DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2011

AVE LINK REPORT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC


By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The ministry of public works has announced through the State Bulletin (BOE) that it is making public the findings of its study on bringing the AVE high speed train connection from Antequera to Ronda.

The objective of the study has been to select the best route for the track to run from Antequera-Santa Ana to Ronda at La Indiana. Those involved had to take in to account the geography along the possible routes, technical conditions, planning implications and any adverse affect on the environment.

The current line to Ronda and on to Algeciras is used by diesel trains. The AVE would require dual electrified tracks with dual use for the existing diesel freight train service to the busy port.

The proposals are the line should connect with the service at Bodadilla as it currently does. It would then follow the exact same route as the current line to Ronda. From there it would go to La Indiana where the future AVE station for Ronda would be constructed. The plans are open for public inspection for 30 days during which time suggestions or complaints can be lodged.

The cost of bringing the AVE to Ronda is set at over 711 million euros. It will mean the town of the Tajo will be connected with Ronda in two and a half hours. It is also proposed the service will be extended to Algeciras. The project would open up Ronda and the Serranía and bring increased economic and tourism activity to the region. Via the AVE network Ronda would also have improved access to other cities in Andalucía.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR BIRD WATCHING TOURISM

Málaga has allocated 214,000 euros to the provincial network of ornithology tourism. Bird watching is seen as a popular activity that can be offered alongside traditional tourism and will help boost the current static market on the Costa del Sol.

The network of bird watching zones is being coordinated to promote the pastime with 43,000 euros being spent on information panels throughout the Serranía de Ronda. Another 60,000 euros is being assigned to the migratory zone to be found at Ventorrillo de las Corchas in Benarrabá, 42,000 euros for a viewing zone in Cortes de la Frontera and 70,000 euros for observatories in Villaneuva del Rosario’s Laguna de Hondonero, Cuevas de San Marcos on the Genal river and the artificial Laguna at Cuevas Bajas.

Major investment is also destined for Cañete la Real which sites on the major migratory routes from the Straits of Gibraltar. Here there is to be a viewing platform to see the Leonardo Vultures which have nearby one of the most important breeding sites in the south of Spain. This viewing area is handily placed as it is alongside the Cañete slaughter house and the carcasses can be used for feeding the vultures.

Also nearby are the breeding ground for a species of eagle that is protected and highly valued by bird watchers. Numerous small birds live in the woodlands around Cañete with other habitats including the Royal Eagle and Eagle Owl amongst a number of noteworthy predators.

TOURISTS ROBBED

Guardia Civil arrested two people who broke into a car and stole items whilst the vehicle was parked at the Cueva de la Pileta, Benaoján. Officers were alerted by a neighbour who’d seen the pair acting suspiciously around the car. Sadly this is not an uncommon occurrence at the popular caves and visitors are advised not to keep any valuables in their vehicle.

OLIVE JOY

For the last three years the harvests of olives have been very poor indeed. This year it is the turn of the chestnut crop to suffer but the expectations for olives is a high yield. No figures have been given for Serrania de Ronda but the co-operative predicts the total crop for Málaga province to be 65,000 tonnes, 11,000 more than in 2010.

LOW BUDGET

Ronda held an urgent council meeting to set its budget for 2012. The councillor for the economy, María del Carmen Martínez, set the total at 25.5 million euros which is over seven million euros less than this year hence major cuts in all departments. In addition the town hall is paying out 1.3 million euros to suppliers thanks to an ICO government loan.

WINE CENTRE

The project has been aging like a mature wine but work is now underway on a wine centre for Ronda to be created in the buildings of ironically the old water deposits. The scheme has a 1.2 million euros budget; should take 18 months to complete with a bodega plus an information and exhibition area and will be used to train wine professionals.

BLIND THEFT

Police and Ronda court is investigating the case of the former president of the ASSER association dedicated to helping the blind over the misappropriation of 17,000 euros between 2007 and 2008. It is also believed monies may have been taken from 1997 to 2000. The accused was president from 1997 to 2008 and investigations are remaining open whilst the exact amount is calculated.

QUALITY TOURISM

The plan to promote quality tourism in the Serranía de Ronda has seen 4.5 million euros invested in the past four years with the financing of over 100 projects. These include the creation of visitors’ centres in Pujerra, Cortes de la Frontera and Júzcar. The working group also studied 65 establishments; if they meet quality standards they receive major promotion nationally and internationally.

GETTING THIRSTY

Anger is mounting in Benaoján and Montejaque where residents still cannot drink the potable water. The mayor of Benaoján is considering issuing an official complaint against the health delegation saying the situation is damaging tourism and the pork product industry. PSOE claims the contamination of the Molino del Santo well has been caused by sewage. Drinking water is being supplied by the Legion.

PAY DAY

Mayor of Cortes de la Frontera, Antonio Granero, has confirmed all the municipal workers have been paid for July including those involved in collecting the cork harvest. This still leaves August, September and October to be settled. Cortes banked 1.2 million euros from the cork sales and Granero says the due salaries of the 100 town hall staff will be settled this month.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2010

PSOE LEADERSHIP BACKS MARÍN FOR MAYOR

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The secretary general of PSOE in Ronda, Francisco Cañestro has told a news conference that the directorate of the local party backs the current mayor, Antonio Marín, as its candidate for the post at next year’s municipal elections.

