RONDA NEWS

DATELINE RONDA MONDAY 2, 2012

2012-01-02T11:42:00.000+01:00

BLUE JÚZCAR BIDS TO WIN BASKETBALL COURT

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The small Serranía de Ronda village of Júzcar has already achieved international renown by being painted blue and becoming the Smurfs’ village for last year’s launch of the latest Sony movie. In the six months it has been the ‘Pueblo Pitufo’ some 90,000 people have visited the village, an average of 4,000 a week. Those people could now be vital in helping Júzcar win a basketball court.

With the support of Málaga province Júzcar is participating in the Endesa – Liga ACB competition. It has now passed the first hurdle judged by representatives of the power company and basketball league. Now it is in the second round and here it needs the votes of its new found visitors.

The voting is via the Facebook page link www.actitudazul.com/ligaendesa. Júzcar is currently in fourth place behind Gordeloxa, Vilagarcia de Arousa and San Miguel de las Dueñas. Log on and give Júzcar your vote as it could see the village of 219 residents acquire a state of the art basketball court.

That is the prize in the ‘Actitud Azul’ competition. A regulation sized basketball court, fully equipped and with flood lighting. It would be placed in an accessible site in the village for the use of everybody. The isolated community does not enjoy all the facilities of more central villages or towns hence the basketball court would a major asset for the young people.

ALL CHANGE FOR RONDA BUS STATION

Ronda’s bus station in the centre of the town is antiquated and not easily accessible for the coach traffic. The plan was it would be relocated as part of the proposed Eroski commercial centre scheduled for the former soccer stadium and fair ground off the San Pedro – Sevilla by pass. However the new administration seems to have its own plans.

The Eroski project and the former socialist mayor Marín Lara are all caught up in the Acinipo town planning corruption case so it could be the new PP – PA administration has decided to move on. Mayor Mari Paz Fernández is seeking submissions of ideas from architects for a bus station to be located not far from the existing one on El Fuerte industrial estate.

The idea seems to be to site the bus and tourist coach hub opposite the sports complex. Not only would it be a bus station but also a commercial development with the management company having a contract to exploit both. It would also be opposite a busy Mercadona supermarket and it is yet to be revealed whether this would be relocated in to the hypermarket – bus station site.

PAYMENT CHECK

An unhappy new year is looming for municipal workers employed by Ronda’s Soliarsa cleaning company. The administration is determined to cut its costs and the two extra payments made in the summer and at Christmas are due for the chop. In addition an investigation is going to be carried out in to the legality of productivity payments awarded to managers of the company.

BODEGA AID

The regional government has given a grant to the Morosanto bodega which is located on a Roman site at La Cimada between Ronda and Setenil. A million euros has already been invested in the vineyard with four million euros scheduled. Owner Ángel Céspedes said the grant was a lifeline adding that the wines produced in the Serranía were amongst the best in Spain.

WINE CHOCOLATE

Cortijo Los Aguilares is a famous Ronda wine maker whilst the Confitería Daver is celebrated for its cakes so it is logical both should come together to create a special chocolate sweet to celebrate New Year. The delicacy has been widely tasted and received much acclaim but David Verdú says commercial viability will be difficult because of the high cost of the wine.

BRIDGE WORK

Ronda’s councillor for the outlying districts, Manuel López, took mayor María de la Paz Fernández to Llano de la Cruz and Los Frontones to discuss bridge work. Both have bridges on busy roads that have deteriorated from the storms of recent years and lack of maintenance. Now 10,000 euros is to be spent meeting residents’ demands they should be repaired before they collapse.

LAST PHASE

Whilst the regional government’s projects to construct major new road connections in to Ronda stand abandoned waiting funding the town hall is entering the last phase of its own scheme to create access off the San Pedro to Sevilla road in to the San Jorge area. It is being constructed with 1.8 million euros of ICO funding and will be operational before Easter.

ACINIPO RAIDS

The Roman archaeological site of Acinipo just outside Ronda has again been the target of thieves seeking valuable historic remains. The security guards are only on duty in the morning but they have detected signs of people searching inside the complex for metallic Roman artefacts. Acinipo is one of the most important historic sites in Andalucía but suffers continually from poor security measures.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2011

2011-12-22T10:43:00.000+01:00

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

2011-12-15T12:32:00.000+01:00

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 8 DECEMBER 2011

2011-12-08T11:18:00.000+01:00

MONTEJAQUE TO HAVE INDEPENDENT WATER SUPPLY

David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The residents of Montejaque and Benaoján have been able to use their water supply again since last Wednesday. The regional government had halted the use of water for drinking from the Molino del Santo well because of contamination.

Since then Montejaque has been looking for an alternative supply of potable water that would not leave it dependent on its neighbouring municipality. Now Málaga province has come up with the answer through its delegate for the environment and sustainability, Juan Jesús Bernal.

Bernal has proposed a new water deposit for Montejaque. This will increase its reserve capacity and store around one million litres. The deposit will have a capacity of 500 cubic metres and will supply the municipality alone.

The funding required for the water deposit will be 250,000 euros plus 3,000 euros more to improve the filter system. The water will come from a source in Benaoján that is currently not utilised and a pipeline four kilometres long will have to be laid to bring the supply to Montejaque.

Málaga province will provide the funding for the new deposit. It will mean the 2,600 residents now have an independent water supply. It will also be important for Montejaque’s large meat industry and the developing rural tourism.

GROWING UP

According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics the population of Ronda has increased by 1073 people between 2006 and 2010. Hence the population has risen from 35,836 to 36,909. However the councillor in charge of statistics, María del Carmen Martínez, says because so many people have not registered on the padrón the true figure is nearer 50,000 drawn from nearby villages.

HOUSE BREAKERS

The Guardia Civil in Cortes de la Frontera have arrested two people aged 29 and 32 years of age accused of forced entry in to properties. In addition officers arrested a 21-year old who is alleged to have received stolen goods. The arrests were made after officers stopped the 29-year old, a known criminal, who had a large bag with stolen items in.

LESS OLIVES

The harvest of olives in the Serranía de Ronda has dropped dramatically this year. Overall the crop is down by 15 per cent but the co-operative stresses the actual size of the decrease varies between areas. It’s estimated that 6.5 million kilos of olives will be gathered, over half a million kilos less than last year. The picking has been delayed by rains.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER 2011

2011-12-01T14:31:00.002+01:00

DOUBLE VOTE AND PSOE VICTORY

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

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

ROBBERY APPEAL

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

NOT GUILTY

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

HOLA! HONOUR!

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

CORTIJO RENTED

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

ANGRY RESIDENTS

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

GOING CATALAN

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

WATER ROW

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

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2011

2011-11-24T16:05:00.000+01:00

WORK STARTS ON RESTORING CASA DEL REY MORO

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The German businessman who fronts the company that owns the historic Casa del Rey Moro in Ronda has started work to prevent the deterioration of the property. Jochen Knie has commissioned urgent works to ensure the passage of time does not take any further toll on the palace overlooking the Cornisas del Tajo.

The building dates from the 18 th century and the initial work is being carried out on the roof and walls to ensure the winter rains do not filter in to the structure. The project has the approval of the Andalucía government and 2.5 million euros will be spent in the various phases of the scheme.

A company that specialises in conserving old buildings and wooden structures is carrying out the project. Four people will be engaged in protecting the ornamental features such as the cornices. As part of the first phase a survey is being carried out to determine what needs to be done in the latter stages.

It is intended that the Casa del Rey Moro will become a five-star hotel although the owners are looking at other possible uses. It could be the embolic building will be used for events, meetings and reunions.

Knie says his company wants people to be able to visit the palace. Curiously it sits alongside and above Los Jardines de Forrestier and La Mina that was excavated from the rock below. The complex is one of the main monuments in Ronda but whilst the gardens and La Mina have been protected as being of cultural interest since 1943 the building has no protection what-so-ever.

EIGHT YEARS FOR KILLING MARTA

The trial of the youth who was alleged to have murdered María Esther Jiménez in Arriate at the end of January is over. The Málaga youth court has handed down a guilty verdict. He has been sentenced to eight years of internment and a further five years of supervised freedom. The local lad also has to pay the girl’s family 220,000 euros in compensation.

The trial behind closed doors started on November 2 and over five sessions the prosecution and defence gave their evidence. The prosecutor and the lawyer representing the family of the murdered girl demanded the maximum sentence for a minor and that is what the judge gave them.

The father of the victim, Juan Jiménez, said they were content with the judgement and believed their own lawyer and the prosecutor had done a good job. He added he was always confident that they would produce this result.

The lawyer acting for the family said the court had taken in to account the findings of the DNA tests, the results of the post mortem, the statement from witnesses and the physiological reports on the accused. The judgement against the youth is not yet firm as the defence can lodge an appeal with the Málaga Court but the family’s lawyer is in no doubt the correct decision has been reached.

The accused had insisted on his innocence and the defence lawyer had asked he be released without trial questioning the whether the investigation had been handled correctly. He had been held for the maximum period in detention of nine months and was released for the trial in to supervised care.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2011

2011-11-17T13:18:00.000+01:00

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 10 NOVEMBER 2011

2011-11-10T16:25:00.000+01:00

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

2011-11-03T11:36:00.000+01:00

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

2011-10-27T12:18:00.000+02:00

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 20 OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-20T12:32:00.000+02:00

JÚZCAR COULD STAY BLUE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Júzcar is one of the famous small white villages of the Serranía de Ronda. However all that changed earlier this year when Sony Pictures selected the hamlet as the Smurfs home. In Spanish Júzcar became the “Pueblo Pitufo” and was transformed with 9,000 litres of blue paint as part of a worldwide publicity campaign for the latest Smurfs movie.

The painting of the homes was meant to be a temporary measure but it has been such a success for the village that the residents are going to vote after the general election whether to stay blue or revert to white. The odds are on staying blue because whilst the hamlet has just 221 residents over 3,000 people now visit each weekend.

The world media descended on the Smurfs blue village and they were followed by thousands of people, of course including many children, who wanted to see where the Smurfs lived. This has resulted in an economic boom for Júzcar; the town hall has even had to recruit three local police officers to control the traffic.

A Merca Pitufo now opens at weekends and sells the products that Júzcar and the wider Valle del Genal have always been famous for. In addition there are souvenirs produced by Sony Pictures for the Smurfs movies and enterprising people have even organised Smurf tours of the locality.

Iván Sastre, owner of the Hotel El Bandolero, has welcomed the increase in trade both in staying guests but also to his restaurant. He said the large majority of juzcareños want the village to stay blue – after all he says all the Andalucía villages are white, so there is no problem if one is blue.

HAPPY ENDING TO SEARCH FOR 82-YEAR-OLD MAN

A search was held over the weekend in the area around Cortes de la Frontera after an 82-year-old man, Isidoro Vázquez Vega, went missing on Friday.

The alarm was raised at 15.45 when a family member called the 112 emergency number. The search over 100 strong was led by the Guardia Civil, Protección Civil plus Infoca fire teams and centred on the zones of La Perdiguera and La Retamar.

Isidoro was finally found at 17.30 on Sunday at Llanos de Líbar. He was disorientated, very thirsty and showed signs of dehydration but otherwise was in good health after his ordeal. He was taken to the local health centre for a check up and later discharged in a wheelchair to the care of a relieved family.

They described his discovery safe and well as a “miracle”. He had been found on a mountain side by a goat herder. Isidoro story is on Friday he had bought a small bottle of water and then set off on his walk but couldn’t find his way off the mountain and got lost.

TOURIST WELCOME
Last week two consortia presented plans for visitor reception centres to Ronda town hall. The first would see an investment of 17 million euros in the castle area involving an escalator to take tourists up into the historic town. The second of 37 million euros would be by the San Francisco quarter petrol station. Both would involve parking for cars and tourist coaches.
INSTALMENT PAYMENTS
Ronda’s former mayor, Antonio Marín, has now paid the 150,000 court bail fee in instalments including a charge on his own house. His two co-accused PSOE councillors Rafael Lara and María José Martín de Haro have also lodged their 50,000 and 80,000 bail monies. Marín and three councillors have resigned their seats and also from PSOE in the Acinipo town planning corruption case.
FEW LOANS
Ronda’s new PP – PA administration has been criticized for only seeking 2.4 million euros in loans since it took office. The coalition has complained the coffers are bare and the money borrowed will be used to pay off suppliers. However the regional government has made it clear it will only offer large scale finance if the town hall has an economic rescue plan.
I’M INNOCENT
The former police chief of the National Police in Ronda has protested his innocent in the corruption trial involving him, three fellow officers and a Guardia Civil. Between 2003 and 2007 they are alleged to have offered protection, indulged in sexual activity and taken drugs at three local brothels. The police chief says he was manipulated and the protected witnesses have framed him.

DEFENCE DEAL
Marípaz Fernández, Ronda’s new mayor, has opened contacts with the Ministry of Defence in an effort to acquire the lands of the now demolished La Concepción barracks which are being used as a car park. The ministry wants 3.6 million euros which Ronda says it cannot afford. The plans drawn up by the previous administration include underground parking, a plaza and cultural centre.
MILL HOSTEL
There are plans to convert the old mills of Ronda’s Tajo gorge into a tourism complex with a hostel for visitors which would be the second in the town as the youth hostel near El Fuerte will be finished next year. The mill buildings are being restored by various workshop schools. It’s hoped also to create a visitor’s centre, hotel plus country restaurant.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-13T20:02:00.000+02:00

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 6 OCTOBER 2011

2011-10-06T14:33:00.000+02:00

PSOE AT WAR

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Whilst the arrest of Ronda’s former mayor Antonio Marín with three of his fellow PSOE councillors was all about town planning corruption there is now a major political fallout. Indeed the socialist activists in the town of the Tajo have demanded the resignation of Málaga province’s two PSOE chiefs. Not the news the party needs in the run up to the general election.

