homes of those involved. Yet it caused little commotion in the town of the Tajo because after years of rumour few would have been surprised that arrests had now been made.

As in Marbella and Estepona the case revolves around town planning corruption. Apart from the ex mayor who in turn was Partido Andalucista then socialist, three other PSOE councillors were also detained plus former associates of the previous administration.

Having their collars felt were Francisco Cañestro, the secretary of the local PSOE who is also a provincial deputy; María José Martin de Haro, the former town planning councillor and Rafael Lara who was in charge of local contraction and security. According to judicial sources the others detained were a lawyer and people associated with the Eroski commercial centre development to be built on the former football ground. A seventh person also involved in this project has been questioned by police. Two of these latter arrests were made outside of the province.

The anti-corruption prosecutor Valentín Bueno, who was the mover behind the Astapa and Arcos cases, ordered in 20 officers of the Udyco organised crime unit from the Costa del Sol and a dedicated group dealing with money laundering. The judge of Ronda’s number 2 court is in charge and sources say those involved have been under investigation for around 12 months. Indeed if the charges are proved then the ecologists in Ronda deserve much of the praise because it was they who prodded the forces of law and order in to action.

Taken by surprise was the new Partido Popular mayor of Ronda, Mari Paz Fernández, when the secretary of the court, the anti-corruption prosecutor and plain clothes police all entered her office. They had arrived at the historic town hall located in the plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent in silence.

Then started a search of the mayor’s suite previously occupied by Marín, the various former municipal departments of the other councillors arrested in this case and their private homes and offices. Taken away were town planning documents, various files and the hard discs of computers. The operation that had started around 9.00 finished at 18.00.

The charge sheet against those involved is lengthy but now all too familiar in such cases. Corruption, bribery, embezzlement, falsifying documents, money laundering, traffic in influences and obstructing justice.

Police are said to have taken away a large amount of documentation relating to the sale of the former football stadium on which is to be constructed a mega commercial centre under the name of Eroski. They were also looking for information on the construction company involved Ruiz Jurado.

Both the ecologists and Izquierda Unida had brought a number of cases against the then mayor Antonio Marín. These centred on the controversial Los Merinos golf development close to the boundary with Cuevas del Becerro in the Serranía. Although the development is halted because of the economic crisis the plans are to build 800 luxury homes, a golf course plus hotels and the company involved has paid millions of euros to the town hall on and on-going basis as laid down in its town planning agreement. There are also current cases before the courts involving illegal construction in the Hoya del Tajo – a supposedly protect zone. Whether these make up part of the Acinipo investigation remains to be seen.

Marín and the others arrested in Ronda were taken from their homes and offices to various municipal locations, all were looking very nervous. They were then transported to the police HQ in Marbella and spent the night in police cells in Málaga. Their respective wives, including that of Marín who had been a fellow councillor in his administration, were not seen.

The anti-corruption prosecutor is understood to have ordered the tapping of the phones of those involved for some time. There have also been rumours circulating around Ronda for the past week that something was afoot. However all were surprised when Valentín Bueno swept in to town with the police raiding parties.

NO PAY

The neighbouring municipalities of Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucín cannot afford to pay their workers. Thirty-four employees are involved in Gaucín they have not paid for July and August and the total is around 75,000 euros. Over the same period 224 workers have not been paid in Cortes nor have those collecting the cork harvest. Cuevas del Becerro is also in arrears.

JEWELLERY THEFT

The Guardia Civil in Cortes de la Frontera have arrested a 28-year-old local man accused of stealing jewellery from another person in the village. After an official report was made of the theft officers found the items being sold in a gold dealing shop in Cortes. It appears the culprit was known to the victim and even had a key to the property.

BRIDGE REPAIR

The small dilapidated road bridge at Llano de la Cruz which marks the boundary between Ronda and Arriate is to be repaired. It was recently visited by Manuel López the Ronda councillor responsible for outlying areas. After requests from local residents the town hall is to completely replace the crash barriers and upgrade the structure with work starting within the next 15 days.

GOING ALONE

Residents of El Colmenar – Estación de Gaucín are to be granted a degree of autonomy. Currently the area is part of the municipality of Cortes de la Frontera. Local people have been campaigning for independence and Málaga province has now granted them ELA status which means they will have management of local affairs. El Colmenar will be the fourth ELA in the province.

TOREROS WAY

Ronda has inaugurated the Paseo de los Toreros, a walk way in the Blas Infante zone by the bullring. There will be spaces dedicated to the famous bullfighters Pedro Romero, Niño de la Palma and Antonio Ordóñez. It will honour people closely associated with the world of bullfighting with one being immortalised each year by being commemorated along the route of the pathway.

PARK RESTORED

Ronda is to restore the urban parkland in La Dehesa. The large wooded area has been neglected in recent years. The councillor for the environment, Rafael Flores, has announced a major clean-up operation involving collecting the accumulated rubbish, replacing damaged equipment in the children’s play area, installing new access signs to show entry points and there will also be a track for cyclists.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2011

SERRANÍA TO BECOME A CULTURE PARK


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Málaga province has come up with a plan to boost the economy of the Serranía de Ronda by declaring the area a culture park and boosting its promotion by giving it preferential status.

There are over a 100 projects that will give the Serranía prominence at a national level and the culture park would be co-financed equally by the central and Andalucía governments as well as the province. The Málaga deputy for tourism and the promotion of the area, Jacobo Florido, believes that now is the moment to invest in the resources of the Serranía and to include it in promotional packages as well as in its own right.

The cultural park will include zones dating back to the Neolithic age, the Romans, the Nazari Muslim influence across to the 19 th century and the War of Independence. The idea has already received previous endorsement from the regional government.