Marín was elected mayor for the Partido Andalucista at the last election but has caused controversy by abandoning the party with his fellow PA councillors and joining PSOE instead. This led to the Comisión de Expertos Independientes del Pacto Antitransfuguismo accusing all eight of being political turncoats in a ruling last December.

There is no doubt that the merger of Marín and his seven fellow former PA councillors has caused disquiet in the ranks of Ronda’s PSOE. The big test will come this Saturday when the 330 party members will vote to endorse or reject the directorate’s decision. Many socialists feel they have been pushed aside by the incomers.

Marín stated on Monday: “Now is the time for political stability in Ronda with an absolute PSOE majority. The town cannot make experiments, it would be catastrophic.

The Partido Andalucista had been in coalition with the Partido Popular after the last local elections. Then Marín surprised everybody by breaking the pact then forming a coalition with PSOE before he and his fellow PA councillors left the party, sit as unattached members of the council but they are all now PSOE members. This left the PA which had been the majority party with no representation at the town hall hence the condemnation of the political turncoat commission.

A few weeks ago an opinion poll showed PSOE destined to form the next administration in Ronda with mayor Antonio Marín the most popular politician. Now a rival poll says the Partido Popular will take eight seats with the Partido Andalucista on four with both forming a coalition. The most popular leader is the PP’s Maripaz Fernández and Antonio Marín trails fourth. If this poll holds true for the 2011 elections then the PA might yet exact political revenge on Marín and leave PSOE with a bloody nose.

DEATH CRASH
A lorry driver died on Monday morning after his vehicle was involved in a head on collision with another lorry on the A-367 as it passes through Cañete la Real. The tragedy happened at 7.25 at km 20 on the busy but narrow road that connects Ronda with Ardales. Traffic was diverted as the road had to be closed till the wreckage was removed.

IN OUT
Ronda has honoured Rafael Díaz with the title of honoured son. The Efe news agency photographer has recorded the town over many years and the images have been seen all over the world. In the same week the honoured son 81-year-old Francisco Garrido passed away. He had also been a journalist and had produced a series of histories of Ronda and the Serranía.

PLANNING EXPLAINED
The Diputación de Málaga is undertaking the drawing up of the new local development plans (PGOUs) for many of the smaller municipalities in the province. Recently the deputy for planning, Cristóbal Guerrero, visited Jubrique, Genalguacil, Algatocín and Júzcar to explain the plans for their municipalities. There will be 70 social housing units in Jubrique, 40 in Genalguacil and 18 in Algatocín and Júzcar.

BACK MOTORWAY
PSOE secretary general in Ronda, Francisco Cañestro, has called on all political parties in the town to back the toll motorway project with the coast. The PP had blasted the announcement as an election ploy but Cañestro insists it will happen, cut travel times from 50 to 22 minutes and create over 5,200 jobs. The 350 million euros project will be privately funded.

PLAIN CLOTHES
Local police in Ronda are to form a plain clothes unit. The six officers will patrol town centre streets with the main objectives being to catch pick pockets and bag snatchers as well as looking out for drugs traffickers. This follows on from the recent announcement of the forming of a dog unit and the town hall says others will also be formed.

TREE ZONE
An arboretum has been created in El Colmenar in Cortes de la Frontera. Almost 143,000 euros has been spent on the zone that will have recreational, educative and sporting uses. The parkland has 71 eucalyptus trees first planted in the middle of the last century with six walking routes. Visitors will be able to consult a series of informative posters on the species.

NATURE GUIDES
A new brochure on the flora and fauna of the Serranía de Ronda has been produced by the town hall showing the biodiversity of the area and including 24 photographs. Also the Andalucía ministry of the environment has produced a guide to the Sierra de Grazalema. This is the third guide in the series which includes Estrecho (Cádiz) and Cabo de Gata (Málaga).

AFRICAN VIEW
Benarrabá in the Serranía de Ronda now has a bird viewing station. It is so high that on a clear day visitors can see the coast of Africa and Gibraltar. Over 40,000 euros has been spent on the centre with view to developing tourism in the area. There are large charts to show visitors what birds can be seen and in what zones.

GOAT WOE
Protests by goat milk producers in Serranía de Ronda and Antequera were halted after talks with Forlactaria and García Baquero – the largest cheese producers were announced. However the angry producers say they’re restarting protests as no progress has been made. They say the cost of producing the milk has risen by 12 per cent whilst their income has dropped by 18 per cent.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

CYCLIST KILLED AT ATAJATE BLACK SPOT

Five road deaths in five years

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The fifth person in five years to die on a treacherous bend on the A-369 Ronda to Algeciras road was killed in an accident at Atajate last Thursday morning.

The tragedy happened at 8.40 when a group of cyclists travelling in the direction of Algeciras rounded the bend on the approach to Atajate. One of the group, a 72 year-old Dutchman, fell from his bike. He was struck by a car travelling in the opposite direction and died at the scene.

When the Guardia Civil and ambulance services arrived the driver of the vehicle, a local man from the Serranía, explained to officers that the cyclist was lying in the road and there was nothing he could do to avoid him. Needless to say he was in a very distressed state.