For Antonio Marín his political career is over whether found innocent or guilty. He had been elected Partido Andalucista mayor but then after being in coalition with the Partido Popular broke the pact, signed a new one with PSOE, abandoned his party and led his PA councillors in to the socialist ranks. He headed the PSOE list at the last election.

However although PSOE secured the most votes a coalition was formed between the PP and PA to keep Marín from power. Also there was anger in the PSOE ranks as the PA newcomers had bumped many long term socialist councillors off the list. Marín has now been suspended by PSOE and the PP, PA and Izquierda Unida, who have brought many court cases against him, would not touch him with the political barge pole.

All this has led to 52 of the PSOE activists in Ronda to demand the immediate resignation of the provincial secretary Miguel Ángel Heredia and the secretary of the party’s organisation, Francisco Conejo. The letter was signed by six former PSOE councillors including Briton Charlotte Wilmot and the current PSOE MP Ana Fuentes. They are furious the pair did not listen to their unease over Marín and his fellow councillors acceptance into the party and point out that had they done so these sad moments for Ronda could have been avoided.

Back at Operación Acinipo itself former mayor Marín, who was arrested last Tuesday along with fellow PSOE councillors Cañestro, Lara and Martín plus two advisors to Eroski, was released by the court on 150,000 euros bail two days later. Martín has to find 80,000 euros and Lara 50,000 in surety. The four councillors have all resigned their seats on the council and been suspended by PSOE.

The wide ranging charge sheet includes obstructing justice, bribery, misappropriating funds, money laundering and trafficking in influences. Acinipo revolves around the development of a site for the proposed Eroski commercial centre but could well yet encompass the controversial Los Merinos golf development and other town planning developments.

CORTES DEMO

Around 200 people demonstrated outside Cortes de la Frontera town hall last Friday demanding the salaries owed to municipal workers be paid. The wages for September are due but they still haven’t been paid for July and August. The cork harvest will generate 1.2 million euros for the town hall’s coffers which can be used to pay workers. muleteers and cork harvesters.

ROAD WORKS

Cuevas del Becerro is carrying out major improvement works to the calle Nueva. The 63,400 euros project is being financed by an agricultural workers employment scheme giving work to three managers plus 25 labourers. The work will start at the beginning of September and continue for four months. It will see the road surface and pavement renewed plus water and sewage piping replaced.

MOVE ON

The Partido Popular president in Málaga province, who also heads the provincial authority, Elías Bendodo, visited Ronda on Saturday backing PP mayor María Paz Fernández in the wake of the arrest of the former socialist mayor Antonio Marín on town planning corruption charges. He offered his unconditional support to Ronda and promised to introduce measures to help it achieve its true tourism potential.

HASHISH BUST

Guardia Civil in Cortes de la Frontera have carried out a series of raids, one at a person’s home and another two on rural farms. They confiscated 24 marihuana plants of a very large size. Two locals aged 19 and 34 years were arrested. In another operation 225 medium sized plants being dried in a house in Cuevas Bajas resulted in two arrests.

NO MOVIES

Ronda has cancelled this year’s political film festival due to lack of funds. The festival, on a theme unique in Europe, was the brainchild of former mayor Antonio Marín. The first festival honoured British director Ken Loach but the town hall says none of the prize monies have yet been paid. Oliver Stone and Julian Assange were due to take part this year.

TWO BLAZES

A fire broke out on Montemayor in Benahavís on Saturday covering 30 hectares and because of the strong winds took six hours to bring under control. The presence of irrigation lakes in the area made the fire fighters task easier. On the same day another blaze in Cortes de la Frontera was quickly contained as fire crews have been assigned to the area.

BABY CARE

The Serranía de Ronda health authority has carried out improvements in the premature birth unit at the hospital covering the region. The Ronda hospital has seen a 15,000 euros investment which has been spent linking the specialist feeding unit with that housing the incubators. It guarantees a more intimate and comfortable space for the babies, mothers and families and also ensures greater security.

RONDA GOURMETS

The Gourmet Food and Wine fair was held in Paris at the end of September. Two Rondeños took part on the stand of Casa Pedro Ojeda, a local company dedicated to fine foods. One was Alberto Corbacho who is one of Spain’s master jámon Serrano cutters. Antonio Ojeda presented a wide range of high quality wines and foods from the Serranía de Ronda.

MARIN’S WIFE

The resignation of four PSOE councillors from Ronda’s council because of corruption charges has left the party in chaos. Four on the PSOE list will now move up but one of those is the wife of the former mayor Antonio Marín, Josefa Valle. It is yet to be determined whether she will take the post as her husband is one of the accused.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

2011-09-29T18:12:00.000+02:00

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 22 SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-09-22T15:37:00.000+02:00

WORLD HERITAGE BID UNDERWAY

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Ronda’s application for UNESCO World Heritage status will get underway shortly. The architect José Seguí, who is developing the local development plan for Ronda (PGOU), will be in charge of drawing up the documentation to be presented to the UN organisation.

Last week the regional government’s minister of culture, Paulino Plata, visited Ronda and indicated that the starting of the process was “imminent”. Indeed the Andalucía authority and Ronda town hall had already begun the task of planning the documentation.

Ronda will be making an application along with Antequera. In Ronda the Plataforma Pro Ronda Patrimonio Mundial is representing the various local associations and political parties supporting the project. The ministry of culture has offered to pay the costs of both towns making their applications which are estimated at least 90,000 euros each.

The Partido Popular, which now governs Ronda in coalition with the Partido Andalucista, had presented a motion to the Andalucía parliament in support of the World Heritage recognition. It was passed unanimously.

In its submission to UNESCO Ronda will present the Roman ruins at Acinipo, the world famous bridge over the Tajo, the Arab bathes which are the best preserved in Europe, its churches and palaces plus the oldest bullring in Spain. In addition it will highlight the rich and stunningly beautiful natural environment of the three nearby national parks, the Genal Valley plus the 21 villages to be found in the Serranía.

Plata called for the people of Ronda to get behind the application. Once the documentation has been drawn up it will be open for public inspection and people can then register their support. The granting of World Heritage status will bring employment and wealth creating opportunities to Ronda and the surrounding area.

MORE AID

The number of families that need basic foodstuffs and supplies to survive in Ronda has increased by 40 per cent since the new PP –PA coalition came to power in May. The councillor for social welfare, Antonio Arenas, said there were now 160 families receiving this aid whereas in May the figure was 60. The continuing economic crisis had led to the increase.

CHESTNUT ACCOLADE

Chestnuts form the main source of income for many families in the Serranía de Ronda; four million kilos are expected to be gathered. Expectations are the harvest will be the same as last year but the quality is exceptional. Valle del Genal has suggested a denomination of origin is sought to distinguish the high quality of its chestnuts from others on the market.

ASSET STRIPPING

The controversial decision by Ronda’s PP – PA administration to sell municipal assets to raise cash is underway. Last week the provincial bulletin (BOP) carried the conditions for the sale of the Cortijo San Juan 18 kms from the town centre. Also up for grabs is the building housing the wholesale market although the town hall says another will be built to replace it.

TIMELY ARREST

Ronda’s National Police arrested a 38-year-old local man accused of stealing a watch and wallet. His victim reported to police that at 23.20 on September 4 he was robbed at knifepoint in the calle Zahara de la Sierra. Officers took a couple of days to identify the culprit who is said to have 21 previous convictions, 10 of them for robbery with violence.

LEGION ANNIVERSARY

The Spanish Legion celebrated its 91 st anniversary on September 20. To commemorate the event the Tercio Alejandro Farnesio 4 de La Legión based in Ronda held a parade last Thursday followed by a concert. In addition an exhibition was held at the Unicaja gallery displaying material from missions in the Congo, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan amongst others since its inception in 1920.

FERIA FIGHT

Ronda’s councillor in charge of security, Fernando Corrales, has been giving the facts about police action during the period of the Pedro Romero feria. The worst incident was at 06.00 on the final Sunday when a fight at the fair ground led to the arrest of ten people with one person receiving a serious knife wound. There were 16 arrests for drunk driving.

IBI ANGER

Fury in the Serranía de Ronda village of Igualeja where a revision of the land values by the Ministry of the Economy means a 700 per cent rise in the IBI tax in stages up to 2017. The council is made up of five PP and two PSOE councillors and they were united in passing a motion demanding the IBI rise be reviewed.

NO ADMITTANCE

Around 56 per cent of the operations carried out at Ronda’s regional hospital in the first six months of this year did not require the patient to be admitted to the medical centre. It is thanks to a scheme Cirugía Mayor Ambulatoria which saw 1,198 minor operations performed on out patients which in turn provided a more rapid recovery rate at their homes.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-09-15T19:49:00.000+02:00

RONDA WANTS TO BUY THE CORNISAS

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The land of the Cornisas del Tajo make up one of the most embolic sights in Ronda yet they are under constant threat from developers. One such project that has had to be approved after court rulings are for 16 hectares known as Casa Rúa where a luxury hotel and 22 houses are scheduled to be built.

This case involving the Sánchez Robles family goes back to 1980 and after modifications were made a revised construction plan was approved as it had been backed by the courts on the basis of the local development plan (PGOU) that was in force at that time.

However the scheme has met with stiff opposition from ecologists who are angry at the negative visual impact it will have on one of the most famous scenic areas in Ronda. The Partido Popular –Partido Andalucista administration agrees and is now hoping to purchase the lands from the Sánchez Robles family.

The development project for the Cornisas was always opposed by Izquierda Unida and Silvema – Ecologistas en Acción and support has now also come from the Plataforma en Defensa del Tajo. They all argue the construction of the hotel and houses will have a major negative impact on a rich natural zone much of which is meant to be protected.

This has led the Ronda administration to open negotiations with the Sánchez Robles family to see what can be agreed. Mayor María Paz Fernández says purchase will be difficult because the town hall is deeply in debt. However it is hoped the Spanish or Andalucía governments may step in or indeed the EU to protect one of the most valued historic landscape scenes in Spain.

In past years the town hall had sought to purchase the lands to prevent the development going ahead and nine million euros had then been mentioned. Negotiations are now proceeding between the mayor’s team and the family which are said to be carried out on good terms with the preserving of Ronda’s natural beauty as the objective.

WON’T PAY
A shock for companies who’ve provided services for the former administration in Ronda and are waiting for their bills to be settled. Many have received letters from the town hall saying they’re not paying the invoices which were not authorized by the PP. The companies have carried out the work or supplied the goods and are now taking the town hall to court.
BIKER DEATH
A 34-year-old motorcyclist was killed last Sunday on the A-397 San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda road. The tragedy happened at km 19.5 in Igualeja around 11.00. The Málaga 112 emergency centre reports the Guardia Civil and ambulance service attended the scene but could do nothing to saver the biker’s life. The road is the major black spot in the province for motorcyclists.
TOUT ARRESTS
Police arrested an employee of one of Ronda’s leading hotels for re-selling tickets for the Pedro Romero Corrida Goyesca on the black market. Three different guests at the hotel reported his activities to the police. When detained by officers he had 14 tickets he was trying to sell. The popular bullfight is sold out every year but it is illegal to re-sell tickets.
MAYOR ACCUSED
More controversy in Cortes de la Frontera where PA mayor Antonio Granero recently sacked his deputy and another councillor. Now Granero has been denounced before Málaga court by a PA supplementary candidate accusing him of cheating and fraud. Manuel Gallego says he has a signed letter in which the mayor promises him the post of delegate for security but he was never appointed.
PACT BROKEN
Málaga’s Izquierda Unida has broken the pact with the Partido Andalucista under which both governed Cortes de la Frontera. This follows the sacking of an IU councillor by the mayor after he accused his PA deputy of signing contracts in his name, one of which favoured his son. The IU councillor protested his innocence and the PA could face a no confidence motion.
DOCTOR’S DEATH
Recently the researcher and scientist Dr José Manuel Rodríguez Delgado died at the age of 96 in San Diego, Texas. The Ronda-born doctor moved to the USA accepting a scholarship at Yale in 1946. He dedicated his life to the study of the human brain and has an institute named after him. Ronda is now to honour him posthumously as a favoured son.
ON FOOT
Following on from its famous Pedro Romero feria Ronda has been celebrating another major tradition its annual cattle market held on the same fair ground. Around 500 mules, horses and donkeys were at the event which attracted 5,000 people from throughout Andalucía and Badajoz. This year 100 animals came from Pruna in Sevilla province accompanied by the local mayor all travelling on foot.
SEED EXCHANGE

Genalguacil in the Serranía de Ronda celebrated last weekend a special event in which plant seeds were exchanged between residents of the rural municipality. Under the banner ‘Enzemillate Canijo’ the objective is to preserve the traditions of the Serranía and the rural culture by swapping plant seeds plus holding a series of events including workshops, a craft market and activities for the children.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-09-08T14:54:00.000+02:00

SPAIN UNBLOCKS GADAFI’S SERRANIA ASSETS

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Last Thursday the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, announced that his government is putting at the disposal of Libya’s interim government, the National Transitional Council, 16 million euros for humanitarian aid and also 18 tonnes of medications.

Government sources said the 16 million euros was an advance on the Libyan States assets held in Spain which would be returned when the UN authorises it.