The plan to boost tourism in the Serranía would be actively supported by museums and interpretation centres as well as the tourist offices and various scenic viewing areas in area. Florido said the Serranía can be declared a cultural park now and all the resources required for its management can be generated.

Amongst the attractions that would make up the park is the chestnut museum in Pujerra (in its final phase), the Nazari interpretation centre in Cortes de la Frontera, the interpretation centre of the War of Independence planned for Gaucín, a culture and wild fungi centre in Júzcar plus another cultural centre in Cartajima. These various centres would join such existing attractions as the Roman ruins at Acinipo and Montejaque’s Cueva de la Pileta.

URBANISATION AT WAR OVER DOG OWNERS

A number of the residents at the Arenal 2000 urbanisation in Ronda are on a war footing over some of the dogs and their owners who reside there. They claim that the pooches are allowed to do their mess in the streets without it being cleared up afterwards. In addition they insist some of the dogs are aggressive, including those officially classified as dangerous breeds, and they fear being attacked.

The angry residents insist these dogs are a danger to the children playing in the streets and to the older people living on the urbanisation. One resident claimed: “We are scared to take out the rubbish.” The concerned property owners say they have given up asking the dog owners to control their animals and have now reported them to the town hall.

FAIR COUNTDOWN

Ronda’s busy preparing itself for its annual Pedro Romero fair. The pavilions have been erected on the feria ground and visited by mayor María Paz Fernández. What’s more the famous Damas Goyescas have been presented for the first time in their dresses based on the style of the Goya era. The ladies of the court preside over all the events and Goyesca bullfight.

MAGHREBI COURT

A 14-year-old Maghreb was caught in Ronda after a coach carrying Portuguese tourists stopped outside the Berlanga Hotel because the driver detected a problem with the steering. The coach had come from Tarifa heading for France; the lad had hid himself in the space above one of the wheels. He was detained by the National Police and transferred to a youth care centre.

SAHARAN FAREWELL

Every summer towns and villages throughout Spain take in children from the refugee camps of the Sahara so they can enjoy a holiday away from the stress of their home environments. The mayor of Ronda and her deputy were both present when the town bid an emotional farewell to the 16 children at a special party held at the Padre Jesús swimming pool.

BETTER MILK

Milk producers in Ronda and the Serranía will benefit from a 700,000 euros Andalucía government project to improve the quality of diary produce. Healthy livestock are a vital element in ensuring the improvement of the milk produced and cattle farmers will have access to advisers who can guide them on instituting best practices. Twenty three milk producers will be involved in the scheme.

PAY PROTEST

There have been fresh protests in Estacion de Gaucín – El Colmenar where previously residents have demanded to break away from Cortes de la Frontera. The latest demonstrations have been in support of two workers who are to be laid off by the PA – IU coalition at Cortes town hall. This has led to renewed demands for democracy and autonomy for the two enclaves.

PAEDOPHILE JAILED

A 42-year-old man from Ronda has been jailed for two years by the Málaga provincial court on charges of being a paedophile. He was found guilty of owning and distributing pornographic material which he had made available over the internet to others. One of the sets of images was of a minor who was being subjected to various forms of sexual abuse.

CAVE MASS

Ronda’s Virgen de la Cabeza has its own confraternity; the statue is housed in the Iglesia Rupestre a cave on the rural outskirts the town. Last Saturday a special mass was held at the shrine which for the first time was attended by “Las Goyescas” – the Damas Goyescas who will preside over the coming fair. The revered Virgin represents the women of Ronda.

SUMMER FIRES

Information has been released by Infoca of two recent forest blazes at Casares and Parauta last Friday. Both fires started in the early hours at 1.25 in Casares and 1.55 in Parauta and both were finally brought under control by the morning. In Casares around half a hectare of scrub was destroyed although no information on the area damaged in Parauta was released.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JULY 7, 2011

SUITCASE WITH HUMAN BONES FOUND IN IGUALEJA


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

A walker on the A-397 which links San Pedro de Alcántara with Ronda found a suitcase on the roadside in Igualeja. He looked inside and there were the skeletal remains of a human. On making the gruesome discovery the man immediately called the Guardia Civil who have opened an investigation.

The suitcase was at km 16 on the busy road that links Ronda with the coast. The judicial police are examining the bones to ensure they are human and to try and see if the victim suffered a violent death.

Officers carried out a visual examination of the site where the suitcase was found in case it offered up any clues. In the meantime the bones are at the institute of legal medicine in Málaga.

The bones are said to be dry and clean and are being arranged to see if they form a complete skeleton. There may also be some mummified remains that can offer up DNA evidence. The sex and age of the victim will also be determined as to establish whether the body was cut up.

The Guardia Civil are also studying the reports of missing people to see whether any can be matched with the find. There have been a number of finds of human remains in suitcases in Málaga province in recent years.

Whilst investigators are keeping an open mind on the manner of death of the victim any relation with the Spanish Civil War has been ruled out. The suitcase is modern and officers say the skeleton is probably between no more than ten to fifteen years old.

CUT OFF

Endesa cut off power to Ronda’s municipal El Fuerte sports centre and council offices in Padre Jesús and La Dehesa last week because of 377,000 euros in unpaid bills. Further disconnections are threatened for invoices dating back to between January and May. The PP – PA administration is furious with the company as the debts were inherited from the previous socialist team of government.

DEBT JUDGEMENT

Not only Ronda town hall had some of its offices disconnected from the power supply because of unpaid bills Endesa officials also went to the Palacio de Justicia controlled by the Andalucía government. The building is shared by Ronda’s local police and the Málaga fire brigade. An angry judge and confusion over which meter belonged to whom persuaded Endesa to delay its actions.