The A-369 has now been transformed with a 26 million euro investment into a scenic tourist route between Ronda and Gaucín. However residents of the Valle del Genal have long been concerned about various accident black spots along the road including the stretch between the Fraile mirador and the village of Atajate.

There is a sharp bend; neither the road nor the shoulder are sufficiently wide for vehicles, motorbikes or cyclists to pull off in an emergency. The majority of people who have perished on this stretch of road have been motorists or cyclists.

In addition to the road deaths there are frequent accidents and the verge is littered with broken glass, pieces of bikes, vehicle parts due to numerous collisions. Some residents have placed a cross on the bend in memory of those who have died here.

With the latest death the Málaga delegation of public works has promised it will study the bend which has been responsible for so many deaths to see what improvements can be made. Sadly this comes too late for the five people who have died to date and residents can only hope that number will not increase before action is taken.

NIGHT VIEW
In order to boost the number of people staying in Ronda for the night the tourism office has arranged for monuments such as the Palacio de Mondragón, Casa del Gigante and Los Baños Árabes to open till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Participating hotels and restaurants will be able give their guests free entrance tickets, however other visitors will have to pay.

BAR DEATH
Tragedy in Benaoján where last Wednesday a 39-year-old woman died after falling down the stairs of her bar. The accident happened at 20.30 as she was cleaning and the Guardia Civil believe she was overcome by the fumes from the liquids she was using. The bar in the plaza San Marcos had been closed for holidays and was being cleaned thoroughly before re-opening.

CANNABIS PLANTS
After an investigation lasting six weeks Guardia Civil found 71 cannabis plants of varying sizes in a house in the outlying La Atalaya area of Cañete la Real. Officers say the haul had a value of 8,000 euros. The plants were being reared in an outhouse on the property. In addition a young man in Gaucín has been arrested for rearing seven plants.

ANGRY FARMERS
The agricultural community in Ronda has been displaying its anger over the fact that the rural roads and lanes that were severely damaged in last winter’s rains have yet to be repaired. Francisco Cañestro, the councillor responsible, has promised an action plan to prioritise the worst roads but the farmers have threatened protests unless an immediate start is made especially in Los Villalones.

RESCUE PRACTICE
There was a sense of reality when Ronda fire brigade held a rescue practice at the Tajo gorge. The date coincided with the arrival of heavy rains which made the simulated rescue even more challenging. Eighteen fire fighters took part in the practice which formed part of their training course. The rescue was staged in the rugged Los Molinos zone of the gorge.

PLAZA ROW
The Partido Popular are furious with plans by the ruling socialists to name the plaza that will be formed on the site of the now demolished Concepción barracks after the PSOE activist Pablo Iglesias. Apparently plaques bearing his name have been delivered to the town hall. The PP says there are more suitable candidates as he does not represent the whole town.

GOYESCO MUSEUM
The association of Peñas in Ronda has asked the town hall to create a museum dedicated to the traditional Goyesca bullfight held every year as part of the Pedro Romero fair. This year was the 54 th at which the Damas Goyescas, in beautiful dresses from the Goya era, took part. The administration has welcomed the idea and will study the proposal.

CHESTNUT HARVEST
The chestnut harvest is here and the residents of 15 municipalities in the Valle del Genal will take to the hills to gather them in. It’s expected that the chestnuts this year will numerous in quantity and of a high quality. However it’s not yet known what price the tree owners can expect for their harvest which is sought after nationally and internationally.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2010

NO PAY FOR GAUCÍN WORKERS

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The workers employed by Gaucín town hall are starting a series of protests as they have not been paid for April or May. The municipality is ruled by a Partido Andalucista – Partido Popular coalition and the 20 staff say they have no idea when the situation will be regularised.

As a first step they have written a letter to the mayor, the PP’s Francisco Ruiz who has indicated that he is about to step down. They informed the mayor they have families that need to be housed and fed and without being paid they can’t fulfil their obligations. They have not ruled out further protests unless they receive a prompt reply to their letter.

A spokesperson for the workers say the situation at the town hall is dire with a mayor who says he is going to resign but hasn’t and a deputy mayor waiting in the wings who has no authority to take action.

The spokesperson for PSOE and former mayor, Teodoro de Molina, said Gaucín has no government. He added the situation was chaotic and the workers lament that the good name of Gaucín has been dragged through the mud after the media highlighted the political scandal surrounding the barred PA mayor Francisco Corbacho and Ruiz’s previous pronouncements that the municipality was bankrupt.

The mayor says the financial plight of the town hall has been largely caused by the loss of income from town planning licences. He is also hopeful that the municipality will receive a good income from the pending sale of this year’s court harvest although it should be noted that the market is very difficult at the present.

Ruiz wants the workers to know that he has not taken any salary for the past three months – although that does little to ease their plight. He insists he intends to step down this month once the cork has been sold and there is money in the town hall account.

RONDA’S FUTURE FLAG COULD BE RED OF CASTILLA

The project is underway to create a new official flag for Ronda based on the historic records held in archives throughout the country.

At a recent meeting of the commission designated to come up with the design it was suggested that the background colour could be the red of ancient Castilla.

The commission is presided over by the mayor, Antonio Marín, but includes the official chronicler, the delegate for culture, the director of the historical archive plus four historians.