One of the prize assets that the Libyan dictator holds in Spain is an estate in Benahavís valued at around 45 million euros. One of Gadafi’s sons also has an account in Spain with half a million euros. In addition Aresbank is owned by Gadafi’s regime and has assets of 300 million euros including deposits owned by private individuals. The activities of the Spanish oil company Repsol in Libya remain blocked for the time being.

Back on March 2 the Spanish government blocked the town planning projects Gadafi has had in this country since 1969. There exists an estate of 7,200 hectares in Málaga province that is owned in the name of the Libyan Foreign Bank and Banco Exterior Libio but which are in effect State owned. The land covers five municipalities: Benahavís, Estepona, Igualeja, Júzcar and Pujerra.

The largest part is in Benahavís with 3,500 hectares where the Spanish representative of the Libyan bank requested planning permission in 2007 but has never followed up the development project. The plans were for a hotel, golf course and 1,915 homes spread over 1,915 hectares.

The initial request for planning permission was denied by Benahavís town hall as according to the 1993 local development plan part of the land is zoned for urban use but the proposals put forward would have amounted to over building on the area designated.

Since then the Libyan bank has authorised 60 kms of fencing to be placed around the entire estate of 7,200 hectares. The main entrance to La Resiner as the estate is known has two notices one saying it is private property and the other a hunting zone.

WOMAN RESCUED

At 8.45 on Friday a 29-year-old woman skidded in her Peugeot 206 60 metres at km 21 on the A-374 Ronda to Sevilla road. The vehicle went off the road and down a rocky slope towards a dry river bed. The Ronda fire brigade had to free her from the car then carry her to safety on a stretcher to receive medical attention.

MERINOS ROW

Merinos golf development currently on hold is controversial enough but now Ronda has been arguing over what to do with the latest 700,000 euros payment. The previous PSOE administration had allocated the funds to development projects, now the PP and PA governing team, backed by the IU, say it will be used to pay salaries and social security instead to the socialist’s ire.
HORROR CRASH

Three people were killed at 4.45 last Wednesday when their BMW crashed against roadside works with the impact splitting the vehicle in two with one woman being decapitated. The tragedy happened on the normally safe A-371 between Villamartín and Las Cabezas de San Juan. The man was from Las Cabezas and two women were Moroccan: one of the women was resident in Ronda.
DEPUTY FIRED
Cortes de la Frontera PA mayor Antonio Granero, has fired his PA deputy Antonio Guerrero Márquez plus an IU councillor Manuel Carasco Ríos. Granero says his deputy signed two contracts one favouring his son in the mayor’s name without authority. The councillor is accused of being implicated in the signing although he says he was assured it was authorised. Guardia Civil are investigating.
CHESTNUT DAYS

The Serranía de Ronda village of Júzcar depends in a large part for its financial viability on the annual chestnut harvest which provides many families with their incomes. On September 9 – 11 Júzcar’s holding a conference on the development of the chestnut industry in a biosphere reserve. Many national and international experts are taking part and full information is on the website http://www.castanardelgenal.com/

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-09-01T19:23:00.000+02:00

DAMAS GOYESCAS TO TREAD GRAPES

David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The Damas Goyescas who preside over Ronda’s annual Pedro Romero fair, which is currently underway, have a very special engagement on Friday. They will be visiting the Museo de Vino in the old town where they will press the grapes from the latest harvest in their bare feet.

The fifth edition of this colourful event takes place at 11.00 in the old bodega which now is the Centro de Interpretación del Vino. It is timely that Ronda’s annual feria coincides with the gathering of the grapes and their pressing by foot is a ceremony that been carried on for hundreds of years.

The wine pressing is a collaboration between Ronda town hall and the Bodegas la Sangre which is associated with the museum and produces a range of award winning wines. Indeed those who attend the pressing will not only see the glamorous court ladies in action but will also be invited to taste the Bodegas’ wines free of charge.

RONDA TO SELL OFF PRIZE ASSETS

When the Partido Popular and Partido Andalucista came to power in Ronda in a coalition after the May elections they declared the municipal coffers to be empty. Now to the fury of the socialist opposition they have announced the solution is to sell of Ronda’s assets to raise badly needed funds.

The first to go under the hammer seems likely to be the extensive Cortijo San Juan. The town hall believes this could raise around two million euros. The councillor responsible for finances, María del Carmen Martínez, said this would be the start of selling some of the properties of the town hall to generate funds.

The Cortijo San Juan is expected to go on the market very shortly under a public auction to see what offers are forthcoming. The prime site is on the Ronda to Sevilla road and overlooks the road leading off in the direction of Grazalema. Part of the land is given over to vines and it is reported it has been a problem for the town hall to maintain it.

It is ironic that a former councillor for the environment who is now the PA’s first deputy mayor in the coalition, Isabel Barriga, had been a strong defender of the estate in which the town hall had invested a large amount of money. Now she seemingly approves of the sale.

Currently the Cortijo San Juan is the only municipal property that has been named as being for sale. Without a doubt other town hall owned buildings are also being readied to be put on the market. The administration argues that the monies raised will be used to construct modern buildings better suited to their purpose and located in areas where they are needed.

In this category comes the present Mercado de Mayoristas. The councillor for agriculture wants to construct a new wholesale market at the entrance to the industrial estate and the cash from the sale of the existing premises would fund such a development.

Needless to say these proposals have met with the stiff opposition of the former PSOE administration which have labelled the proposals as a “barbarity”. It states that up to now the town hall has always purchased assets and never sold them in this manner.

The socialists have called upon the ruling coalition and the PP mayor Maripaz Fernández to seek subventions from other public administrations and investments in Ronda and not to buy their way out of the town’s financial problems by auctioning off the family silver – by selling the very future of Ronda.

NEW CHIEF

Ronda has a new chief of local police. He is Manuel Castillo and he took office in front of a large number of councillors. New PP mayor Maripaz Fernández dismissed the previous chief soon after taking office. Castillo previously was a sub-inspector with the National Police. He takes charge of 70 officers; his first task with be security during this week’s annual fair.

BIG LEAP

Hotels in Ronda have experienced the biggest leap in five years in the number of nights spent in hotels in the town of the Tajo in July. According to the tourist office the increase is 63 per cent more than in the same month last year. The total of room nights was 2,414 but does not include camp sites, rural tourism or apartments.

TAJO MILL

Residents of Ronda’s Molino del Tajo are pleased with the state of the works to improve the local infrastructure. The rural road has been cemented, a collapsed wall by the river has been repaired and the area below the bridge over the river has been cleared. Mayor Maripaz Fernández says it is a promise kept and works will be completed in mid September.

RADIO CLEANSING

The Partido Popular administration in Ronda has been angrily accused of political cleansing of Radio Ronda and the municipal communications unit SOMUCSA. Six members of staff have been made redundant and the company has been contracted to PP supporting hotelier Carlos Ruiz without it being offered out to tender. PP says it has taken the action because the financial situation was simply unsustainable.

NO BIKING

The plan to get residents and visitors to Ronda to take to bikes was launched last year as a town hall and regional government initiative. Now it has been stopped as the sports department says it does not have the money to service the bikes which are parked at key points. Users of the service have been told to collect their deposits back.

POPULAR RONDA

The first deputy mayor and councillor for tourism in Ronda, Isabel María Barriga, has revealed the number of visitors using the local tourist office. In the first seven months of this year there has been a 32.46 per cent increase on 2010. In April, which included the Easter holiday, 35,448 people used its facilities, the highest number since it opened 11 years ago.

BETTER CONNECTED

The mobile telephone company Movistar has announced it is strengthening the wide band service for its users in all the municipalities throughout Andalucía. This will also apply to rural areas such as the Serranía de Ronda which are particularly dependent on mobile links. The local director, José González, said it was doubling its capacity to handle both voice as well as data transmissions.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2011

2011-08-25T14:47:00.000+02:00

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 18 AUGUST 2011

2011-08-18T19:50:00.000+02:00

STILL NO ARENAL 2000 ACTION

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The organisation secretary of PSOE in Ronda has visited the Arenal 2000 and nearby Planilla urbanisations which have still not had repairs made, various infrastructure brought up to scratch or the green zones completed.

At the last session of the PSOE administration on May 6 an order was passed taking in to the town halls control the common areas of the urbanisations. Also under PSOE there were some improvements to traffic flow and the sporting facilities.

Now a Partido Popular – Partido Andalucista town hall is in power and PSOE says that over the past four months nothing has been done to improve the problems on the urbanisation. Of course the new administration insists Ronda is broke so no actions are being sanctioned.

In the specific case of the Arenal 2000 urbanisation the property company was meant to make good the faults in the homes, the street lighting and gardens. The threat was that if the company did not carry out the work it would forfeit the 3 million euros it had deposited with the town hall which would then fund it.

A meeting was held between the Partido Popular mayor, María Paz Fernández and Arenal 2000 in July when the company was given 15 days to start work. The 15 days has passed and nothing has happened and PSOE is now calling on the PP to start the process to seize the funds.

SEPRONA RESCUE INJURED VULTURE

Officers of Seprona, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil and two firemen from Ronda have rescued a Leonardo vulture found injured in Cortes de la Frontera. Another vulture at the spot had already died.

The Seprona patrol based in Ronda was recently alerted one afternoon that there were two injured Leonardo vultures in a zone known as Cañón de las Buitreras in Cortes de la Frontera.

The Seprona officers called on help from the Ronda fire brigade to assist them in rescuing the birds which are a protected species. Due to the difficult terrain it was necessary to use specialist equipment that was set up in the Guardiaro river so the vultures could be reached. Sadly one of them had already died.

As night fell the surviving vulture was recovered and sent to the Centro de Recuperación de Especies Amenazadas (CREA) that is run by the Andalucía government. Once it has recovered it will be released back in to the wild.

LOWEST DEBT

Government figures show Ronda owes the banks 13.4 million euros and suppliers 10.7 million euros a total of 24.18 million euros. However that is far lower than Torremolinos (70.4), Marbella (72.5), Estepona (73.2), Fuengirola (76.9) and Benalmádena 174,6 million euros. Ronda town hall says coffers are empty placing debt at 29.5 million euros when social security, the regional government and others are added.

TOURISM KEY

Ronda’s deputy mayor and delegate for tourism Isabel María Barriga says tourism is the key to dragging the town of the Tajo out of the economic crisis. The tourism office is being reorganised and a number of promotions are being organised. One sign of progress is the tourism website received 23 per cent more visits in July than the same month last year.

RED PERIL

The ‘picudo rojo’, the beetle destroying palm trees along the Med coast, has made its way in land to Ronda. The town hall has put into operation a plan to prevent the beetle taking hold and private property owners are being asked to be on the lookout and contact the environment department on 952 873 240 or email: mambiente@ronda.es if they are concerned.

ON TELLY

Ronda is the latest location to be featured in the Canal Sur TV programme ‘Andalucía a hierro’ that will be broadcast in coming weeks. Filming has taken place throughout the region and Canary Islands. In each episode six couple take part and have to undertaken tests which aim to promote the natural resources and culture of rural areas to show their outstanding beauty.

NATURAL MONUMENT

The regional government has given the green light to the Málaga provincial delegate to declare the Tajo de Ronda and its cornices as part of the natural monuments of Andalucía. The Tajo defence action group has for some months being carrying out a campaign to have this unique corner of the province recognised and once given this status it will enjoy added protection.

FIRE INVESTMENT

The Málaga fire consortium has invested 20,000 euros in upgrading the facilities at the fire station in Algatocín. These included better working and leisure accommodation for fire teams plus administration and training facilities. Algatocín along with Ronda, Benahavís and Manilva covers 27 municipalities in the Serranía de Ronda and western Costa del Sol with its 82,828 residents all spread over 1.831 square kilometres.

MILK AID

Over 22,000 litres of milk has been delivered to Ronda from the Bancosol food bank that serves the Costa del Sol and inland areas. Ronda’s councillor for social welfare, Antonio Arenas, said the milk would be distributed to needy families in the town and surrounding municipalities. Another 20,000 kilos of food stuffs have also been delivered over the summer from the food bank.

MARÍN FINED

The controversial former mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, has been fined 600 euros by the election board for publishing in a municipal magazine the programme Ronda 2015. The board ruled that Marín had violated electoral law by allowing a campaign for PSOE to be included in a town hall publication. Marín has appealed insisting the supplement appeared before the election campaign had started.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2011

2011-08-11T21:47:00.000+02:00

NINETEEN YEARS FOR RONDA MURDER

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The young gypsy who was found guilty of shooting to death José Muñoz Soto, the senior brother of the Gitanos confraternity in Ronda, has been handed down a 19-year jail term.

Eighteen of the years are for the murder itself with a further year for the possession of the murder weapon for which he had no licence. He also has to pay to the family of his victim over 172,000 euros in compensation.

It was at around 14.00 on September 8 2009 that José Muñoz Soto parked his Land Rover car on the perimeter road of the Spanish Legion barracks in La Indiana, Ronda. In the vehicle with him was his assassin who had just reached 18 years of age. It is believed they had an argument over a business deal probably involving horses when the youth pulled out a Glock automatic pistol and shot him three times at point blank range.

Death came almost immediately. José Muñoz Soto only had time to open his car door, take two steps then collapse dead. At 14.20 his killer was at the Hotel Don Benito nearby and summoned a taxi to take him along the Sevilla road to Algodonales. At 15.10 he was detained by the local police in Algodonales and handed over to the National Police homicide unit.

The shots were clearly heard in the Legion’s barracks and Legionnaires on duty witnessed the slaying. He was unanimously convicted of murder by a jury which also took the view he suffered from no mental illness or had a limited capacity or intelligence.