PGOU PUSH

For the last two years the local development plan for Ronda has been in a state of paralysis. Now the new PP –PA administration wants to push ahead with the new PGOU and have it operational within three years. A meeting has been held with a company of town planning experts led by Manuel González Fustegueras who has produced PGOUs for many municipalities.

EIGHT GO

Fall out from PSOE’s election defeat in Ronda continues with eight members of the executive committee resigning. In their letter of resignation they accuse the party of having a dictatorial attitude, lacking internal democracy and are highly critical of secretary general Francisco Cañestro. Several are former socialist councillors including Briton Charlotte Wilmot and they have the support of veteran PSOE member Juan Fraile.

POWERLESS GAUCÍN

CHC Energía has cut off the power to at least ten municipal installations in Gaucín. The outstanding bill is 105,000 euros and PP mayor Pedro Godino says it is not a sum the town hall has at this moment. He is now seeking financial help from other administrations but meanwhile gyms, the cemetery, public fountains and the indoor market are all without electricity.

LEOPOLDO DAYS

Alpandeire recently celebrated the 147 th anniversary of the birth of Fray Leopoldo in the Serranía de Ronda village. Last year the friar was beatified in a ceremony in Granada and he is now on his way to being declared a saint. Apart from the ceremony in the “Cathedral of the Serranía” there was singing and music plus a giant paella for pilgrims.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2011

MARÍN HAS RUINED RONDA’S FINANCES


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Within days of leaving office Ronda’s former mayor Antonio Marín has been accused of ruining the town hall and the State auditors have been asked to examine the accounts.

Marín has twice been elected as the Partido Andalucista mayor but during the last term he and his eight fellow councillors defected, sat as non-aligned but joined PSOE. At the May elections he headed the socialist’s list for mayor.

The town is now run by a Partido Popular – Partido Andalucista coalition and the PP mayor, Maripaz Fernández, last week held a press conference to announce the municipal coffers were bare and Ronda faced financial ruin.

She accused Marín over a three-year period of “ill-fated economic management” adding the accounts were being forwarded to the Tribunal de Cuentas for investigation. Fernández added that legal action could also be instigated against the former mayor and his socialist deputy, Francisco Cañestro, saying they had brought Ronda to ruin but had been so tranquil about the consequences of their actions.

It now appears the town hall has debts of 30 million euros, far more than was thought. The new mayor said there was no bank liquidity and it was not known how the salaries of the municipal workers would be paid for the month of June.

Around 10.5 million euros is owed on invoices to those providing services to the municipality. The balance is due on the various loans taken out by the town hall with financial entities. In addition Ronda owes 575,000 euros to social security plus 700,000 euros for the public cleaning company Soliarsa to keep running for this year. To make matters worse it appears all the municipal companies are running at a deficit.

CASE OF “LUCKY” FINALLY BEING INVESTIGATED

Ronda News has covered intensively the case of 24-year-old Luis Alberto Ramírez ‘Lucky’ who was anything but. He tragically died in April 2008 of peritonitis at Ronda’s hospital after twice being discharged by medical staff.

Since then his family have been pressing for an official investigation and finally four members of staff at the hospital and another from the health centre in ‘Lucky’s’ village of Gaucín have been called to give evidence in an enquiry in to his death.

Lucky’s sister says immediately after his death they issued a complaint over the actions of the medical staff but this was filed by a judge in September 2008. An appeal was lodged in March 2009 and now the Málaga prosecutor has started proceedings.

The four staff from Ronda hospital have all denied any negligence and insist that when he was admitted to the hospital he showed no symptoms for peritonitis. However this is denied by the first doctor who saw ‘Lucky’ at Algatocín health centre on March 31 who immediately diagnosed peritonitis and sent him to the hospital advising they would probably operate immediately.

However both the hospital and the health centre at Gaucín insisted he either had salmonella or a virus and treated him for those. On Saturday April 5 he returned to Ronda hospital, was given antibiotics and discharged. That night at 23.00 his sister called an ambulance as he was very ill. The ambulance was out on a call in Genalguacil and would have taken 90 minutes to arrive.

In the event the sister drove him to the hospital but he suffered a heart attack en route. He died in hospital from peritonitis at 16.00 on the Sunday. The family and village of Gaucín immediately held protests over ‘Lucky’s’ death and finally a full investigation may be held to determine the blame for this tragedy.

LONE DEATH

A lone motorcyclist was killed on the A-374 at km 15 in Ronda at 19.50 last Wednesday evening. No other vehicle was involved in the tragedy and the bike left the road with the biker dying immediately. Police, fire crews and an ambulance attended the scene. The victim, from Ronda, had been attending a bikers’ event in Villamartín to raise money for charity.

ROAD CLOSED

For about two weeks the A-367 that connects Ronda with Ardales will be closed. A section of the road collapsed in the winter rains and major works will be required to repair it. For the duration traffic will be diverted along the A-7278 until the crossing with the MA-5404 and from there to the junction of the A-357 Ardales to Campillos road.

HEALTH VISITORS

Children from infants’ schools in Cortes de la Frontera and Benaoján have visited their health centres. Organised by local social workers the pupils saw how the medical staff worked with residents and hopefully also instilled a sense of confidence and respect for the nurses and doctors. Also should the children need medical treatment they’ll be less scared and more familiar with the surroundings.

OFF SICK

In Cortes de la Frontera the Guardia Civil linked the theft of an official stamp from the health centre with the number of certificates handed to teachers saying a child was ill. Two pupils have now been arrested for the theft and for forging official documents. The theft in March coincided with a sharp rise in absentees who had bought the fake certificates.

EAR ARRESTS

As reported last week a young Ronda bull fighter recently lost part of his ear after it was bitten off during a fracas at the late drinking spot in the Blas Infante gardens. The National Police have now arrested a 21 and 23-year-old who live outside Ronda but came for the festivities. The victim was treated locally then transferred to a Málaga hospital.