Advice is also being taken from the religious brotherhoods that take part in the Semana Santa processions, the Real Maestranza de Caballería – whose own library has documents dating back to the years of the Reyes Católicas, and the Arunda historic association.

At the first meeting the commission looked through old documents to determine what the ancient flag of the town would have been. Apart from national documents they include the Chancillería de Granada and Archivo de Indias but nothing helpful was found.

The members also laid out what the legal requirements were for designing the flag and having it approved by the regional government and the council. The official chronicler, Manuel Garrido, said there was agreement that the elements on the flag should be based on the historical records and documentation.

MATADORS HONOURED
Ronda is to have “un paseo de los Toreros” a walkway similar to that in Hollywood dedicated to film stars. The hand prints of famous bullfighters will be placed into the pavement of the Blas Infante gardens by the town’s celebrated bull ring. A commission will be set up to determine which matadors should be honoured each year at the traditional Goyesca bullfight.

ABANDONED DOGS
Local police in Ronda have reported a rise in the number of abandoned dogs on the streets due to the economic crisis. Many of the animals are large or potentially dangerous breeds. In less than a month officers have recovered around 40 of these dogs who when abandoned often attack livestock. Officers have asked people to approach them rather than dump their dogs.

ROUNDABOUT WORK
Fifty unemployed people in Ronda will have work for the coming weeks as they are given temporary jobs constructing three roundabouts in the town. The first will be on the busy avenida de Málaga which has long been a demand of residents. The second will be in a traffic black spot on El Fuerte industrial estate with the third on the avenida Andalucía.

ROBBER CAUGHT
Guardia Civil in Benaoján arrested a knife wielding 20-year-old who on June 4 broke in to the home of an 85-year-old woman, put a plastic bag over her head whilst he stole her jewellery. The woman had to be treated at the health centre for cuts and shock. Officers were given a description and they soon detained the youth and recovered two bracelets.

EROSKI DOUBT
The Partido Popular in Ronda is questioning whether Eroski intends to proceed with its major commercial centre in the town because of the economic crisis. The company has acquired the former football ground a year ago but the PP says Eroski has not paid over the 2.8 million euros for the land or started any work and demands the situation should be clarified.

DANGEROUS DRIVING
The road that links Ronda with Setenil was badly damaged by the rains in January and there are still 50 landslides on the three roads in the area. This means tourists cannot visit the ancient Roman ruins at Acinipo and the local residents have to take their lives in to their hands by driving on closed roads in order to go to and fro.

PGOU AID
The Diputación de Málaga has drawn up new local development plans for Benamargosa, El Borge, Genalguacil, Alpandeire, Cañete la Real, Faraján, Iznate and Júzcar – all municipalities of under 5,000 residents who do not have the resources to produce the documents themselves. Diputación president, Salvador Pendón, says the PGOUs allow for sensible development with 1643 new homes of which 727 are social housing units.

HOSPITAL WASTE
Seprona and Ronda’s Green Patrol are investigating sewage contamination in the arroyo de la Toma by the hospital and fair ground. Ecologists have accused the hospital of the leaks but this allegation has been denied by the management. The hospital has its own water treatment plant - officials say it’s working normally but environmentalists say it’s obsolete and water pours into the stream.

DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2009

RONDA INVOKES EMERGENCY PLAN AS FLOODS HIT LA INDIANA

Around 100 litres of rain fell on the Serranía on Christmas Eve causing the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, to invoke the municipal emergency plan to assist residents of the rural zone of La Indiana whose homes had been flooded. The dire situation continued through Christmas Day with local resident María Jiménez declaring “Between the crisis, the dole and the weather, this is the worst Christmas that I have experienced in my life”.

The four major rivers in the area – the Guadiaro, Genal, Guadalevin and Guadalcobacín – all burst their banks and some 30 homes were flooded. Local farmers who had been concerned about the effects of the drought on their crops now found their land underwater. On Christmas Day residents found drowned chickens and horses floating in the fields.

Earlier in the week the lower stretches of the Guadiaro were already in flood with fields under water in San Pablo de Buceite, Jimena, San Martín and Sotogrande since Wednesday as the heavy rains fed in to the river from the streams and off the land in the Serranía.

COMING DOWN
Now that Ronda has taken charge of the former Concepción army barracks in the centre of the town the building is to be demolished. The work will start in January and will cost around 300,000 euros to complete. Once finished the plaza area will be used for parking although eventually the complex will house the town hall, a public square and underground parking.

BAD YEAR
The social welfare department at Ronda town hall has reported an increase in its work due to the financial crisis and heavy unemployment in the town. Its budget has risen from 112,000 euros last year to 160,000 euros in 2009. Nearly 1,000 families gave been registered as needing assistance and the number that are regularly sent food and basic necessity parcels is 153.

LOWER CONSUMPTION
Cortes de la Frontera has come up with a plan introducing energy saving as part of a programme promoted by the Diputación de Málaga. It will see an investment of around 27,000 euros that will improve the economical use of street lighting. Three areas of the municipality – Cortes – Cañada del Real Tesoro – El Colmenar – will be involved in reducing energy and bio-carbon output.