José Muñoz Soto leaves a widow and three children. He ran a furniture business in Ronda and only the year before had been elected as the senior brother of the Gitanos confraternity, one of its most popular and respected in the town. Such was the dismay in the confraternity that in the following Semana Santa the guild did not partake in the traditional parade on Palm Sunday.

RONDA RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

The Guardia Civil have arrested two people, a Ronda man and the owner of a zoo in Cádiz province, in operation Mollo. They are charged with various offences of trafficking in protected species of animals, fraud and issuing false documentation.

It is believed that in recent years the pair had trafficked in over one hundred species including primates, marsupials and exotic birds. Officers from Seprona, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil, started the investigation in July when they were alerted that a resident of Badajoz was keeping a Capuchin monkey in his home that he had bought over the internet.

It emerged the seller was a man living in Ronda who had offered the animal on the internet with documentation that was not valid for the ownership of the monkey by individuals. Later the officers arrested the owner of the zoo who is suspected of supplying the animals and documentation to the Ronda man so he could offer them for sale over the internet.

None of the documentation sold with the animals that originated from the zoo had any validity and hence the buyers had suffered a fraud. The animals had been bred in the Cádiz zoo and the documentation related to them being kept there or sold to other zoos and not individuals. Private ownership was prohibited for sanitary reasons and indeed the animals could endanger the public health. Primates cannot be owned by individuals only research centres and authorised zoos.

TAJO WALKER RESCUED

The Málaga fire consortium based in Ronda rescued a man on Monday from the Tajo gorge. The 67-year-old from Badajoz had suffered a fall whilst out walking.

The fire brigade received an emergency call at 12.50. Two teams were sent to the Arco del Cristo zone where the man had fallen and in the process broken an ankle bone.

The rescuers prepared an evacuation stretcher to take him from the rough terrain of the gorge. With the help of the National and local police he was carried to a safe spot where he could be attended to by a medical team.

WORDS WAR

The Partido Popular mayor of Ronda, María Paz Fernández, has sent a personal letter to all residents of the town explaining the economic situation and how the PP-PA coalition has inherited a 29.5 million euros debt from the outgoing PSOE council. An angry PSOE says it will send out its own letter pointing out this debt was largely inherited from previous PP administrations.
CHOPPERS GALORE
Infoca, the specialist summer fire prevention team, base in Ronda has been visited by the regional government’s environment minister Juan José Díaz Trillo. Nearly 900,000 euros has been spent on upgrading the facilities creating a purpose built heliport which has a capacity to handle 10 fire watch and fighting choppers covering the Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Bermeja, Los Alcornocales and Genal valley.
SEWAGE WORKS
The Andalucía water agency has started a million euro project to repair the collector that serves the new water treatment plant in Ronda. The problem has largely been caused by the heavy rains of recent winters which have flooded the area at La Muela and displaced the pipeline. The land is being reinforced to prevent future slippages and the dangerous, collapsed road repaired.

SAFE SPRAYING
The campaign to spray the olive groves in the Serranía de Ronda starts anew. Ecologists, bird protection groups, the environment and agriculture ministries have all negotiated an agreement ensuring an environmental spray will be used that cannot damage the flora and fauna. The aircraft will be guided where to fly by GPS systems and no fumigating will be carried out in residential areas.
PARK KEEPERS
Britons of a certain age will remember the park keepers that patrolled and kept order in the local green zones. Now three vigilantes have been appointed by Ronda to ensure the local parks and gardens are used correctly. Notices have been erected banning dogs from fouling the parks and listing other prohibitions. The service runs till September but will be extended if successful.

EIGHT ROBBERIES

Guardia Civil in Cortes de la Frontera have arrested a local resident who allegedly carried out eight break-ins in both the village and nearby Benaoján. Officers started an investigation after numerous reports of the thefts which all had the same modus operandi. The 46-year-old is said to have been active at exactly the same times and days of the week at each location.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY AUGUST 4, 2011

2011-08-04T17:43:00.001+02:00

INDICATIONS OF CRIMINALITY

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The former mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, and his ex councillor of public works, José Herrera, will be called again before the local court to answer charges they broke the town planning laws by giving permission for a building to be constructed in the Hoya del Tajo.

The court is now at the stage of oral hearings ahead of a full trial being ordered if the judge finds “indications of criminality” as has been suggested in judicial reports.

The added spice in the case is that the former Partido Andalucista mayor Antonio Marín (now the spokesperson for PSOE on the council) was in coalition at the time with the Partido Popular and José Herrera is of the PP. PSOE were ousted at the last election and now Ronda is governed by a PP-PA coalition so revenge is on the cards.

The case dates back to 2006 when Ecoligistas en Acción discovered an agricultural building had been constructed illegally in the Hoya del Tajo, an area that enjoys environmental protection. The environmentalists notified the Policía Autonómica who carried out an investigation and sent a report to the prosecutor who brought court proceedings.

When Marín was called to give evidence he insisted he had no responsibility for the building as the matter was in the hands of his councillor for public works José Herrera who had insisted it was legal.

Of course it clearly isn’t and both Marín and Herrera will now face a full trial. Also in the dock will be the owner of the building but he insists that he only proceeded because he was assured it was legal and the town hall had issued the licences.

RONDA’S FOUR YEAR AUDIT

On taking control of Ronda town hall the Partido Popular – Partido Andalucista coalition announced that the municipality was bankrupt. It has ordered an external audit to determine where the money has gone. The investigation will be solely on the previous four years when Antonio Marín was mayor.

First he governed with his Partido Andalucista councillors in a coalition with the PP then when he broke that pact, he and all his PA councillors quit the party and become non-aligned whilst forming a coalition with PSOE. Both Marín and his former PA councillors then became members of the socialist party and he was their candidate for mayor in May.

At a council meeting held last Thursday night whilst approving the audit the proposal put forward by Marín for its to cover the past three legislatures was roundly rejected. Both the PP and PA had included in their election manifestos a promise of an audit and they insist that pledge is now being honoured.

Both the mayor Maripaz Fernández (PP) and her deputy Isabel Barriga (PA) have spoken of the town hall’s finances being in ruin. In addition they have accused Marín and the socialists of “ill fated economic management” over a three year period and have referred the accounts to the State auditing body.

MUSICAL HOME

A recent session of Ronda council decided that when the Giner de los Rios College is returned to the town hall’s ownership it will be used as the future home of the Municipal Music School. Councillors were very keen the building should be reserved for educational uses and it will also be home to the municipal band. The move was opposed by PSOE.

EROSKI GO

Málaga’s commission for town planning which falls under the Andalucía ministry of public works - housing has given its approval for the lands of Ronda’s old fair ground to be given over to commercial use. The site is adjacent to the former football ground which means that all the land required for the Eroski commercial centre has now been freed by the regional government.

FUNDING LOST

PIAGRO, which represents the agriculture sector in the Ronda area has issued a statement condemning the poor management of the previous council led by Antonio Marín. The Andalucía ministry of agriculture had offered a subvention of 250,000 euros to repair rural roads severely damaged by the heavy rains. However the cash has been lost because of numerous errors in the town hall’s application.

ECO WINE

The Andalucía government is very keen to boost the production of ecological wines. The Málaga delegate for this sector, Mónica Bermúdez, has allocated 380,000 euros for Thalassa Taller de Vino in Ronda as its contribution to the 1.4 million euro project to establish an ecological bodega at the finca Corchero. Thalassa is made up of local, Spanish and overseas businesses committed to eco-wines.

NEW ACCESS

The regional government projects to create two new access points in to Ronda may be frozen till next year because of lack of funds but work is underway to create a new southern roundabout to serve the San Rafael –San Jorge quarters. It is due to be completed in six months and is being funded by the town hall with an ICO loan.

SUPPORT PLEDGE

The Andalucía minister of culture, Paulino Plata, has written to the mayors of Ronda and Antequera to reiterate his ministry’s support for the candidacy of both towns for UNESCO World Hertitage status. Ronda is basing its candidacy on its natural beauty, the famous Tajo gorge and its bridges. However Ronda has ruled out a joint application with Antequera and will go it alone.

ROBBED CUEVAS

The mayor and councillors of Cuevas del Becerro have threatened to lock themselves in the town hall unless the 380,000 euros taken by the former municipal secretary – accountant is repaid. The theft was denounced in 2009 and in May 2010 the former employee was ordered by the court to pay 400,000 euros. This has not been done nor have his assets been embargoed.

POSTER ROW

Atajate is furious with the nearby village of Montejaque. Atajate held a competition for its fair poster using Tuenti and Facebook with the Sevilla artist Raúl Castellano beating 29 entrants. However the poster for Montejaque’s fair is virtually identical with just the names changes. In its defence Montejaque says its poster was a year in the making and used images from the internet.

SAGE ADVICE

An interesting initiative in Ronda where past mayors since democracy was declared in Spain have been formed in to a council of wise men. Last week the PP mayor Maripaz Fernández met with Juan Harrillo, Juan Fraile, Juan Benítez and José Herrera for the first of these encounters. The idea is they meet quarterly to give advice and suggestions to the current administration.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JULY 28, 2011

2011-07-28T14:25:00.000+02:00

GUILTY OF MURDER

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

A jury has found a gypsy youth guilty of the murder of José Muñoz Soto in a shooting by the Spanish Legion barracks in Ronda on September 8 2009.

Soto was a respected businessman in the town and also the senior brother of the Gitanos brotherhood that carried one of the thrones during Ronda’s Semana Santa parades.

The nine-member jury were unanimous in their guilty verdict after a week long trial. The prosecution alleged the youth, who was 18-years-old at the time, was sitting in the passenger seat of Soto’s car parked by the barracks when the murder took place. It was claimed he drew out a Glock semi-automatic pistol and fired in to his victim’s side killing him instantly.

For his part the assailant would not admit he was in the car when the murder took place and denied there were any differences between them. However he did arrive at the nearby Hotel Don Benito shortly after the shooting then took a taxi to Algodonales but it was intercepted by police.

The court has yet to hand down a jail term. Both the prosecutor and the lawyer acting for the Soto family are seeking 18 years for the murder and two years for the illegal possession of the weapon. Now the guilty verdict has been returned the defence is pleading for 15 years. There are also demands for indemnity payments to his widow and children.

The youth is a member of a well-known Gypsy family in Almeria that has a string of previous convictions. It is thought the argument may have been over a debt involving horses. Soto had a furniture business in Ronda and was highly regarded in the community.

He had been elected as the senior brother of Los Gitanos at the beginning of 2008. The famous fraternity traditionally takes its throne out on Palm Sunday. Such was the impact of the shooting on the members that they withdrew from the 2010 procession. There was widespread mourning in Ronda after his death and a huge turn-out at the funeral including representatives of all the fraternities in the town.

SMURF WEEKENDS IN JÚZCAR

The small Serranía de Ronda village of Júzcar has been propelled to international stardom after it was painted blue and presented to the world as the village of the Smurfs.

It is all part of Sony Pictures promotion of its film The Smurfs in 3D – the Smurfs are Los Pitufos in Spanish – which saw Júzcar chosen as the typical Smurfs’ home.

This has led to Smurf weekends being held over the summer at Júzcar. The “Aventura Pitufa” has seen dozens of children take part as they travel to the village from all over Andalucía.

The adventure has been organised by a local company and is open to all children aged over two years. They follow a route around the village looking for the Smurfs’ mushrooms, treasure, take part nature orientation, in the search for water and spiders and they meet personalities and encounter magic.

The adventures start on Saturdays at 11.00 and 20.00 and at 21.00 on Sundays. Mayor David Fernández said the aim was to maintain the expectations of the young visitors to when they arrived in the Smurfs’ blue village there were related activities for them to do. Adults haven’t been forgotten because in addition to the adventure there is a craft market.

YOUR DEBT

The new Partido Popular – Partido Andalucista administration says Ronda town hall is bust and has ordered an audit to ascertain where the money has gone. The PSOE opposition led by former mayor Antonio Marín has demanded the audit goes back to 1999. The socialists insist the debt is historic, was run up by previous PP administrations and should be compared with compatible municipalities.

HALF FAIR

With the economic crisis and a new cost cutting administration Ronda’s famous Feria de Pedro Romero is having its budget cut by 50 per cent. It runs from August 30 to September 4; includes the Goyesca bullfights, international folk festival, parades plus day and night fairs. The town hall hopes much of the cash shortfall will be made up by clubs and businesses.

PROTECT TAJO

Recently Ronda council voted to allow the building of a five-star luxury hotel and 22 homes in the protected Cornisas del Tajo after a lengthy legal battle with the family that own the site since 1980. Now it’s back to court as Ecologistas en Acción, backed by IU, want the scheme halted saying residents shouldn’t be penalized because past administrations have made mistakes.

UNESCO BOOST

Ronda’s PP mayor and her PA deputy have met with the Plataforma Pro Ronda Patrimonio Mundial which is promoting the bid to have the town of the Tajo recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. They voiced their backing for the project being launched by the regional government and have promised to allocate a heritage expert, David Becerra, to the action group.

WINE TRAINING

The wine industry in the Serranía de Ronda is growing fast hence the need to train young people to handle the vines and to work in the bodegas. Ronda town hall has signed an accord with Lecharry which will see nine students given work experience at the company’s Cortijo de San Juan and its wine making centre – they will receive certificates on completion.

VIVA COLMENAR

Residents of El Colmenar – Estación de Gaucín live in the municipality of Cortes de la Frontera. The zone is now demanding to be an ELA giving it local autonomy, then take the next step and become an independent municipality. The administration in Cortes is a PA - IU coalition and residents of El Colmenar believe they will back and promote their separation interests.