ILLEGAL SOUNDS

The Guardia Civil in Ronda have been investigating a robbery from the culture centre in the nearby village of Arriate. Various items of musical equipment were stolen and stupidly their photos were posted on a social network website offering them for sale. Officers have arrested two minors for the offence and they have been released pending a hearing in the young people’s court.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2011

FRAY LEOPOLDO NEEDS A NEW MIRACLE


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeíre, named after his birthplace in the Serranía de Ronda village, was beatified last September 12 in Granada. The Capuchin friar served the poor of the city for many years - he is widely followed by Catholics in Andalucía and beyond.

The friar is now on the road to being declared a saint but one of the miracles that propelled him to be beatified has been discounted by the Vatican from the process. This is because it predates his being beatified and miracles for his sainthood have to have occurred after last September.

Fray Alfonso Ramírez Peralbo, who heads the cause towards sainthood, visited the Holy Office in the Vatican on February 9, the 55 th anniversary of the friar’s death. It was then he was given the news which he admits left him shocked.

The previously admitted miracle happened to Ileana Martínez who interceded to Fray Leopoldo and was cured of an aneurism in her aorta. Patrizio Polisca, the medical consultant to the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints and the pope’s personal doctor, had ruled her cure out because of the timing.

Fray Alfonso is not deterred. He says the process to have Fray Leopoldo made a saint continues and adds that many letters have been received from people who credit the friar with being responsible for miraculous cures. These will now be studied closely to see if any meet the strict requirements demanded by the Vatican.

PP LOSS

José Herrera has resigned from the Partido Popular in Ronda after 24 years on the council. He is angry that he is not on the PPs list for the elections saying the decision was personally motivated. Herrera has twice been mayor of Ronda and had his own party before linking with the PP. He is expected to stand as an independent in May.

NO APPEAL

A Málaga court has ruled that an appeal by the Asociación Silvema Serranía de Ronda against an earlier court decision not to proceeded with a case against the mayor of Ronda over the Merinos golf development would not be allowed. The Málaga Prosecutor had recommended the case be dropped as although the mayor had acted unethically he had not broken the law.

DIGITAL POLICE

Out go the walkie talkies. Local police in Ronda are now using a digital system pioneered in Andalucía which means the control knows the exact location of all its officers and can respond to emergency calls within minutes. The 70 officers will have what looks like a mobile phone which sends a signal that shows up on a screen in the command centre.

WELCOME SIGNS

Ronda’s delegate for commerce, British PSOE councillor Charlotte Wilmot, recently presented the 45 elements of the new specially created sign system for the town’s open commercial centre which is one of those officially recognised by the Andalucía government. Around 132,000 euros has been invested on signs including welcome notices, commercial directories, publicity hoardings for the 100 businesses that make up the CCA.

MILLION STEPS

Málaga’s health authority and Montejaque town hall have launched a scheme to improve the health of those living in the municipality. It’s part of the Andalucía health service’s “Por un millón de pasos” campaign aimed to getting the elderly and chronically ill to walk at least a million steps every month ideally in a group so it becomes an obligation and social activity.

BETTER ACCESS

The Ronda Norte health centre which serves 17,000 people in the town and Serranía has seen a number of recent improvements. These include better access including the installation of a lift plus the opening of a special unit for pregnant women. The 127,000 euros lift is specially adapted for the handicapped allowing easy use by those in wheelchairs or using other walking aids.

WIFI PARK

This summer sees the opening of the Edificio Neotechnológica in Ronda. Over 500,000 euros has been spent on the building which on its top floor will have 60 computers all with high speed internet connection. This is part of a campaign to ensure everybody has access to the internet - outside will be a park with Wi Fi installed permitting free access to users.

TO GAUCÍN

The name of Bernardino Gaona is well known in Arriate as he became deputy mayor in 1995 then mayor in 1999 to the coming elections. The Izquierda Unida politician is not standing in May – well at least not in Arriate –instead he pops up in Gaucín where he is one of the reserve candidates as the party looks to freshen up it appeal.

TAJO DEFENDERS

The project to have a raptor spectacular at the auditorium over the Tajo by Ronda’s famous bullring now has some serious opposition. A dozen associations and political groups have combined to preserve the gorge which they want declared a national monument and stop the demonstration of these hunters as they say they will threaten birds nesting below. They want the spectacular moved elsewhere.

ILLEGAL ROAD

Ecologists in the Serranía de Ronda have reported works to create an illegal road by the arroyo del Algarrobo in Genalguacil to the Andalucía environment ministry. They say its invaded the public domain on the river bank. They are also angry over the extraction of filling material from a nearby site – an action which they say has not been licensed by the authorities.

PIG KILLINGS

Residents of the rural areas of Puerto Saúco and Ronda la Vieja are alarmed after for the third time in a year seven farms were raided on one night. Seven Iberian pigs were killed at a farm and in all farm equipment worth over 20,000 euros was stolen. One raid was prevented when the dogs alerted the owner who turned on security lights.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2011

PLEA TO REOPEN CASE OF LUIS ALBERTO RAMÍREZ


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

In April 2008 the Costa del Sol News gave wide coverage to the case of 24-year-old Luis Alberto Ramírez who died in Ronda’s hospital from peritonitis.

The Gaucín youth had been correctly diagnosed at Algatocín health centre on March 31 and sent to the hospital with the expectation that he would be operated on. However he was twice discharged from the hospital with doctor’s insisting he had a virus or food poisoning. He was eventually admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack as his family attempted to transport him to hospital in traumatic circumstances after lengthy delays as no ambulance was available.