HIGH LOW
The Serranía de Ronda villages of Benadalid and Cartajima show the highs and lows of unemployment in Málaga province. In Benadalid with 149 people able to work 33 are on the dole – 22.15 per cent –the highest level in the province. In contrast Cartajima has just eight unemployed out of 162 workers – 4.94 per cent of the total – the lowest in the province.

IN DANGER
The Partido Popular in Ronda has reported the mayor Antonio Marín to the Agencia de Protección de Datos. The party claims that he has revealed information about a member of their executive from local police files that puts him and his family in danger. Juan Ignacio Vega says the defamatory report in La Gaceta del Lunes edited by the mayor violates his rights.

EXPEL THEM
The Partido Popular called on PSOE at both an Andalucía and national parliament level to expel the mayor of Ronda plus eight former Partido Andalucista councillors who have been declared turncoats by abandoning the PA for the socialists. The PP says PSOE must honour the previsions of the pact it signed with other parties to outlaw politicians who were deemed turncoats by the commission.

DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

GOYESCA BULLFIGHT TICKETS REACH 800 EUROS ON THE BLACK MARKET
By David Eade

We may be in an economic crisis but it hasn’t stopped tickets for Saturday’s Goyesca bullfight in Ronda being offered for 800 euros on the black market.

Saturday is the key day in Ronda’s annual Feria de Pedro Romero and already all the top hotels are reporting 100 per cent occupancy. Crowds will flock in to town for the day fair which lasts till 20.00, the celebrity bullfight and move on to the feria ground in the evening.

The Goyesca bullfight always attracts major names with media stars in abundance plus national, regional and local politicians. There are rumours this year that Julio Iglesias and his family may also be amongst those attending.

The best seats were long ago sold out and it is these that are changing hands for around 800 euros although some are reported to be on the market for well over 1,000 euros. Those willing to sit in the sun may still be able to purchase tickets from the bullring box office which also has seats for the other bull fights and carriage display.

This year the matadors Perera, Manzanares and Cayetano will be talking part in the Goyesca bullfight. As is traditional before the event they will travel in open horse drawn carriages from the Hotel Reina Victoria to the Plaza de Toros accompanied by the Damas Goyescas.

DEATH CRASH
A retired couple were killed last Thursday morning on the A-367 at Cañete Real close to its borders with Cuevas del Becerro. The 74-year-old driver and his wife, 70, were apparently attempting to pass another vehicle when their four-wheel drive car crashed head-on into a livestock lorry in a no overtaking zone. It is understood the Spanish couple live in Germany but had spent the holiday period in Serrato, their birthday, close to the town of Ronda.

WOMEN ROBBERS
On August 13 the BP petrol station in Ronda on the road to Campillos was raided at around 21.30 by an armed gang. The presumption had been that it was male robbers but now the National Police have arrested two Ronda women, one with numerous previous convictions. Officers have also recovered the fire arm used in the raid which netted just 300 euros.

SPORTING PLAN
Ronda has given the go-ahead for the second and final phase of work on the Ciudad Deportiva to which it has allocated 750,000 euros. The regional government will add a similar amount to the sports complex project. Much of the town hall’s funding comes from the supermarket giant Eroski that is building a commercial centre on the town’s former football and sports stadium.

DRUGS FIND
Ronda’s local police have discovered six marihuana plants that were being grown in an apartment in the town centre. The flat had been rented by three youths for the holiday period. The illegal crop was found after the flat of another resident was flooded when the plant’s irrigation system failed and the trio being away their flat was entered by its owner.

TOURISM POLICE
In a joint venture between the tourist office and the security delegation Ronda is now to have a special police squad dedicated to helping tourists. Four officers who have learned foreign languages will patrol in the mornings and afternoons in the popular tourist zones and give advice, help with thefts and assist when cars have been towed away for being illegally parked.

BETTER COMMUNICATIONS
The regional government will soon introduce the new ‘Tetra Digital’ communications system but Ronda is one step ahead of the game. The councillor for security, Rafael Lara, says 120,000 euros has been assigned to introducing the system for the local police force which will protect their internal communications and also allow for officers to speak to each other or operate as a group.

DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2009

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
By David Eade

The regional government’s culture and heritage ministry ruled some months ago that the car park that occupied the large plaza by Ronda’s 200-year-old bullring should be removed. It insisted that Andalucía’s third most visited site should be pedestrian only and the town hall quickly complied closing the car park at the beginning of August.

This has now left the plaza Teniente Arce which leads on to the paseo de Blas Infante looking rather forlorn but not for long. The councillor for gardens, Josefa Valle, has launched an international competition for how the area can best be utilised but Ronda historians have also come up with a suggestion.

To start with the historians who are concerned about the location of the main gate to the plaza de toros that is currently on the calle Pedro Romero. However this was not always so and from1788 to 1923 it faced on to what is now the plaza Teniente Arce. The imposing main gate is very important to the bullring because apart from the Goyesca Ladies and Bullfighters entering here during the Pedro Romero bullfights in September it is also out of this gate that matadors who perform well are carried shoulder high in triumph.

It is ease to see from old photographs why the focal main gate was moved in 1923. At that time the old Teatro Vicente Espinal came within feet of the entrance but now where the door once stood faces on to the centre of the open plaza Teniente Arce. So the suggestion of the historians is that the celebrated main gate should be returned to its original position.