DIGITAL JIMERA

Málaga province through its technology development department has installed its MOAD digital town hall system in Jimera de Líbar. MOAD allows local residents to carry out a lot of business with the town hall on-line so saving the need to visit the offices. With a digital certificate or electronic DNI residents can access on a 24-hour basis all the municipal services and departments.

GENAL DESTRUCTION

The Genal Valley working group reported the Andalucía ministry of the environment to the environment prosecutor and the EU over the cleaning of the river in the Puente de Gaucín area. It claims the flora and fauna have been destroyed by heavy excavation machinery moving earth. The Genal river has LIC status making it a place of environmental importance giving it European protection.

EAST WEST

On July 30 at 21.30 in Ronda’s bullring the internationally celebrated conductor and musician Daniel Barenboim brings his West Eastern Divan Orchestra to perform. The orchestra brings together young people from Israel and various Arab states to prove they can be united through music. They will play Beethoven’s 4 th and 7 th symphonies then play Mozart with the Al Andalus orchestra.

SHEIK ACADEMIES

Sheik Adbullah Al-Thani has taken Málaga football club by storm investing in numerous big name players ahead of the new season. However he is also supporting the game at the grass roots level with the opening of five academies. There is much excitement in Ronda at the establishment of one of the academies there as well as in Marbella, Benalmádena/Mijas, Vélez-Málaga and Antequera.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JULY 21, 2011

2011-07-21T18:37:00.000+02:00

HOUSES AND LUXURY HOTEL FOR PROTECTED TAJO

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

A major surprise at one of the first meetings of Ronda’s new council when a project to build 22 homes and a luxury hotel was approved for the Cornisas del Tajo.

The owners of the land are the Sánchez Robles family. They first presented a project to the town hall in 1980 when the local development plan (PGOU) of that time permitted urban use of the land.

However since then the PGOU has been changed to protect the lands and visual impact of the Tajo gorge. The project known as the Cornisas del Tajo has never been dropped by the family although subsequent administrations have refused to discuss it – a stance they received support for from the Andalucía government.

In 1988 after another rejection by the full council the Sánchez Robles family decided to take the case to court. In 2006 the High Court handed down a decision allowing them to build on 16 hectares of the land.

The plans had been for 121 homes plus a small hotel but now an out-of-court agreement has been reached between the town hall and family. They will now be allowed to build 22 homes plus a five-star luxury hotel with 80 rooms, all of which is to have less negative visual impact.

The measure was passed by the PP and PA administration backed by the PSOE opposition. The IU is still against the project arguing there should be no construction in the Tajo gorge. However the party accepted that the new plan would be less invasive than the original proposal.

TWENTY YEARS JAIL SOUGHT FOR RONDA MURDER

The Málaga prosecutor is seeking a 20-year jail term for the 18-year-old who is alleged to have shot the driver of the vehicle he was a passenger in. The victim is well known in Ronda as a local businessman and he was also the senior brother of the “Gitanos” confraternity which carried one of the thrones in the Semana Santa processions. After his murder the brotherhood did not take part in the following year’s events. The accused is part of a gypsy family with numerous previous convictions.

The slaying took place at 14.20 on September 8, 2009, on the perimeter road of the Spanish Legion barracks just outside Ronda. The events were witnessed by Legionnaires and the security cameras. The prosecutor alleges the victim’s Land Rover was parked by the barracks and the two were talking. Then seemingly without warning the youth drew a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired three times into the driver’s right side. As the victim had no time to defend himself the prosecutor concludes the shots were fired with intent to kill. The weapon requires a licence which the accused does not possess.

The severe nature of the wounds meant the victim died immediately. There are said to be eight devastating injuries within the body including to the heart.

The youth fled the scene and walked the short distance to the Hotel Benito on the Ronda to Sevilla road. From there he phoned for a taxi which was later intercepted further along the same road near Villamartín.

The Ronda businessman leaves a wife and three children, one of whom is a minor. In addition to the jail term the prosecutor is seeking 104,000 euros in compensation for his wife, 43,000 euros for the youngest child plus 8,736 each for the older two.

ROAD HALT

The regional government has been constructing three new major junctions in Ronda. Whilst the flyovers on the Sevilla road at La Dehesa were completed earlier this year the works on the San Pedro road and the current hospital have been at a standstill for months. The Andalucía authority says it has run out of cash and work won’t start again before next year.

TWELVE ROBBERIES

Farmers in outlying districts of Ronda have reported a wave of robberies on their lands and country houses over the past fortnight. In all 12 break-ins have taken place with the main targets for the thieves being tools, small agricultural equipment plus antique utensils. At each location items stolen were valued at over 1,000 euros and the booty is being sold at markets.

MAKING GOOD

Arenal 2000 that constructed an urbanisation in Ronda that has been beset with problems has finally agreed to rectify the defects. The works are estimated as costing 700,000 euros. The main problems revolve around the green zones, lighting and sanitation. The town hall holds a deposit from the company and says it will use this to fund the works unless Arenal 2000 acts.

MARIHUANA TRADING

Guardia Civil in Arriate arrested a 49 year-old man who is alleged to have supplied a 21 year-old in Cañete la Real with marihuana that he’d grown. Officers became suspicious when in June they found an industrial unit close to the river with a giant generator that operated on a 24-hour basis. When they raided the premises they discovered a sophisticated marihuana factory.

TAJO BLAZE

Ronda fire brigade tackled a major blaze in the Cornisas del Tajo on Saturday last. There are a number of houses in the area; there was also a fear the flames could spread to the urban zones. It was a difficult location to reach; a helicopter was brought in from the nearby forest defence centre to dump large amounts of water on the flames.

BY-PASS DELAYED

Arriate’s Eastern by-pass has been on hold for over a year with no sign of being restarted. The 5.3 million euros road was one of the first victims of the economic crisis. The by-pass should take 4,000 vehicles a day away from Arriate especially lorries that have to navigate its narrow streets. Started in April 2009 it was to be completed last October.

KNICKER PROTEST

The 68 pre-retirement workers from the Bonpunt textile factory in Ronda, famous for making knickers, were laid off in 2007 under an ERE agreement. They are now pensioners and their spokesperson Isabel Guerrero insists they have not received any payments for seven months. They all travelled to Sevilla in June to protest over their plight and have now returned to stage another demonstration.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JULY 14, 2011

2011-07-14T12:13:00.000+02:00

LOS MERINOS PAYS ANOTHER 700,000 EUROS

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The company Copisa that is behind the controversial plans to build a golf and luxury residential – hotel development at Los Merinos in Ronda have paid a further 700,000 euros to the town hall.

The payments have been made under the terms of the agreement with the town hall for the development accord. The only change is that on this occasion it was the Partido Popular mayor Maripaz Fernández accepting the cheque instead of her Partido Andalucista –socialist predecessor Antonio Marín.

This brings the total paid by Copisa to over 12.2 million euros. However Fernández noted the payment of 700,000 euros is less than the usual 866,000 euros as it does not include IVA which is subject to an appeal by Copisa.

The total agreement is for around 15 million euros and the monies have been spent on various projects in the town. The mayor said she was going to follow to the letter of the law the legality of these payments and the use to which the money would be put.

Although the payments have kept coming the project to build the golf complex with its two courses, 800 luxury urbanisation and three hotels was halted in April 2008 because of the crisis in the construction industry.

Merinos Norte is within the boundaries of Ronda but lies adjacent to Cuevas del Becerro. There have been numerous protests by its residents, ecologists and the agriculture sector as the golf development does not have its own water resources and it is feared it will drain the aquifers on which the community has relied on for generations.

The project has also been the subject of numerous court actions many involving the actions of the previous mayor Antonio Marín. Before work can be restarted Copisa will have to demonstrate how it intends to guarantee the water supply to the development.

GAUCÍN GUARDIA CIVIL ARRESTED IN CHILD PORN CASE

At the end of last week a Guardia Civil officer stationed at Gaucín was one of six people arrested in various locations in Spain on child pornography charges.

Specialist officers from the National Police discovered the downloading of paedophile images of children from a video camera which were then offered over the internet on a “peer to peer” basis through the next work. One of these links was found to be to a computer in the Serranía de Ronda which belonged to the Guardia Civil.

Officers from the technology crime unit backed up by another from the Guardia Civil detained their fellow officer and raided his home confiscating various items including his computer. He later appeared before the duty judge at Ronda’s court.

The raid in Gaucín was timed to coincide with the other five in Spain and investigators have not ruled out further arrests in the coming weeks. The case is being run by a judge in Badajoz in conjunction with the town’s National Police and the technology crime specialists. The arrest of the Gaucín based officer is said to have been met with great shock in the village.

ARRESTED FOR RAPING NEIGHBOUR

The National Police in Ronda have arrested a 45-year-old man accused of sexual aggression against a minor of 16 years who was his neighbour.

The police HQ issued a statement to say the alleged sexual attack took place on Saturday with the victim requiring treatment at the local hospital.

According to the victim she had been lured to the neighbour’s home by various excuses and once inside the sexual attack took place. The girl fought back and fled the house rushing to her parents for help. It was they who took her to hospital and reported the attack.

Special units of the Judicial and forensic police have taken statements and items for analysis. The neighbour was tracked down, arrested and awaits a court hearing.

GOING PRIVATE

It’s an example followed by other municipalities governed by the Partido Popular and now the new administration in Ronda is privatising the municipal cleaning company. It has already held discussions with the unions and the move has added urgency as Soliarsa needs 700,000 euros to survive the year. In the past Ronda has won awards for the high standard of its street cleaning.

EROSKI DEBATE

Ronda council will debate the future of the Eroski commercial centre in the town. It is due to be the largest in Andalucía and the company insists it will now start work next summer. New PP mayor Maripaz Fernández has accused the previous socialist administration of lying to residents over the development. The centre will cost 120 million euros covering 70,000 square metres.

JOBLESS UP

Summer is here and Ronda’s unemployment totals normally fall but they rose by 22 in June. The total last month was 4,354 up from 4,332 but it has to be noted over the year so far jobless totals have fallen by 326. Women still make up the majority of the unemployed yet the construction industry is the hardest hit along with the services.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Partido Popular is talking of increasing the size of administrations should it come to power but the PP is now in control in Ronda and intends to push through the process to allow Montecorto and Serrato to gain their independence. The two small tiny hamlets are over 20 kilometres from Ronda, have autonomous status and are due to becomes Málaga’s newest municipalities.

ROAD RE-OPENS

The A-367 that unites Ronda with Ardales and Málaga has been re-opened. The new section that runs from Teba to the Campillos to Ardales road had been recently closed whilst repairs were carried out on a section that had fallen away during the heavy winter rains. Traffic had to be controlled by traffic lights as the road was reduced to a single lane.

ROAD DEATH

The Operación Salida de Verano which started on July 1 and relates to the start of the heavy traffic movements over the holiday season has claimed a life in the second crash recorded by the traffic authorities in Málaga province. A 35-year-old was killed in a collision in Arriate road after two cars collided. He suffered serious leg injuries and had been hospitalised.

GOYESCA TIME

Ronda’s famous Pedro Romero fair is fast approaching and last week both the poster for the Goyesca bullfights and the Damas Goyescas – the 17 beautiful young ladies who preside over the celebrations in Goya-style dresses - were presented to the media. Celebrated matador Francisco Rivera who organises the three-days of bullfights starting on September 2 presented the poster by Sevilla artist Miki Leal.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JULY 7, 2011

2011-07-07T10:55:00.000+02:00

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 30, 2011

2011-06-30T18:40:00.000+02:00

SUMMER DEATH TOLL OF WILDLIFE ON SECONDARY ROADS

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Officers of Ronda’s Patrulla Verde have stated that every summer many wild animals perish on the tarmac of the Serranía’s secondary roads. The environmental patrols on one recent morning found the remains of a badger, jennet wild cat and a squirrel on the road that connects Ronda with Los Montes de Propios in Cortes de la Frontera.

Juan Gutiérrez, one of the officers who makes up the patrols, explained that the majority of the accidents happened at night. This is the time the wild animals are hunting or looking to drink in the mountain streams. He said the younger animals are less experienced when it comes to the hazards of the roads and tragically are run over.

The Patrulla Verde accepts that the majority of these accidents are impossible to prevent as the driver has no time to react. The death toll is at its highest amongst snakes, owls, badgers, jennets and foxes. Either they are killed outright or suffer such serious injuries there is little chance of recovery.

The wild animals also present a danger to drivers because suddenly they see something in their headlights and in attempts to avoid hitting the creature they can find their vehicle going off the road.

The environmental patrols ask all drivers who use the secondary roads late at night during the summer to take the maximum care for both their own and the wildlife’s safety. The roads are not the only threats to these creatures with electric pylons and illegal poisoning also taking their toll.

LYNCH MOB

The former mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, who is now the PSOE spokesperson has denied claims by the new Partido Popular mayor, Maripaz Fernández, that he left the town hall in financial ruin after she called for a State audit. Fernández says debts amount to 30 million euros without any liquidity. Marín says it is all part a campaign to lynch him politically.

EX CHIEF

A new administration comes in at a town hall and officials exit. One is the local police chief in Ronda, José Carrasco. He served with the new mayor Maripaz Fernández when as part of the PA-PP coalition she was the councillor for fiestas. Now seemingly he has lost her confidence and his departure is explained by a need to improve to police service.

PSOE DIVIDED

Divisions have opened up in Ronda’s PSOE over the party losing the mayorship after the recent elections. The party’s local secretary Francisco Cañestro survived a vote of confidence. However there has been anger amongst activists over former PA mayor Antonio Marín being absorbed along with eight of his councillors. This has meant long term PSOE councillors being dumped or moved down the list.