Since then his family led by his sister, María José Ramírez, and their lawyer Luis Ferrary, have campaigned to have those they deem responsible brought to trail for medical negligence. However the judge provisionally filed the case in March 2009 without any of those involved being questioned.

Although both María José and her lawyer insist there is clear evidence of negligence involving the hospital and Gaucín health centre they cannot take the case forward as it is in judicial limbo. Until the judge makes a judgement it cannot pass to the provincial court on appeal because there is nothing to appeal against.

The Alberto Ramirez family have appealed to the Andalucía Ombudsman, José Chamizo, asking him to intervene. He says he has now power to say whether there was or was not any negligence in the medical staff’s actions.

However Chamizo has been highly critical of two aspects of the case. First over the report that stated only one ambulance served the Valle del Genal area and this was not available for Luis Alberto because it was attending an emergency in Ronda. Secondly the ambulance did not return to serve the area it was allocated to for over 90 minutes leaving the widespread villages without any ambulance cover.

Now the pressure is on for the case to be re-opened so what happened to Luis Alberto can be judicially examined. There have also been widespread demonstrations in his home village of Gaucín for an independent enquiry. In addition all the town halls have been united in a campaign for ambulance over in the Serranía de Ronda.

PEOPLE PLAZA

The plaza Carmen Abela in Ronda is to be converted into a pedestrian zone. The square with the calles Lorenzo Borrego and Sevilla is in the heart of the open commercial centre based on the called Espinel known as La Bola. Over 800,000 euros has been assigned from an ICO tourism loan for the work with 23 companies keenly bidding for the contract.

SUMMER HOSTEL

The first youth hostel to serve Ronda and the Serranía is to open this summer. It will have the capacity to cater for 74 people who will be housed in 15 rooms. It’s located on the El Fuerte industrial estate between the calles Guadalcobacin and Fernando de los Rios. The building is self-sufficient in power terms and is totally adapted for handicapped people.

CASH CRISIS

Asprodisis in Ronda caters for handicapped people and is in crisis as the town hall has not paid 142,000 euros in grants. It cares for 243 people but will have to lay off 90 in its employment schemes and cut services. Over 84,000 euros is the 2011 grant, 22,000 comes from the Andalucía health service with the balance owed by Ronda from 2010.

SAD FAIRWELL

The parents of 13-year-old María Esther who was murdered in Arriate on January 20 allegedly at the hands of a 17-year-old youth from the village have now left for Paterna de la Rivera. Over the weekend they collected up all their possessions, bade a sad farewell to their neighbours and friends and returned to the home village to start a new life.

PSOE CHOICE

It’s already known PSOE would be led in to the local elections in the key municipality of Gaucín by Teodoro de Molina who for a short period after the last poll was mayor with the support of the PP. De Molina will head a list with Maribel Casas as number two plus another eight candidates which includes foreign resident Jorrian Van Der Chaaf.

WALKER FEST

Keen mountain walkers should head for Genalguacil over the weekend of March 26-27. Enrolment is free and can be carried out by email by contacting encuentrosenderista@genalguacil.es. The programme will start with a gathering of the walkers in the plaza on the Saturday, the inauguration of a new walk and an expert talk on walks in the Valle del Genal and Serranía de Ronda.

HORSE SCHOOL

In July Ronda will have a 320,000 euro equestrian school housed at the Parada de Sementales on the road to Llano de la Cruz. The objective is to open to the public a sport that is traditionally associated with the elite. There will be a covered area for riding practice, 19 horse boxes plus an equine therapy unit for use by handicapped people.

ASTON SUNDAY

On Sunday the latest Aston Martin model was presented in Ronda. The internationally renowned British car was to be seen in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent in the centre of the old town. The new Aston Martin has also been a common sight on the roads around Ronda in recent days as it is filmed and photographed for the world wide publicity campaign.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2011

CASA DEL REY MORO TO BE SAVED


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The historic Casa del Rey Moro in Ronda is to be saved after the town hall reached agreement with the property’s owners. The 18 th century palace that sits on the edge of the Cornisas del Tajo is in danger of collapse after years of neglect.

Jochen Knie, who owns the Casa del Rey Moro SL, has agreed to undertake immediate restoration works and in return the town hall will grant a licence for the property to be converted in to a hotel. The German has accused the administration of paralysing for 14 years his plans to create a five star hotel.

The councillor for public works and town planning, María Jose Martín de Haro will in the next month register the project to urgently refurbish the building which is in a ruined state. Martín de Haro said any work would have first to be approved by the Andalucía culture ministry as the building is a protected historic site.

The town hall has been waging an on-going battle with Knie over the property and has fined him 60,000 euros for not keeping it in order. In addition it has had to close the staircase that descends to La Mina. This deep stairway goes down to a natural chasm in the rock below the bed of the Tajo. The entry to La Mina is in the Jardines de Forestier that were declared of cultural interest in 1943.

The restoration of the site has been held up by the provisions of the Plan Especial del Casco Histórico that was only approved last year. Knie says the company offered to restore the building before the project was paralysed but he seems content with the new accord.

Knie owns the five-star hotel Casa Imperial in La Alfalfa in Sevilla and wanted to turn the Casa del Rey Moro in to a similar establishment in Ronda. The original project would have required an investment of 21 million euros and would have employed 200 people directly and indirectly.

STOLEN COMPUTERS HIDDEN AT MURDER SITE

Arriate was in a profound state of shock at the end of January when 13-year-old María Esther Jiménez was found murdered in the pump house of a swimming pool on land behind the village. A 17-year-old youth, one of her friends, has since been arrested for her murder.

Those raw wounds were re-opened this week when three people were arrested by the Guardia Civil in Arriate for the theft and receiving of stolen computers. Another four have also been implicated. Although the two cases are not inter-related the stolen computers were hidden in the pump house where María Esther was slain.