Whilst the heritage experts debate the pros and cons of such a move Josefa Valle has opened a competition for ideas that would see gardens created as part of a new layout of the plaza Teniente Arce. Valle explained that the town hall wanted to create an exciting vision for this site which is so important to Ronda and to find ways of utilising the space that currently lies empty.

Hence the competition that is open to Spanish and foreign designers, gardeners, architects and other professionals of international standing to come up with new ideas that would create a zone to relax in for both residents and visitors. The designs will be studied by the town hall, local experts as well as the regional government’s ministry of culture and heritage and some exciting submissions are expected for what is a world-renowned historical site.
ALGATOCÍN BLAZE
Infoca has reported that nine hectares of pasture were destroyed by fire on Monday in the municipality of Algatocín. There fire was detected at around 13.24 close to the boarder with Benalauría and was not brought under control to 15.00. Fifty fire fighters attended the scene supported by four helicopters, one with a high water carrying capacity and an aircraft. The fire alert is now at a high level and the Andalucía government has asked that everybody is especially vigilant.

LONGER PARTY
Ronda celebrates its Feria de Pedro Romero from September 3 to 6. The hours of the day fair in the town centre have been extended. On September 3 and 4 it will continue to 19.30 but on the final two days will last till 20.00. The night fair will be held at the new fair ground by Hipersol with the former fair ground across the road used as a parking zone. The two are connected by a foot bridge.

STORM DAMAGE
The recent storm that saw 50 litres per square metre fall on Ronda in just 30 minutes is estimated to have caused 1.6 million euros in damage. Some 170 rodeños have submitted claims for compensation and these have been forwarded to the Andalucía government by the town hall. The areas worst affected were the UVA, Padre Jesús and the commercial town centre.

TREE PROTEST
Ecologistas en Acción have officially complained to Ronda town hall over the felling of three hectares of pines at La Dehesa by the regional government’s public works ministry. The trees were felled as land was cleared for a new access roundabout, part of the 14 million euros road scheme. The ecologists insist the felling is illegal and no environmental impact study was commissioned.

NOT ME
Ronda’s mayor, Antonio Marín, slipped in and out of the local court last Thursday to give evidence in the case on the illegal construction of an agricultural warehouse built on non-urban land in the protected Hoya del Tajo. He blamed the councillor for public works, José Herrera, plus other councillors sitting on the Commission for Works in July 2006 when the licence was granted.

FLU CAMPAIGN
Ronda’s health delegation and the Serranía health authority are co-ordinating plans to launch an information campaign in September to advise residents and to help control the spread of ‘Gripe A’ swine flu. The campaign will concentrate on basic hygiene actions such as the thorough washing of hands that will help prevent the contraction of swine flu or the propagation of the virus.

SAX ROBBERY
The economic crisis is driving many people to petty crime but the theft of two saxophones with accessories from a house in Cortes de la Frontera on August 11 raised eyebrows. The Guardia Civil soon tracked down the culprit who was a fellow resident who lived nearby. Officers are staying quiet on how the thief was found – blowing a stolen instrument perhaps?

SELF ESTEEM
The Diputación de Málaga is to organise courses by the Instituto de Sexología aimed at improving the residents’ self-esteem, self control and communication skills. Over 30,000 euros is being assigned to the project that will be held in Benadalid, Cañete de la Real, Cartajima, Cuevas del Becerro, Gaucín, Jubrique, Júzcar and 24 other villages in largely rural, inland areas of the province.

SPRAY TIME
High summer temperatures coupled with the humidity caused by recent rain storms has meant that 10,000 hectares of olive groves are being urgently sprayed to kill off the olive fly. Failure to take action could lead to four million euros of losses for the olive growers of Ronda, El Burgo, Cuevas del Becerro, Ardales, Cañete la Real, El Saucejo, Benaoján, Jimera, Montejaque and Cortes.

USA BULL
Members of the USA Asociación de Clubes Taurinos, led by their president Lore Monnig, were recently received at Ronda’s Palacio de Mondragón by Mayor Antonio Marín. They attended the bullfights at the Málaga feria then visited Ronda. The mayor explained the role of Pedro Romero in creating the modern bullfight and that Ronda’s plaza de toros was the third most visited monument in Andalucía.

DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2009

TEN TOWN PLANNING VIOLATIONS IN COURTS
By David Eade

The three judges of the Ronda courts and the Málaga prosecutor are currently undertaking ten investigations in to the breaking of the town planning laws in the municipality. Ecologistas en Acción reported that some of these cases dated back to 2003 and although no hearings have yet been held they remain open.

The most high profile investigation involves the illegal construction of four buildings in the Hoya del Tajo. This development has been denounced by the ecologists but also the regional government’s police force and the environmental wing of the Guardia Civil, Seprona.

Also under the spotlight is an equestrian centre at the Puerto de la Muela. In this instance ten councillors of the previous administration are under investigation for obstructing justice. There are also reports of overbuilding in the same zone of two chalets and an agricultural unit.

Amongst the other cases are the building of a warehouse used by a bodega but which is situated very close to the Roman ruins of Acinipo and a house built in the same area on non-urban land. It was Seprona that took action in both these cases.