TRACTOR THEFT

Guardia Civil have arrested a man after a tractor was stolen in Pujerra in the Serranía and was later found in Cartajima. The alleged thief is said to have changed the tractor’s colour from blue to deep red and also erased the chassis number. The local man is accused of robbery with force. There have been numerous recent thefts of heavy farm equipment.

CORK HARVEST

This year’s cork harvest is underway. Ronda’s environment department has started its campaign in Los Montes de Propios and expects to collect 7,000 Spanish quintals of high quality oak cork. The municipal plantations run up to the border with Cortes de la Frontera. The town hall expects to bank around 600,000 euros although sales have been hit by the use of plastic corks.

EIGHT YEARS

There are reports the prosecutor has sought an eight year detention term for the 17-year-old youth who is alleged to have murdered María Esther Jímenez in Arriate on January 19. In addition he would be subjected to another five years of supervised detention. He is said to have battered her to death with a four kilo brick but he has pleaded not guilty.

STAY PUT

Ronda is to enlarge its industrial estate by 500,000 square metres in an effort to prevent companies leaving the town. It is an interim measure as once the new local development plan (PGOU) has been passed a new industrial zone and technology park will be created off the El Burgo road. However in the meantime land is being allocated between Torrecilla and Cuco.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2011

2011-06-23T09:35:00.000+02:00

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 MONDAY JUNE 16, 2011

2011-06-16T10:29:00.001+02:00

GADAFI OWNS CHUNK OF SERRANÍA

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The Libyan leader Muamar Gadafi is the owner of half the land in Pujerra and a third of that in Júzcar in the Serranía de Ronda. This has been confirmed by the mayors of both municipalities, Francisco Macías and David Fernández respectively. They say they have no information on the companies involved.

A finca of 7,200 hectares is owned by the Libyan State. In the deeds appear the names of the Libyan Foreign Bank - the Banco Exterior Libio and extends over five municipalities: Benahavís, Estepona, Igualeja, Júzcar and Pujerra.

It is in the latter two municipalities that the Libyan ownership has not been known by the residents or that Gadafi has owned much of their land for many years. Initially these lands were owned by the Unión Resinera Español and later purchased by the Libyan bank.

In the case of Pujerra Gadafi owns some 1,000 hectares although the mayor believes it could be higher as nobody is any too sure who owns what. As the land mass of Pujerra is 2,400 hectares Macias observes the Libyan leader could have around half. The holding runs from La Venta de Tía to Los Baños de la Corcha on the boundary with Benahavís.

Macias says that some years ago directors of the Libyan bank arrived in the village to talk about building 400 luxury homes in the municipality “but they disappeared and since then we have not heard from them.”

A similar situation exists in Júzcar where Libya has acquired 1,384 of the 3,400 hectares in the municipality. Mayor David Fernández says he has been in office for four years and never during that time has there been any contact with the owners. Again the finca runs from La Resinera to the boundary with Benahavís.

In both cases the land acquired by the Libyan bank is principally pine forest and mountainous. At the start of the year a 60 kms long wire fence was placed around the land. However both mayors say the land is used for hunting.

Curiously around seven years ago some land owners in the area were approached by foreign investors who wanted to buy their lands with chestnut plantations for sums far above the market value. All turned the offers down as the lands have been passed from father to sons over generations and the chestnut crop is one of the main sources of income for families in the area.

POLICE GUARD FOR PENSIONERS

Recently the local police in Ronda issued a warning to retired people when they go to collect their pensions. They were told they should be on their guard for robbery attempts and if possible go to the bank with a younger member of the family.

Now the police have placed plain clothes officers on the streets and outside the main banks in order to spot potential attackers. They are backed up by a waiting patrol car that can be on the scene in minutes. Initially the muggers came to Ronda from other towns and villages but in recent times those arrested have been living locally.

There was an attack just two weeks ago when two women assisted by a youth assaulted a pensioner in the avenida Martínez Astein. They attacked him with force and snatched his wallet containing his pension money.

The first woman grabbed the man by the shoulders whilst the second went for the wallet. The youngster was nearby keeping a look out for people or the police approaching.

The majority of the attacks are on victims as they leave the bank with their money especially those who seem confused or have obvious mobility problems. The chief of Ronda’s local police, José Carrasco, said the modus operandi was always the same. One of the group closely monitors the movements of their target as he or she enters the bank. They then watch to see if they withdraw a large sum of money. If so then when once out on the street the pensioner will be distracted as a gang member asks a question. Whilst this is going on another will attempt to lift the wallet or purse and often the victim has no idea they have been robbed until after the thieves have fled.

The problem for the police is that in the majority of cases no violence is involved. Hence if the thieves are caught the fine is small. However in the case of the pensioner who was attacked by the two women, they and the youth have been arrested and face robbery with violence charges.

In recent weeks ten such cases have been reported to the police. The vast majority, 95 per cent, are classed as simple theft with just five per cent being the more serious robbery with violence.

Old people living alone

The National Police in Ronda have also recently arrested three people aged between 24 and 27 years of age accused of robbing old people who lived alone. A number of such crimes have been reported where the victims were intimidated in their own homes.

Two of the trio are being held in prison awaiting trial. They are believed to have been incriminated in a crime committed on March 27 when an old person was threatened with a knife then their money and jewellery was stolen. However there have been other incidences where access was gained to the property by asking for a glass of water and once inside the victim is held at knifepoint.

MARÍN SHOUTED DOWN

The Partido Popular in coalition with the Partido Andalucista now rules in Ronda. At the last election Antonio Marín was re-elected PA mayor but then he and his fellow eight councillors defected to PSOE being officially labelled political turncoats. At the swearing in ceremony Marín, the PSOE candidate for mayor, gave a bitter speech saying the socialists should be in power because they had the most votes and pledging to take back the mayoralty. He was shouted down by many of those attending and the new PP mayor, Maripaz Fernández, had to appeal for calm.

RUN DOWN

A 77-year-old man was run down on Tuesday afternoon in the avenida de Málaga in Ronda. The accident happened with the junction of the calle Escuerdo Marcos de Obregón when he was hit by a car driven by a youth who was over the alcohol limit. He was rushed to the local hospital with a broken hip and is in a serious condition.

MISTER DEPUTY

Failed politicians don’t fade away they are just given jobs elsewhere. PSOE has lost power in Ronda so that means the party now twiddles its thumbs in opposition for four years. Now PSOE in Málaga province has proposed that its senior socialist in the town, Francisco Cañestro, should be appointed a deputy on the provincial administration. He is just one to be promoted.

RUMANIANS NABBED

Four Rumanians aged between 21 and 46 years of age have been arrested in Ronda. On Thursday the gang roamed between the Cuesta de Santo Domingo, plaza España and Puente Nuevo lifting wallets, bags, mobile phones and even expensive video cameras. One of the women pretended to have a fit, the others sought help and they lifted the items in the resulting chaos.

TRAGIC DROWNING

An elderly man in Benaoján was found drowned in the reservoir at the Paraje del Nacimiento. At 17.05 on Thursday the 112 emergency service received the call to say a body had been discovered. The Guardia Civil, local police and ambulance service attended the scene. One theory is the victim slipped and drowned. Although officers are investigating there were no signs of violence.

BRIDGE PETITION

Residents of El Burgo are angry that Málaga province has closed the Puente de Málaga hence all traffic into the village via the bridge has to be diverted. A petition of 300 signatures has been collected as many families are now cut off. The Roman bridge was closed on May 20 and is in a bad state and is meant to be repaired.

ONE EAR

Bullfighters who perform well in the ring are often awarded with an ear by the spectators. However for young Ronda matador Salvador García his encounter with a late night crowd of drinking youths at the town’s Blas Infante ended in a brawl. One of them bit of part of his ear which cannot be reconstructed. He was taken to Málaga’s Carlos Haya hospital.

GARDEN PLAQUE

One of Antonio Marín’s last acts as mayor of Ronda was to unveil a plaque marking the upgrade given to the Jardines de Cuenca overlooking the Tajo gorge. The work was possible thanks to a 245,000 euros grant for tourist improvements by the ICO. The walls have been raised, new paths laid, lighting, seats and rubbish bins renewed plus all the beds replanted.

QUICKER TRAINS

From June 12 Renfe has upgraded the trains on the twice daily Ronda – Málaga service with the result that the journey will now take up to five minutes quicker. The train leaves Ronda for Málaga at 7.12 and now arrives at 9.03. In the evening the return leaves Málaga at 18.40 and is back at the town of the Tajo for 20.35.

RONDA PHONE

A 28-year-old from Ronda, Alejandro López, has designed a download for iPhones that will give the users important information about the town. It is being accessed by residents and tourists and gives information on duty chemists, film showings, cultural events, restaurants and much more. Alejandro hopes that he can reach agreement with the town hall to make it a tourist resource for Ronda.

ENGLISH WALK

Englishman Andy Cameron who lives in Ronda has walked 3,200 kilometres from Rome to the town in 45 days. He suffered from cancer and wants to create a foundation for sick children - his objective is to raise 50,000 euros in two years. He intends to write a book on his experiences on the walk and his website can be viewed at www.romaronda.info.

DATELINE RONDA MONDAY JUNE 9, 2011

2011-06-09T09:30:00.000+02:00

YOUTH ACCUSED OF MARÍA ESTHER’S MURDER PLEADS INNOCENCE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The 17-year-old youth arrested over the murder of María Esther Jiménez Villegas in Arriate in January has declared his innocence before the prosecutor of minors in Málaga. The 13-year-old victim was found in a swimming pool pump house behind the village just 24 hours after her disappearance on January 19 and had been brutally murdered by a violent blow to the head.

The lawyer for María Esther’s family, Bárbara Royo, said the youth had not admitted to the crime as he believes there is insufficient evidence to prove his guilt. She added he had refused to answer any questions and maintains he shouldn’t even stand trial let alone be convicted.

However Royo went to on to state that the biological evidence gathered by the Guardia Civil “in this case is very clear” and it has not been necessary to request more tests at this stage of the court process. In the lawyer’s opinion there has been no problems with the investigation, all is clear even if the youth declares his innocence.

During the testimony the 17-year-old complained about his treatment in detention but the family’s lawyer said this was just a ploy by his defence lawyer to discredit the investigation.

The accused was arrested in Arriate just two weeks after María Esther’s murder. Investigators found her blood on a sport’s shoe belonging to the youth after they search the house where he lived with his family. The Guardia Civil arrested him after DNA tests also linked him with the crime.

The Málaga youth court ordered the accused’s detention in February and he can be held at a centre for six months. It is possible for that to be extended by three months but after that period he must be released.

The parents of María Esther had moved to Arriate to seek work. They have now left the village and returned to Paterna de la Rivera in Cádiz province in an attempt to restart their lives.

LESS DEBT

According to a ministry of the economy report on the level of debt at Spain’s town halls Ronda in 2010 owed 13.418 million euros which is 4.1 million euros less than in the previous year. This makes Ronda proportionally the least indebted town hall in Málaga province. However back in 2008 the debt stood at 18,871 making Ronda the most indebted after Benelmádena.

MARIPAZ MAYOR

If all goes to plan on Saturday Maripaz Fernández will be the PP mayor of Ronda. Her party have pacted with the Partido Andalucista; its leader Isabel Barriga will be deputy mayor. PP take the key posts but it is a return to power for the PA which controlled the last administration before the mayor and eight councillors defected to PSOE.

KNIFE ATTACK

A man aged between 40 and 50 caused alarm at Ronda’s Sur health centre when he threatened a doctor with a knife last Tuesday morning. He shouted insults at staff and patients fled to the reception area. Police soon arrived, the man was tranquilised and after being taken to the emergency unit at Ronda’s hospital was transferred to the Málaga mental illness unit.

HOME GROWN

The National Police have raided a house in Ronda and arrested a 21-year-old woman and 27-year-old man both of whom are accused of growing marihuana on the premises. The couple had set up a nursery to cultivate the illegal plants with heat lamps, thermostats and pump driven ventilation systems. Officers confiscated ten plants and seeds which have been destroyed by the health authority.

NO HANDICAP

Montejaque has put into effect the first guided walks for handicapped people. This is the first initiative of its kind in Europe and allows those with various physical handicaps to enjoy the walking experiences for which Montejaque is internationally famous. They can now experience the Serranía de Ronda and Grazalema national park taking the route to La Raspa which is 900 metres high.

WATER AWARD

The Plataforma Cueveña del Agua has been awarded the Dragona Iberia 2011 prize by a foundation dedicated to promoting a new culture in guarding and using water resources. The Cuevas del Becerro action group works to defend the valuable water aquifers in the Sierra de Morinos, Carrasco and Bobollón which are under threat from urban and golf developments in the Serranía de Ronda.

HOW MANY

The Partido Popular has reported irregularities in the electoral census in Atajate, Málaga province’s smallest municipality. The party’s candidate Julio Sánchez says at the 2009 European elections the number of voters was 127 but this rose to 157 in May adding such an increase is rare amongst so few residents. He suspects voter fraud with votes going to ruined houses and non-existent properties.

CLASSIC RALLY

Lovers and owners of vintage cars and motorbikes should head for Benalauría on Sunday when the municipality in the lower Genal valley holds its first rally. Participants have to enrol between 9 and 11 then set off for the Mirador del Genal in neighbouring Algatocín. Details of the events and how to get to Benalauría can be found on the town hall’s website.