It was in October of last year that the Guardia Civil opened operation Guadalinix after computers were stolen from the school in Arriate. During the investigation in to María Esther’s murder the fingerprints of two of the youths involved in the thefts were found in the pump house. One of them has since confessed to stealing the computers.

According to the Guardia Civil one of those involved hid in the school after it closed then later gave access to the other. They then hid the stolen computers in the pump house before handing them over to a third person who sold them for 200 euros each. Around 1,000 euros was earned in this manner which they split equally.

JOBLESS DOWN

A glimmer of good news in Ronda where February saw a fall of 78 in the unemployment figures. However at the end of that month the town hall contracted 86 people to work on its latest project to reduce the jobless and it is not clear if that number is included in the February totals. There are now 4,680 on the dole.

RECYCLING THEFTS

Local police were called to the Punto Limpio in Ronda last Wednesday afternoon after three people were seen in the locked premises. Officers caught them in the act, arrested the woman but the two men fled although one was detained later. All are said to be non-Spanish; they were stealing items such as small electrical domestic appliances left at the site for re-cycling.

DRUGS BUST

The National and local police in Ronda have broken up a drugs distribution operation from a house in El Fuerte arresting a 56-year old woman and a man aged 31. Officers had noticed a large number of people going to and from the property. Suspecting they were dealing in drugs they stage a raid on the house and seized 1.5 kilos of hashish.

PAY UP

Mayors in the Valle del Genal and Guadiaro have called on the regional government to pay the 60 students studying at courses run by their consortium. The whole project appears to be in chaos because not only are the pupils owed 1,000 euros for two months but the lack of funding means the staff have been unable to purchase materials for the courses.

LESS INTENSE

An intriguing project in Ronda where the town hall claims it’s reducing the energy bills by 50 per cent. Five hundred thousand euros has been spent installing a system controlling the intensity and reporting faults in the street lighting. Lighting is more powerful in the evening and reduces after midnight. It is operational in calles Jerez, Ollerías, San Molino, Pozo and San José.

SEWAGE PROJECT

The regional government is spending two million euros installing a sewage plant in Cuevas del Becerro. The cash comes from Feder funds and the work will take 14 months to complete. The system can handle 471.8 cubic metres of waste water a day which is not only sufficient for the present population but also allows for growth in the size of the village.

HOMES LOST

According to Izquierda Unida 255 families in Ronda have lost their homes in the last five years. They all have been embargoed by financial entities because the owners could not meet their mortgage repayments. IU blames the calamity on the economic policies of the PSOE government in the financial crisis because it has refused to declare a moratorium for families on the dole.

PALMS SAFE

The Serranía de Ronda is the only zone in the province of Málaga where the plague of red beetles that attacks palms trees has not taken a hold. The coastal areas have been the worst affected by the beetle which destroys the trunks. Some palms in the Serranía have been affected but these are isolated and the disease has not spread to others.

MOLINA AGAIN

Gaucín’s PSOE have again nominated Teodoro de Molina to head their list at May’s town hall elections. De Molina was elected mayor after the last election in a pact with the Partido Popular to keep the Partido Andalucista from power. However PP withdrew; took power itself with the support of the PA. De Molina is an economist, useful as the town hall’s bankrupt.

ASTON LAUNCH

The famous British car manufacturer Aston Martin has chosen Ronda to present this month its latest model to the world. Ronda competed against Sevilla for the launch which will take place in the old town at the plaza Duquesa de Parcent and by the bullring. Three hundred journalists will flock to Ronda –events are also being held in Chicago and New York.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2011

THE BUS SHELTER TRAGEDY


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The bus shelter in Arriate has featured a lot in the news of late. It is raised from the ground on a patio with other seats and if you go up some steps there is a street bar that opens in the summer months.

You might use the shelter during the day if you are waiting for the bus to Ronda. You will share the area with local people taking a stroll or relaxing on the seats in the sun. The only change at night is in the age group – it is where the youngsters hang out with their friends.

It was here on the evening of Wednesday January 19 that 13-year-old María Esther Jiménez relaxed with her mates. Amongst them was the 17-year-old youth now accused of bludgeoning her to death with a brick. He was part of the bus shelter clan.

If María Esther had walked home that night she would have been at her front door in minutes. Instead she took a turn left, perhaps with the youth who cannot be named because under the law he is a minor. Again she would have been at the swimming pool pump house where she perished minutes later.

The Guardia Civil believe they had arranged a romantic tryst. A sexual motive could be behind the crime. They have not ruled out further arrests. Whether there are any links to the two death threats she received in a letter written by a child remains to be seen.

The Guardia Civil always maintained that the DNA tests would identify María Esther’s killer and those results were known last week. So it was that at noon on Thursday January 3, two weeks after her body was found, plain clothes officers arrived at the family house of ‘El Vaquilla’ in the calle Viñilla to arrest him.

Three tests were carried out at the scene of the murder and ‘El Vaquilla’s’ DNA was found at each. The Guardia Civil says the evidence linking him to the pool house and her murder is overwhelming. He was taken in a car cavalcade to the Guardia Civil HQ in Málaga. Later he appeared before a judge in the minor’s court with the children’s prosecutor asking he be detained for six months. If found guilty he faces eight years in a detention centre.

He was driven away to angry cries of “murderer” from villagers but his arrest has left locals feeling confused. His family is respected in the community. His grandfather had been a Communist deputy mayor after democracy returned to Spain. He has two sisters, one a twin.

Views on ‘El Vaquilla’ differed – some said he was a normal lad, others he had always been a bit of a trouble maker, but added quickly they never thought he’d be capable of murder. His friends say he disappeared for several days after the slaying – when they asked him where he’d been – he said visiting family in Benaoján. He was interviewed by the media after the murder and even attended the laying of flowers at the murder site by family and friends on February 1 – María Esther’s 14 th birthday.

