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 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 JUNE 23, 2009

LOS MERINOS MAKES ANOTHER MASSIVE PAYMENT
Almost 9 million euros paid to town hall to date
By David Eade

Work at the site of Los Merinos in Ronda may have been halted because of the economic crisis but that has not stopped the owners of the controversial golf development from paying 866,258 euros to the town hall. Copisa have now handed over nearly nine million euros in eight payments to date as part of its town planning agreement with the town hall.

It is proposed that apart from two golf courses Los Merinos would also be home to a major luxury urbanisation and a number of hotels. There has been widespread opposition from environmentalists and surrounding communities including Cuevas del Becerro town hall who fear that the development will steal their valuable water resources and damage the ecology of the area.

There are also a number of court cases pending in which the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, has been accused of giving the go-ahead for the development decree flying in the face of the environmental laws. The regional government is also trying to have the project legally halted on the water resources issue.

Copisa avoided an immediate clash last year by halting work because of the slump in the construction market. It also laid off the majority of those working at the site as well as sub-contractors just keeping a skeleton staff for essential maintenance. This week 14 new workers have been contracted and they will be employed on fire prevention over the hot summer months.

Once construction starts in earnest Copisa say they will invest around 100 million euros in the project. In recent weeks directors have met with the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, to discuss the future restarting of work. As Marín has now switched from the Partido Andalucista to PSOE he could find himself in conflict with his new party at Andalucía government level over the future of the controversial development.

LUCKY’S FAMILY PRESENT A 16,000 SIGNATURE PETITION

The family of Luis Alberto Ramírez, known to his friends as “Lucky”, have presented a 16,000 signature petition to the Andalucía Ombudsman, José Chamizo.

As was extensively reported in the Costa del Sol News at the time in April 2008 the youngster from Gaucín died of peritonitis after having been discharged on a number of occasions by staff at Ronda’s hospital.

The petition calls for an investigation in to the causes of “Lucky’s” death and demands an improvement in the general level of medical services in the Valle del Genal.

Speaking after handing over the signatures “Lucky’s” sister, María José Ramírez, stated: “The hospital has said it was going to hold an internal investigation, but at the moment nothing has been done and the situation is the same.”

The family also have a case in the Ronda court, a ‘curso de reforma’ which prevents it from being filed by the judge. They have also issued legal complaints against five medical staff at the hospital and one at the medical centre in Gaucín.

Luis Alberto Ramírez died in April 2008 whilst being driven in a family car from the health centre in neighbouring Algatocín to Ronda hospital as an emergency ambulance was not available. Previously he had been sent by the local medical staff to the hospital but had been discharged without receiving the appropriate treatment. It is also alleged that the local doctor refused to visit him at his home stating there was no cover at the health centre.

BODEGAS LA SANGRE HONOURED
The Ronda wine producer – Bodegas La Sangre – has been awarded a major prize for its wine by Radio Turismo. Its gold medal for 2009 was given to the wine Espinel 2007. In the competition 300 bodegas in Spain presented 1,300 wines. Sergio Flores the director of Bodegas La Sangre stated: “this is an important recognition and is welcomed by our project.” To visit the vineyard’s website click on the Bodegas La Sangre banner on the right side of this web page.

POWERFUL ROW
The regional government has given the go-ahead for a power line from Buitreras sub-station in a protected environmental zone to Corchado-Casares. This will pass through Gaucín and Casares and as previously reported here has been strongly opposed by the town halls and Gaucín residents’ groups. The Andalucía government says it has approved the scheme because of public need but protestors say no such need exists.

POISONING FINE
The Málaga provincial court has ordered a campsite in Algatocín to pay over 20,000 euros to four members of the same family who ate tortilla there in September 2006 contracting food poisoning causing them to require medical treatment for three weeks. A Ronda court first ruled the compensation should be paid and that decision was upheld on appeal by the higher court.

IMPROVED ACCESS
Work has started on creating new access routes and roundabouts in Ronda to improve the road network from Sevilla, San Pedro, Campillos, El Burgo and Algeciras. The major road improvements are being funded by the regional government in a 17 million euros scheme that will take some 30 months to complete. The IU has complained that no environmental impact study has been carried out.

CORK HARVEST
Ronda owns nine fincas in Los Montes de Propios that each year produces a large quantity of cork that is then sold at auction. This year’s harvest is reported to be of less quality than in recent years and the economic crisis has also seen a drop in prices. None-the-less the municipality expects to earn between 500,000 and 600,000 euros from the harvest.

HEALTH AWARENESS
Twenty children from the infant’s school in Benaoján have visited the village health centre to learn more about the services on offer. The five-year-olds had the chance to meet the staff, talk about their work and how they could look after their own health. They also saw demonstrations of the electric medical equipment including heart machines and visited the emergency service ambulance.

LIGHTNING STRIKE
The Serranía de Ronda has had its first forest fire of the summer and the culprit was a lightning strike. The flash ignited ten hectares of scrubland at Parauta in the Sierra de las Nieves last Monday and took four hours to control. Two fire-fighters were hurt after being hit by the water from a fire plane and were treated at Ronda hospital.

CASH BLAZE
There was alarm in Ronda on Friday when a security van delivering cash to the Banco Santander in the avenida de Málaga caught fire close to a petrol station. The blaze started after a fault developed in the van’s engine. The three security guards fled the van the called the fire brigade and the traffic was held up on the town’s busy main road.

WINE WORKS
Work has now started on a one million euros multi-functional wine centre in Ronda. The project has been organised by the town’s agricultural department in the old water deposits complex that dates back to the 18 th century. Once completed there will be a wine bodega in the old cellars, a museum, a teaching centre for wine growers and a research unit.

NO CHANGE
PSOE in the Andalucía Parliament has rejected a call by the Partido Popular to reduce the limits on building homes, farm or industrial units or rural tourism complexes in Los Alcornocales national park. The PP argued that the current rules are far stricter than in other protected green zones in Andalucía and need amending to allow economic development. The IU abstained in the vote.