Of course the most celebrated case in Ronda relates to Los Merinos golf – luxury urbanisation development. Here the town hall issued a works licence despite the regional government having given it a negative report. There are now court cases brought by Izquierda Unida and the regional government against the mayor, Antonio Marín, and town hall officials.

PSOE propose expropriations in historic quarter

A working party set up on the special plan for the historic quarter of Ronda by PSOE – one of the town hall coalition partners – has submitted a series of changes it wants made to the provisional document. Amongst these is a series of property expropriations to improve the image of the area and to protect Ronda’s heritage.

Specifically the PSOE groups wants the town hall to take over abandoned properties in the historic quarter or those that are in a poor state. It sites the case of the Casa del Jalifa that was taken over and restored and is to be used for public services.

GAUCÍN RESIDENTS CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST HIGH TENSION POWER LINE

It was back in November 2007 that the Ronda News first broke the story of the fight by Gaucín residents against the plans by Endesa Sevillana to build a high-tension power line across a beautiful protected valley.

At the time Gaucín resident Jane Powell told us: “Endesa is proposing to put a new line of high tension 20m high pylons some 7 km in length across an EEC protected valley near to Gaucín. They are using the certificate of “national priority” to override the protection order.”

Since then the battle has very much gone against the residents who formed an action group to halt the project. It was authorised by the regional government on the grounds that it was in the public interest, a ruling as Jane suggested seems to outweigh the fact that is going to ruin an area of natural beauty which is home to endangered species and deemed of special environmental interest.

It is not just the action group with Jamie Ewing at its head that is fighting the project. Gaucín town hall, Ecologistas en Acción are both strongly opposing it and 2,000 residents have signed a petition to have the power line stopped.

Last Wednesday the action group went to Sevilla to make their voices heard holding a demonstration outside the offices of Sevillana-Endesa. Jamie Ewing said they were taking their case to the Andaluz Ombudsman, José Chamizo, to tell him: “the new high tension lines are not necessary because there exist others going to the same place and these can be enlarged instead.” Chamizo is now studying the case.

Ewing explained that this view was supported by a study of technical engineers who say that it is viable to change the project to make it accepted both environmentally and technically.

The mayor of Gaucín, Francisco Ruiz, has suggested that Sevillana Endesa should reinforce and reutilise the high tension line that transports electricity to the centre at San Roque. He said this would avoid a new high tension power line causing a large amount of environmental damage.

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
There was an attempted robbery on the Caja Rural Granada in Ronda’s central plaza de Socorro at 12.20 on Monday. A man and a woman entered the bank whilst a second man kept the door open to avoid it being locked by the security system. The sub-director managed to sound the alarm causing the trio, all thought to be South American, to flee. National and local police were soon on the scene but as of yet no arrests have been made.

ACCESS RONDA
Last week Ronda announced it had produced a tourist guide in Braille so blind people could enjoy the sites – the first town in Spain to do so. This week the tourism office launched its ‘ciudad accesible’ project aimed at ensuring the historic town and its buildings would become fully accessible to handicapped tourists and also make life easier for residents with disabilities.

ARMED ROBBERY
Last Wednesday at 21.30 four masked gunmen held up the BP Los Pinos petrol station on the Campillos road in Ronda. The staff had been told in such instances to offer no resistance and to hand over the cash box to the thieves. This they duly did and the robbers escaped with – 300 euros. The Guardia Civil are searching for the gang’s Opel Corsa.

FIRST JUMP
The provincial delegate and Ronda’s councillor for agriculture last week opened the first phase of the municipal equestrian school being built adjacent to the horse stud farm. So far 120,000 euros has been invested on a horse training track and now another 120,000 euros is to be spent on an equine therapy centre for use by handicapped people or those with chronic illnesses.

AGUSTÍN’S BACK
There was much consternation in El Burgo last August when the venerated statue of San Agustín fell to the ground and was smashed injuring a woman. The accident happened as those carrying the patron performed a dancing movement accompanied by the municipal band. Now after eight months of restoration the statue will be ready to again take to the streets on August 28.

LEOPOLDO HOMAGE
The village of Alpandeire in the Serranía de Ronda is the birthplace of Cappuccino Fray Leopoldo, the holy friar later who worked amongst the poor of Granada where he is also venerated. On August 29 a number of events will take place in Alpandeire as part of the campaign to have Leopoldo beatified a process on the path to sainthood which started in 2006.

WATER INVESTMENT
As part of a wider programme of investment in water infrastructure the Diputación de Málaga is carrying out two projects in the Serranía de Ronda. In Benaoján 10,000 euros is being allocated to purchasing a new pump and engine for improving supply within the village whilst in Cuevas del Becerro 26,408 euros is being spent on the mains from the municipal reservoirs.

NOCHE VIEJA
Whilst most of us celebrated Noche Vieja – New Year’s Eve – on December 31 the people of Cañete La Real held their party on Saturday night. Many have moved from the village to other places in Spain and Europe but return for the month of August hence it was decided to hold this fiesta in their honour including a “Miss y Mister Emigrante” competition.