Immediately after the arrest the Guardia Civil put numerous patrols on the streets of Arriate to prevent any trouble. María Esther’s parents, who have returned to their Cádiz village, called for calm. For now Arriate is indeed calm as the residents contemplate the tragedy that has befallen them, the parents of María Esther grieve for their daughter and the family of ‘El Vaquilla’ try to come to terms with the fact their son and brother could be a murderer.

MORE WOE FOR ARENAL 2000 RESIDENTS

The Partido Andalucista in Ronda has one again highlighted the on-going misfortunes of the residents of the town’s Arenal 2000 urbanisation. The company has not honoured its commitments by creating the green zones or children’s play areas. The PA also stressed that more night-time security was required for the development as well as improved access.

The party’s secretary for infrastructure, Juan Antono Rubio, explained: “Lamentably we have again to go through the media to denounce that the urbanisation has not been completed and is in a deplorable state. There has been no kind of maintenance and the company has not carried out any of the works to remedy the defects in the houses or the urbanisation.”

On January 20 the PA wrote to the councillor for works and town planning, María José Martín de Haro to point out the situation and that no work had been carried out to put the defects right. The party has produced a technical report on the problems at the Arenal 2000 development.

In the past the Costa del Sol News has highlighted the plight of the residents at the urbanisation which started with them having no deeds or first licences. The town hall promised it would confiscate the two million euros deposit it holds from Arenal 2000. This money would then be used to carry out the required works. This, says the PA, is probably going to be the only solution.

SIGN HIM

Andalucía’s minister for tourism, commerce and sport, Luciano Alonso, was in Ronda to inaugurate the new stand at the sport’s stadium. He kicked off the match between Ronda and El Palo with the home side securing an important victory so the minister might be signed up. The complex cost 1.4 million euros with a 1,000 person stand, large changing rooms and bio-energy system.

STILL SEARCHING

The hunt is still on for Iván Hernández Chacón who disappeared visiting his girl friend in Ronda. After a disco they had a row on January 22 - he hasn’t been seen since. His Seat León has been found in the San Francisco area but there’s no sign of the Puerto Real youth. Police and fire teams have searched around the Tajo gorge.

UP AGAIN

A bad start to 2011 with the jobless figures in Ronda showing a rise. There are another 235 out of work compared with December – the new total stands at 4,680. The end of the festive season saw many people signed off from their contracts. On 2,419 women are still the largest unemployed group with the services and construction industry still the hardest hit.

HOLY MUSEUM

The various religious confraternities in Ronda that perform during the town’s famous Semana Santa processions will soon have their own museum. It is being located on the lower floor of the former court building on the central calle Armiñán near the town hall. There will be five rooms where their distinct artefacts will be displayed. The 200,000 euros museum will open in May.

WE PAID

The row over the promotional video made by the Partido Popular in Ronda at the municipal TV studio in PP controlled Fuengirola has opened a new phase. After furious complaints by PSOE in both towns the PP has responded saying it paid the bill and has an invoice dated November to prove it. The party is now demanding an apology from the socialists.

BERMEJA PARK

Various groups that make up the Plataforma Sierra Bermeja Parque Nacional have launched a new campaign to have the Sierra Bermeja, Palmitera and Real declared a protected zone. They’ve written to the director general of natural spaces in Andalucía to ask the regional government to request its counterpart in Madrid declares the area a national park. The group first requested action in 2007.

TRAIN WASTE

Izquierda Unida has complained to the Andalucía parliament over a waste tip that’s appeared in Gaucín. The party claims tonnes of waste dumped at the site come from the improvements to the Ronda to Algeciras railway. IU spokesperson in Gaucín, Juan Jesús Hidalgo, says 6,000 lorries have deposited the waste at the entry to the village and nobody knows what the materials are.

HEALTH CENTRE

Benalauría is soon to have its own health centre funded by the regional government, the province and the town hall. Work will start shortly and it will take up to a year to complete. The 300,000 euros 4-storey building will have the health centre on the ground floor with the other floors given over to the internet, social services, pensioners and general use.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2011

ANTONIO MARÍN TO BE PSOE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR


It comes as no surprise but a meeting of PSOE members in Ronda has confirmed Antonio Marín as its candidate for mayor at this May’s local polls. Marín heads the socialist list and so is almost certain to be elected to the council. However it remains to be seen whether PSOE commands enough councillors for him to be mayor again.

Marín is a controversial character who is a two term mayor but was previously elected for the Partido Andalucista. He abandoned the party along with his fellow PA councillors who have all joined PSOE but sit as non-aligned. Their actions have been condemned by the commission that adjudicates on political turncoats. The PA was the largest party after the last election but Marin’s and his councillors switch left the voters who voted for them with no representatives at the town hall.

HOSPITAL PATIENTS TO BE TAGGED

Ronda hospital, which serves the Serranía and also parts of the Sierra de Cádiz, has installed a new system to improve the identification of the patients in its care. They will be given an individual wrist identification tag which officials say will make the patients more easily identifiable to staff and hence eliminate the risk of the wrong care or medication being given.

The implementation of this identification system is part of the Strategic Security Plan for patients that has been drawn up with the Andalucía Ministry of Health. As soon as a patient is taken in to the hospital a bracelet will be issued and it will bear all the administrative data so eliminating confusion.

Every time a patient registers with admissions as the identification tag is issued his or her identity will be verified. Again before they receive any treatment, surgery or medication a double check will be carried out to ensure it is for the correct person.

The introduction of the system is across the board from patients who enter via casualty, who go in to hospital on a booking basis as well as those who receive treatment on a day basis. Every person will be identified with a tag.