TEACHER ASSAULT

The 19-year-old boyfriend of a 17-year-old pupil at the Martín Rivero school in Ronda attacked her teacher in an access way to the educational centre at 8.00 on Friday. The youth pushed the teacher to the ground inflicting light injuries. The incident was reported to the National Police who arrested the lad from Pontevedra. The attack is said to have been education related.

NIGHT SHOPPING

Ronda’s calle Nueva is to open on selected Friday nights over the summer months in an effort to beat the economic crisis. Many people pass through the central street to shop in the Carrera Espinel known as La Bola. However there are bars, restaurants, shops, hotels in the calle Nueva and traders say whilst tourists shop there currently the people of Ronda don’t.

BLUE MOVIE

The normally white village of Júzcar in the Serranía de Ronda has turned blue. The media giant Sony is to blame as it has selected Júzcar as being the most like the Pueblo Pitufo featured in the movie for its world wide publicity campaign. The film Los Pitufos 3D launches in the USA on August 3 and here in Spain two days later.

PENSIONER ALERT

The local police in Ronda have alerted the elderly to take a family member with them when they go to collect their pension from the bank or cash machine. This follows a recent attack and robbery on a vulnerable pensioner. The police say such small robberies are the most common in the town and tourists should also be alert when using cash machines.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2011

2011-06-02T10:22:00.001+02:00

SERRANÍA POPULATION GROWS BY 2.4 PER CENT

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The trend of the depopulation of the Serranía de Ronda has been halted by the economic recession, the influx of foreigners and those preferring a rural to an urban lifestyle.

Over the last ten years the Serranía, excluding Ronda, has grown by 2.4 per cent. The National Statistics Institute reports that in 2010 22,630 people were registered at the town halls compared with 22,070 in 2000.

By sexes the 22 communities that make up the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys, the Guadalteba area along with Cuevas del Becerro, the Sierra de las Nieves, El Burgo and Arriate have 11,401(11,086) men and 11,139 (11.011) women. This represents a male increase of 2.77 per cent and just 1.15 for females.

The largest growth was recorded in Arriate where the population rose from 3,420 to 4.137.However in Atajate, the smallest village in Málaga province, it dropped from 164 to 127.

The director of the centre for rural development in the Serranía, Juan Manuel Gutiérrez, explained that because of the economic crisis many young people, especially those in the construction industry, had returned to their home villages as there was no work. This has created another problem for many of these people have no training as they gave up their education to go to the coast to earn money. Now they are reliant on the town halls for work projects.

Gutiérrez said foreign residents had also boosted the census figures and those looking for a non-urban lifestyle.

The crisis of 1992 also saw a light increase in the number of people living in the Serranía. However at the end of the 1960s- early 1970s the numbers were as high as 60,000 but they left for other population centres largely because of the lack of employment opportunities.

CASH ADVANCE

The regional government’s council of ministers has authorised a payment of 416,091 euros to Ronda town hall. The money comes as an advance from funds due to the municipality from Andalucía. Every town hall is limited to an advance of 2.5 million euros or 25 per cent of the monies due to it from the regional government in the term of any administration.

TOP QUALITY

Eighty Serranía de Ronda businesses, the first in the province of Málaga, are taking part in the Sistema Integral de Calidad Turística. The initiative is from the ministry of tourism, autonomous region’s tourism ministries and it the case of Ronda the Centro Iniciativas Turísticas. The participants have to meet 80 standards related to attention to clients, staff training, foreign languages and price harmonization.

STREET WORKS

As Montecorto waits to become a municipality its own right the local administrative entity in Ronda has been given 112,000 euros from the province of Málaga. The funds are for the upgrading and relaying of two streets: calles San Antonio and La Fuente. Many of the pavements are in a bad state and a new water supply and sewage network will be laid.

HORSE TRADING

Ronda recently held the Real Feria Ganadera – the five hundred year old livestock fair that runs alongside the Feria de Mayo. The talk this year amongst traders was the collapse of prices in face of the economic crisis. A donkey could be purchased for 100 euros and a horse 500 euros. Many of those opted to swop stock rather than buy or sell.

TRAIN CHANGE

A train connects Ronda with Málaga every morning and evening. The antiquated stock has since Sunday been replaced by Renfe’s latest series 599. The trains are much easier to board and improve the comfort of passengers. Renfe says the introduction of these new trains on the Ronda – Málaga service brings to an end its upgrade of urban and interurban trains in the province.

DEMOCRACY PROTEST

The wave of movimiento 15-M street protests that swept through Madrid, major towns and cities plus amongst young Spaniard’s abroad ahead of the autonomous and local elections have now arrived in Ronda. The peaceful and non-party demonstrations are being held in the central plaza del Socorro and started last Friday. They are against the present political system and demand change to Spanish society.

DATELINE RONDA MONDAY MAY 23, 2011

2011-05-23T18:52:00.000+02:00

ELECTION SPECIAL - REVENGE FOR THE PARTIDO ANDALUCISTA

PP’s Maripaz Fernández set to be mayor

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Antonio Marín will no longer be mayor of Ronda. The former Partido Andalucista mayor who abandoned the party with eight of his fellow councillors, all sitting as non-aligned whilst joining PSOE, has been ousted from power.

He led PSOE in to the elections and they won seven seats. So too did the Partido Popular led by Maripaz Fernández. Izquierda Unida is very pleased with itself having doubled its seat to two but the night belongs to the Partido Andalucista.

With Marín and his fellow eight PA councillors defection it left the party with no representation on the council. Indeed Marín and his cohorts were all officially deemed political turncoats. At the 2007 elections the PA won nine seats and this time five but that makes them king or queen makers.

Before the elections the PA pledged an oath with a notary not to form a coalition with PSOE. Indeed the party is now expected to back Maripaz Fernández who needs their support to become mayor. How the IU votes remains to be seen but it is unlikely they would back Marín for mayor which leaves the former mayor out in the cold and PSOE with him.

Some other local results: Algatocín – pact pending; Alpandeire PSOE, Arriate – pact pending; Atajate PSOE; Benadalid PSOE; Benalauría AEB; Benoaján – pact pending; Benarrabá PP; Cañete la Real PSOE; Cortes – pact pending; Cuevas del Becerro PSOE; Farajan PSOE; Gaucín – pact pending; Genalguacil PSOE; Igualeja PP; Jimera PP; Jubrique – pact pending; Juzcar PSOE; Montejaque ADIA; Parauta PSOE.

FIRST SCHOOL

Ronda has decided to build the public nursery school in the municipality at the Cruz de San Jorge. The administration was keen to find an easy accessible location and the school is possible thanks to a 600,000 euros Andalucía government grant. The school will have a capacity of 90 children aged from a few months to three years with a special needs unit.

FIREFIGHTERS PLEA

The CGT representing workers at the public company Egmasa in charge of preventing and fighting forest fires in the Serranía has called for better conditions for the 250 fire-fighters located at the Ronda centre. It wants basic salaries to be the same across all groups, recognition of length of service, seven hour a day, 35 hours a week shifts and a pension plan.

DIGGER THEFT

Guardia Civil arrested an El Gastor man accused of stealing a mechanical digger in Igualeja on May 5 then taking it to Ronda. The machine is valued at 60,000 euros and the thief had removed the number of the chassis. Earlier this year officers arrested four men accused of stealing machinery on the coast; the mayor of Alpandeire is one of those arrested.

GRIM DISCOVERY

Potholers recently discover a human skeleton on a hill summit in Puerto de Viento in the Serrania de Ronda. The climbers notified the Guardia Civil who alerted the National Police who are investigating the find three metres inside a cave. The remains of a possible projectile were found at the scene; the bones are said to have been there less than 10 years.

TAKE THAT

A 16 year old has been arrested in Ronda for hitting his mother causing lesions after she refused to allow him to go out on to the street. According to local police this is not the first time the 46-year-old woman has reported the boy for physical or psychological mistreatment. The attack happened on Tuesday in the Doctor Vazquez zone of the town.

ONLINE PRESCRIPTIONS

The 650 users of the health centres at La Cimada and Los Prados in the outlying zones of Ronda can now have electronic prescriptions with the medical staff able to check their records on-line. The 53,000 people in the Serranía health district - Ronda, Benaoján, Algatocín, Gaucín, Cortes, Montejaque, Arriate, El Burgo, Cuevas, Jubrique, Jimera, Igualeja, Serrato and Alpandeire – now have this service.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MAY 19, 2011

2011-05-19T09:28:00.000+02:00

EROSKI CENTRE STARTS AT THE END OF JULY

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The Eroski commercial centre in Ronda has been a long time coming and now it has been announced work will start at the end of July. The announcement was made by mayor Antonio Marín but as this is election season it remains to be seen if that date is fact or fiction.

The development has been billed as the largest by Eroski in Andalucía. The Basque based supermarket group has allocated 120 million euros to the project spread over 73,100 square metres.

The commercial centre will be located on land formerly occupied by the soccer stadium and old fair ground. The local development plan (PGOU) has been amended to allow the project to proceed and the regional government’s consultative council has given its approval.

Marín stated that the commercial centre will be a reality between 10 and 12 months of work starting although curiously the initial estimates were double that time scale.

The Ronda Eroski is meant to be 50 per cent bigger than the company’s existing development in Antequera. It will create 1,500 construction jobs with 1,200 employees working there once it is operational.

The supermarket will occupy 8,000 square metres with 15,000 square metres given over to fashion outlets, 3,000 square metres to services and a further 6,000 square metres on leisure and restaurants including a multi-screen cinema.

NEW IMAGE

The religious image of Nuestro Señor del Ecce-Homo has been a familiar sight at the Easter parades in Ronda for generations. Now it has been sent to the Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Histórico in Sevilla. The regional government has agreed to fund the 40,000 euros required to restore the valuable statue. Incredibly it’s returned to the workshop where it was made in 1713.

SEXUAL CRIME

Guardia Civil have stated they believe the murder of María Esther Jiménez in Arriate in January had a sexual motive although investigations remain on-going. Meanwhile the examination of witnesses by the prosecutor continues and so far 13 people have given testimony. The 17-year-old accused of her murder is being held in detention for an initial six months which can be extended by three.

BLESSED INVESTMENT

The Andalucía ministry of health, Málaga province and Alpandeire have grouped together to fund the 312,600 euros next phase of the medical centre in the Serranía de Ronda village. Málaga province is providing 138,569 euros ensuring work could start shortly. In addition the museum dedicated to Blessed Fray Leopoldo, also backed by the province, is now at an advanced stage of its construction.

BLAS AID

Blas Infante, the father of the modern Andalucía, has special links to Ronda and is honoured by the Paseo Blas Infante, a garden area over the Tajo gorge by the bullring. Sadly the zone was badly damaged in the rains and work is now being carried out to remove the constant threat of flooding. Around 58,000 euros is being assigned to the work.

PALACE ROBBERY

Two youths have been detained accused of breaking into Ronda’s historic Casa del Rey Moro dating from the 18 th century with famous gardens by Forestier. The duo are said to have stolen various antiques and crystal lamps. The police were informed the palace was robbed within the last month; when detained the youths had all the stolen artefacts hidden in a garage.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MAY 12, 2011

2011-05-12T08:53:00.000+02:00

MOTHER’S HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST ENDESA

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Karin Kapp has been walking the streets of central Ronda with a placard declaring she is on hunger strike as Endesa refused to connect electricity to her home. The ploy seems to have worked for after waiting for eight months the electricity company immediate sprang in to action.

The German mother lives in Jimera de Líbar. She said: “My house is in the country between Jimera de Líbar and Estación and my neighbours have had no problem with electricity.”

Karin went on to say she had lost her job because she is a composer and had been working on the music for a programme aired on a TV channel in her home country. However no electricity meant she couldn’t work on her computer so the project fell through.

Perhaps a more serious problem for Karin is she is a single mother with three children. The youngest has kidney cancer and needs medicine that has to be kept in a fridge. To get over the problem she had to go to her friend’s house eight times a day for the medication.

Karin had been asking Endesa to supply her with power for eight months so in desperation she went on hunger strike. As there is no Endesa office in Ronda she took her protest to the busy shopping streets to make her plight known to the media and the public.

The frustrated young mother said had Endesa told her there would be a problem she could have sought another solution such as installing solar panels. However she had spent around 24,000 euros having pylons and a transformer installed and all she needed was a technician to come to hook it up.

Amidst the glare on publicity instead of giving Karin the usual brush-off Endesa sprang in to action and hooked up the supply. The company claimed it had not acted before because the documentation was incomplete and the installation was in another name.

TOUGHEST TEST

Over the weekend Ronda held its 101 km in 24 hours marathon in conjunction with the Legion. Over 7,000 competitors took part in one of the hardest tests in Spain. The route ran from Ronda through Arriate, Alcalá del Valle, Setenil, Montejaque and Benaoján with 1,000 people including members of the Legion controlling the tough endurance event over rough terrain.

WORD CHANGE

CEDER, which promotes rural development in the Serranía de Ronda, wants the Real Academia Española’s dictionary to change its definition of rural. CEDER argues the Serranía has 23 municipalities with 60,000 residents whilst the main town Ronda has almost 40,000. However all are deemed rural, an historic prejudicial term that does not take into account the natural and cultural values of the zones.

POLICE TRIAL

The trial finally gets under way this month of nine people including four National Police officers and a Guardia Civil stationed in Ronda. The officers are accused of not taking action against brothels in the municipality between 2003 and 2007 and for accepting money plus sexual favours for overlooking irregularities. Over 60 witnesses will take part, some of whose identity have court protection.