DATELINE RONDA TUESDAY AUGUST 4, 2009

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR TRAGIC ACCIDENT?
By David Eade

First the facts. Francisco and Catalina were a married couple aged 56 and 52 years who lived in the edificio Mirasierra in the avenida de Málaga in Ronda. Their bodies were found in the apartment late last Tuesday night. The local police had been alerted by a family member who could not raise them on the phone.

The officers went to the building and receiving no answer on the intercom entered the apartment via an open window. Inside they found a gruesome scene. Both Francisco and Catalina were dead – he from a gun shot wound, she from having been struck violently by a blunt object.

The first assumption was this was another tragic case of domestic violence and it was portrayed as such in the media reports. Last Thursday around 100 people gathered outside the doors of Ronda town hall to stand for five minutes in silence in memory of the first victim of domestic violence in Málaga province this year.

Now questions are being asked. It is certain that Catalina was the innocent victim. However she had not made any official complaint about domestic violence, had not contacted the women’s centre at the Casa de la Cultura nor did neighbours or family know of any problems between the two.

So now there is second hypothesis. Police say that it is possible that Catalina was killed when she tried to intervene to prevent her husband committing suicide. She was struck by a blunt object that could have been the butt of the shot gun as she struggled with him. However the weapon had only been discharged once and that was the shot that killed Francisco. He was found on the bed with the gun whilst she was on the floor.

Both were buried in Ronda last Thursday in emotional ceremonies. Post mortems were carried out before interment and the police are now awaiting the results of the tests which they hope will help provide the facts behind this tragedy.

TRADERS LOCK HORNS OVER BULL RING PARKING

The traders of the traditional shopping area of Ronda are furious that the open car park beside the town’s famous bull ring has now been closed. This follows the action of the town hall in responding to the regional government’s prompting by closing the parking to make the paseo Blas Infante in to a pedestrian zone.

In so doing from Monday 75 car parking spaces that served the central calle La Bola with its numerous shops, restaurants, bars and hotels has been removed. The workers have been moved to the Castillo car park in the historic quarter of Ronda which from August 10 will accept 200 vehicles.

There are other underground and surface car parks nearby but the bullring facility was right on the doorstep of the commercial area. This says the small and medium business association (Apymer) is a major blow for its members already suffering badly from the economic crisis.

The town hall has stated that it has no option but to close the car park after a report from the regional government’s heritage commission. It took a dim view of the fact that parking was allowed alongside the 200-year-old bullring which is one of the major monuments and key tourist attractions in Andalucía.

Apymer says it is dismayed that the regional government has ordered the closure and points out it goes against the Andalucía authority’s support for open commercial centres such as Ronda’s. However as the car park has to close then another space should be found adjacent to the shopping centre for clients and tourists to park.

CAMPING SCOUTS COME DOWN WITH SWINE FLU

A group of children from the San Felipe Neri school in Cádiz had to come home early from a camping trip to Ronda after two of their party came down with symptoms resembling those of swine flu. It was later confirmed that they were suffering from the virus. The 61 children and 21 adults arrived at the Grupo Chaminade campsite on July 18 and were due to stay until July 30.

Last Tuesday, two of the youngsters showed flu-like symptoms, and a local doctor was called. He notified the Andalucían Health Service, which sent an epidemiologist and a paediatrician to the site; they decided that the two children should be admitted to hospital, and ordered the rest of the party to return home to Cádiz.

Doctors at Ronda hospital said one of the children had the symptoms of a common cold and he was released immediately afterwards; the other, who was suffering from high temperature, vomiting, runny nose and dehydration, was released later the same day and both were allowed to return home but were told to remain in isolation.

CASTLE CLEANING
Volunteers from Canada, Turkey, France, Germany, Czech Republic and Spain have descended on Cañete la Real for a clean-up operation on the village’s famous castle. The 28 will spend 15 days working on the Castillo Hins Canit cleaning and refurbishing the area around the historic monument.

DISGRACED SON
The former dictator Francisco Franco is no longer an honoured son of Ronda. The council has voted to withdraw the honour which was bestowed on him in 1967 along with Ronda’s gold medal when the municipality had a military governor as mayor. Partido Popular councillor José Herrera said he believed local people should have voted on the issue but then back the motion.

CHILD’S PLAY
It had been feared that the new access roads being constructed in to Ronda would have cut through the playground of the Colores nursery school bringing traffic right up to its doors. Some 225 children attended the school and its owners made an official protest backed by Izquierda Unida. Now protective barriers have been erected to separate the school from the development.

SELF HELP
The health district of the Serranía de Ronda has started self-help groups amongst residents in Benaoján and Cortes de la Frontera involving those who have to care for a family member. The idea is to give them support by being able to liaise with other carers in the same situation as well as affording them access to the knowledge of professional social workers.

HOUSE BLAZE
A husband, wife and their young child escaped but were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire started in their Arriate house in the early hours of Thursday. It is believed the blaze was started by an electrical fault in the living room. The kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms were also badly damaged. The family say they have no money to make the repairs.

CASTLE PARKING
The municipal parking zone on the patio of the former El Castillo college in Ronda was to have opened on Monday but that has now been delayed to August 10 as works have not been completed. It will have 185 places and is the only parking zone that will serve both the historic town and the town hall. Local residents can no longer park outside their homes but will have a special permit to use the car park for free.