The identification bracelets are made from non-allergic materials, are strong and resistant to heat and humidity. They are also comfortable and will not cut in to or mark the user. The patient information is in coded form printed indelibly and resistant to abrasions and water.

TOBACCO RAID

Guardia Civil from Gaucín have arrested a man on the suspicion he broke in to a tobacconist in the neighbouring village of Genalguacil. Officers were alerted when the owner of the establishment reported that the rear door had been forced and 200 euros in cash plus 2,800 euros worth of cigarettes had been stolen. Enquiries led to the arrest of a Genalguacil resident.

ROAD DAMAGE

Over 100 residents of the calle Antonio Ordóñez – known locally as the calle Larga - in Ronda are up in arms. The road surface has recently been renewed which should have brought a smile to their faces. Instead they have protested to the town hall as they say it has damaged their doors, left gullies and has caused water to enter their houses.

PLANNING OFFICE

The town planning office in Ronda has a new home. It has been located on the third floor of the town hall. Now it’s moving to round the corner and from January 27 will be located in what was the former court house. The building has been extensively restored at the cost of 900,000 euros and has 1,200 square metres of office space.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 30, 2010

LOS MERINOS PAYS OVER ANOTHER 866,000 EUROS


By David Eade

The development of the controversial Los Merinos golf, residential and luxury hotel project in Ronda has been idle for 19 months. The Catalan company Copisa halted the work because of the down turn in the property market. However it has been scrupulous in maintaining its payments to the town hall due under the town planning agreement.

So far it has handed over 11 payments, the latest of 866,000 euros, just before Christmas. This means the municipal coffers have benefited to date from payments of 11.6 million euros for a development that does not exist.

Indeed just weeks ago Copisa issued a statement saying it had no immediate plans for re-commencing the project. Mayor Antonio Marín says the company had justified the halt on the economic crisis and although it has so far handed over nearly 12 million euros to the town hall the cost of the overall scheme is far more.

Initial work has been carried out on the land but no construction of the 800 villas, three luxury hotels or two golf courses plus all the other leisure infrastructure has been carried out. The mayor says Copisa has already spent 103 million euros with just 50 million to go.

The major problem would appear to be the very legality of the development. Ecologists and residents of the zone such as Cuevas del Becerro – which is far nearer to the project than Ronda’s urban area – fears it will drain their water aquifers which have supplied local agriculture and homes for generations.

Indeed the Andalucía government is taking legal action to have the development halted. There are also questions over whether the mayor of Ronda acted legally in granting permission for the scheme. If the Copisa project is halted then would it demand a return of the payments to the town hall – which have been spent – plus compensation for its multi million investment?

NEARLY THERE

Ronda will soon have its first youth hostel. The building’s located on 2,138 square metres surrounded by 1,200 square metres of green zone on the calles Guadalcobacín and Fernando de los Rios. Spread over three floors it will be able to accommodate 74 people with special access for the handicapped. The project has a budget of 781,849 euros and will use renewable energy.

BRIDGE INSTALLED

Dramatic scenes at La Dehesa in Ronda last week as the bridge for the new intersection on the road linking the town with Sevilla was put in to place and will be operation by February 15. It is all part of the major improved access programme funded by the regional government costing over 13 million euros which is about 70 per cent complete.

ENGLISH WALK

Ronda’s Paseo de los Ingleses runs for three kilometres along the Cornisas del Tajo. Once again its one of the major tourism spots in the town. Sadly the dramatic walkway had fallen into neglect and been vandalised in recent years. Now with over 300,000 euros funding from the ICO for tourist projects the footpath has been fully re-laid, with new furnishings and lighting.

NOT GUILTY

The man accused of starting the fire that engulfed 16 hectares of wooded land at Los Frontones in Ronda on August 28 2007 has been found not guilty by a jury. The cost to the environment was 67,000 euros plus the major expense of tackling the blaze. If found guilty he would have faced a five year jail term and a massive fine.

BRIDGE VIEW

Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo over the Tajo will now be able to be seen around the world in real time over the internet. The tourist office is installing cameras having contracted a telecommunications company to offer the service. However it’s not only the bridge that will be displayed but also the plaza de España, the calle Virgen de la Paz and La Merced.

FURIOUS RESIDENTS

Residents of Llanos de Aguaya in Ronda are furious over the damaged to their local lane. Three years ago they clubbed together to spend 30,000 euros relaying the surface of the road. Now they say it’s been destroyed with the delegation of Málaga province to blame. It has heavy equipment in the area which has used the road and dug up the surface.

DANGEROUS ROAD

The Guardia Civil has issued a warning over the dangerous state of the MA 7401 that links Ronda with Benaojan and is the responsibility of Málaga province. It has been the scene of two fatal accidents in recent weeks both claiming residents of Montejaque with another in February 2009 and all on the stretch as the road passes the Cueva del Gato.

CASTLE WORK

The ministry of public works is funding four projects in Málaga province one of which will see El Burgo’s Miraflores castle restored. The ministry will be allocating over a million euros for the project which will come from its special ‘1per cent Cultura’ fund. In addition the regional government will allocate the same amount on restoring one of the major monuments in the area.

OLIVE HARVEST

Sixty-per-cent of the olive harvest in Ronda is now in. Five million kilos will be collected which will be processed into a million kilos of oil. The quality this year will be excellent as compared with the last season that suffered from the heavy rains and winds. Also more workers have returned to the sector having been laid off by the construction industry.

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH

People from Ronda and the surrounding Serranía who want to study English through the Cambridge University courses can now do so without leaving the town. The Escuela de Hostelería that has been established in the Casino in the calle Molino will be organising the four year courses. Pupils can now enrol for the first course – the closing date for candidates is January 21.