INDY MUNICIPALITIES

Ronda council in one of its last acts before the local elections approved the way for the outlying districts of Montecorto and Serrato to become independent municipalities. These rural areas already enjoy ELA autonomous status and now the regional government has dropped its minimum population condition will, within the next two years, become the 102 and 103 municipalities in the province of Málaga.

NEIGHBOURLY ACT

Guardia Civil in Arriate arrested a 21-year-old who is accused of breaking in to the two properties on either side of his own, probably over the balcony. He is alleged to have stolen various items worth around 3,000 euros including a video consol, DVD with Digital TV connection, games’ CDs and cash. The thefts took place over Easter when the neighbours were away.

JOBLESS DROPS

Ronda has recorded a drop in the number of unemployed for the month of April. The new total is 4,524 – 145 less than the previous month. The figure is also the lowest total in the municipality since December. Women still make up the majority without work, 2,400. The drop coincided with the Easter holiday season plus the town hall’s tenth job creation plan.

GIVING EVIDENCE

The child prosecutor has started taking evidence in Arriate over the death of 13-year-old María Esther Jiménez on January 20. A 17-year-old living in the village has been arrested for her murder. The youth is being held in preventive detention for six months but this can be extended for another three months. The prosecutor’s action starts the process of bringing him to trial.

DIGITAL X-RAY

The Serranía de Ronda health service has invested 330,000 euros on digitalising the x-ray, CAT scan, echographs and mammogram system. This means the 85,000 x-rays taken at the Ronda hospital each year can be accessed by doctors there plus all the health centres and consulting units in the area. The system was first introduced in the emergency and intensive care unit in 2009.

TAJO SEWAGE

Since Ronda installed its new sewage system is has led to a great improvement to the cleanliness of the waters coursing through the Tajo. However 16 houses in the central calle Villanueva still send their sewage in to the gorge. Now a 262,000 euros scheme is underway co-funded by Málaga province to install a new drainage system that connects to the sewage network.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MAY 5, 2011

2011-05-05T10:33:00.000+02:00

NO PGOU OR HISTORIC TOWN PLAN YET
By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The situation in Ronda is very different. The council has now completed its sessions till after the May 22 elections without approving the new PGOU or the town plan for the historic centre.

The delegate for town planning, María José Martín de Haro, said much work had been achieved over recent years but the documents still needed to receive the final approval from provincial and the Andalucía authorities.

The council has approved the advanced version of the PGOU but now it rests with the higher authorities who are studying it. Likewise the plan for the preservation of the historic centre has also been approved but 64 submissions by residents or businesses are being considered and it has still to be approved by the regional government’s heritage department.

MYSTERY RONDA ROAD DEATH

Investigations are underway after a man died when his vehicle skidded off the A-374 Ronda to Sevilla road. His body was found on Sunday morning by the Guardia Civil although at the time of writing officers do not know when the accident took place.

The tragedy occurred at km 23 and the vehicle had been travelling in the direction of Ronda. The car went off the road within the municipal boundary and the deceased was the only person in the vehicle.

According to the Centro de Gestión del Trafico de Málaga the body was located by officers at around 10.30. The Guardia Civil is now trying to determine just what occurred and when.

UNESCO BID

The Commission of Culture of the Andalucía government has unanimously approved a motion placed by the opposition Partido Popular calling for the start as soon as possible of the process to have Ronda declared Patrimonio de la Humanidad by UNESCO. All political parties in Ronda expressed their satisfaction at the decision and promised to work with the commission to establish Ronda’s rich heritage.

CUT OFF

Ronda’s Partido Andalucista spokesperson on heritage and the environment, Rafael Flores, has protested over the state of the road leading to the Roman ruins at Acinipo, 20 kilometres from the town centre. Would be visitors flock to the historic site but have to abandon their cars and walk as the road was damaged in the January 2010 rains and is still under repair.

HONOURED AUTHOR

The Andalucía ministry of culture has honoured the Ronda born writer, Francisco Giner de los Rios (1839-1915), as its author of the year. An exhibition is currently being held in Ronda dedicated to his life and works and will tour all Andalucía. De los Rios was a liberal educator and progressive who laid down many of the principals for teaching in modern Spain.

MAY FAIR

The Real Feria de Mayo, one of Andalucía oldest agricultural fairs will be held in Ronda between the 12 th and 15 th of this month. There was no fair last year but it is hoped the 150 stands and 30,000 visitors of 2009 will be exceeded. The fair will include a bullfight at which pupils of the Escuela Taurina will take part.

HOSPITAL 2012

Andalucía’s minister for health, María Jesús Montero, visited Ronda last week and announced the new hospital would be open in 2012. A budget of 40.8 million euros has been assigned to the project with work taking 42 months. The hospital will have a fertility clinic plus nuclear magnetic treatment centre and will serve 93,000 people in Ronda, the Serranía and Sierra de Cádiz.

NO FLAG

Ronda is one of the few towns to have its own shield, that of King Fernando el Católico given when he took the town from the Muslims. It was never converted into a flag so a commission of experts has been studying the achieves to determine a design. One has now been produced reflecting Ronda’s history and awaits approval by all political parties.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 28, 2011

2011-04-28T12:02:00.001+02:00

HAVE PATIENCE OVER UNESCO BID

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The Andalucía minister for culture, Paulino Plata, has urged caution and patience on Ronda over its bids to be declared UNESCO Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad. He was referring to a motion in the Andalucía parliament demanding that the regional government initiate the process necessary for the town of the Tajo to be given this UNESCO status.

Plata told a press conference in Ronda that the drawing up of such applications never took less than three years and were resolved between three and five years. He said the work to prepare Ronda’s application had started very well and there had been no difficulties along this road or obstacles encountered.

However the minister explain these applications were “very complicated” and the fact the town’s name was being put forward was being linked with parties’ campaigns the municipal elections being held in May.

Plata insisted the regional government clearly supported the candidature of Ronda – a town in which the urban and natural scenery was very special – and there is enthusiasm and hope for the application.

Ronda has formed an action group amongst political parties and local associations with heritage groups to work for its candidature for UNESCO status. A petition has also been started to collect signatures in support of the project.

TENSIONS GROW OVER EXPANSION OF CHINESE BUSINESSES

Spanish businesses are becoming very uneasy and angry over the proliferation of Chinese owned shops on the Costa del Sol, Ronda and elsewhere in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona.

The highly decorated Chinese restaurant facades became a familiar feature in the 1980s but now they have been joined by a network of supermarkets, cheap stores and wholesale outlets on industrial estates. They are family run, have the minimum of investment and sell their goods at low prices.

In Málaga province the number of Chinese owned shops has risen from 2,277 in 2005 to 4,591. At the same time the number of Chinese residents has grown from 575 to around 1,800 largely to staff these businesses.

The president of Federación del Comercio in Málaga, Enrique Gil, has observed the Chinese are buying business outlets including cafes, keeping the same appearance, offering the same products and services but vastly undercutting the Spanish businesses trading alongside them.

The federation complains the Chinese businesses do not apply the same employment agreements or working hours and therefore do not compete on an equal footing. There is disquiet amongst the shops in the various town neighbourhoods as each time they look another Chinese shop has opened up.

A new aspect of the Chinese competition is now increasing traders’ alarm. In the past a Chinese shop was very distinctive. Now they are copying their Western counterparts. One example is the arrival of ‘Zara Chino’ where the decoration and products ape the major fashion stores but are of inferior quality and far cheaper.

The federation says ‘Zara Chino’ has yet to arrive in Marbella but there are similar operations with one located by the old cemetery in premises formerly used by a car workshop and tyre business.

All the products sold are low priced and manufactured in Asia but imitate Italian designer bags and shoes along with French and Spanish fashion items and sell for around 30 euros.

One of the families have been in business in Spain for around 16 years. They started off with a Chinese restaurant in Fuengirola, then opened a 100 peseta shop in Marbella before graduating to the textile business.

Like all Asians the families that run these businesses work hard, have a good business sense and are able to set up without having to rely on bank finance because they finance themselves. The problem for Spanish shops at this time of financial crisis is they are seen as having an unfair advantage as they open all hours, do not have to worry about work contracts or minimum wages and are able to access and sell cheap Asian goods at prices that undercut their Iberian competition.

SIGN LANGUAGE

If you live in the Serranía de Ronda and would like to learn sign language for the deaf then you can attend a course being given by professionals from the local health service. It is organized by the Asociación de Personas Sordas de Ronda and it aims to break down the barriers between people, patients and families with members who have hearing difficulties.

HORSE BIDS

Ronda has spent 360,000 euros on creating a municipal horse school and equine therapy centre at its stud farm. The project has been funded by the town hall, Málaga province and the regional government. In May the tenders will be issued for the management of the complex which aims to make equestrian activities and skills more accessible to the public and handicapped.

MURDER EVIDENCE

Thirteen year old María Esther Jiménez was murdered in Arriate on January 20. A 17-year-old youth from the village has been arrested for her murder and between May 6 and 10 the process will start for those required to give evidence before the minors’ prosecutor. The law of minors stipulates an under 18 can only be held for six months before being released.

CLASSIC VISIT

Before Easter the Club Amigos de los Clásicos de Ronda held an event at the Ascari race track with around 50 people with 21 classic vehicles attending. The celebrity cars were put through their paces and then were parked in the paddock for all to admire. The newly formed club intends to hold regular local and regional events for classic cars in Ronda.

OBAMA EFFECT

The visit last August of the US President’s wife Michelle Obama with her daughter to Ronda still bears fruit for the town. Over Easter the councillor for tourism Francisco Cañestro played host to 20 of the top travel agents in the USA. They spent three days in Andalucía on a fact-finding visit anxious to visit Ronda in the footsteps of the First Lady.

RAIN SHELTER

Seven of the brotherhoods were unable to take to the streets of Ronda as their Semana Santa processions were cancelled due to the heavy rains. However the museum dedicated to the town’s fraternities has just been completed and was open for inspection making a useful shelter from the weather. The museum is still empty but answers a 15-year call from the religious groups.

CUTTING IT

Can you cut it? The cutting of the Jamón is a prized skill and will be displayed this year at Ronda’s Feria de Mayo. Champions of the art are the Corbacho family who own Ronda and Marbella’s Casa de Jamón. A national competition will be held on May 15 so if you fancy trying your hand phone 95287159 or 952773488 for entry details.

AZNAR VISIT

The Partido Popular are pulling out all the stops to win Ronda at the local elections. Recently leader Mariano Rajoy visited the town of the Tajo and last week former premier Jose María Aznar and his wife Ana Botella were in Estepona. Although they met all the local PP candidates for mayor Aznar spent time talking about Ronda with mayoral hopeful Mari Paz Fernández.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2011

2011-04-21T11:54:00.000+02:00

MUNICIPAL LIGHTS ABOUT TO GO OUT IN ATAJATE AND IGUALEJA

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

As the municipal elections approach the town halls in Atajate and Igualeja could be plunged in to darkness. The Serranía de Ronda electricity company is about to pull the plug because it says the bills have gone unpaid for a number of years.

The amounts involved are not small either given the low populations in both communities. Igualeja is said to owe 407,000 euros which dates back over 15 years. The actual use of electricity is 192,000 euros, the huge balance is in interest.

Atajate, which is the smallest municipality in Málaga province with just 186 residents, owes 91,368 euros. Of that over 61,000 euros is in electricity and the rest interest.

The electricity company says it has reached the end of its tether. Phone calls to the town halls to discuss the matter have gone unanswered and registered letters have produced no resolution so the cutting of supply is the only other option.

Atajate and Igualeja are not alone and many of the town halls of the Cuenca del Guadiaro and Valle del Genal have collective debts of over one million euros with the company.

However municipalities such as Benaoján, Jimera de Líbar, Jubrique and Benadalid have reached agreement with the Serranía de Ronda electricity company to make occasional payments to reduce their debt.

TOP HAM

The Corbacho family own the Casa del Jamón in Ronda. They’re famous for the hams they sell and their cutting skills. Lourdes Corbacho should know her father, husband and brother have all been acclaimed as “maestros” of the art. Not to be outdone Lourdes has joined them being the first woman to enter and win at the Salón de Gourmets contest in Madrid.

PARK ACCESS

Ronda wants its gardens enjoyed by everybody including blind people or those with impaired eyesight. Hence the tourism department’s campaign to erect small signs at the entrance to each garden with information in Braille. The signs tell the visitor the garden’s layout, its key points of interest, where the entrances and exits are, locations of toilets and what plants can be found there.

WITHDRAW IT

The electoral authority covering the Ronda area has given the mayor Antonio Marín 24 hours to withdraw the publicity on planned projects entitled Ronda 2015. Marín who is standing for PSOE but was elected previously for the Partido Andalucista was taken to court last Monday by PP accusing him of obstruction and misusing public funds by paying for the material with municipal funds.

FIVE STAR

After years of dispute between Ronda and the owners of the historic Casa del Rey Moro the project to create a five-star hotel in the ruined building is gaining momentum. The protected mansion overlooks the Tajo gorge and in presenting plans for the improvement and restoration of the Casa del Rey Moro the owners say it will cost 2.5 million euros to complete.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2011

2011-04-14T10:04:00.000+02:00

SPECTACULAR TAJO LIGHT AND SOUND DISPLAY

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

“A light and sound experience that is unique in the world” is how Ronda’s councillor for tourism described plans for an extravaganza using the Tajo gorge as a backdrop.

To make the “Ronda Experience” a reality will cost three million euros. The light and sound spectacle has been created by Manuel Coronado, a company that is the international reference point for such displays having staged similar projects on the Egyptian Pyramids and at Expo 92.

The plan is to project giant images on to the cliffs of the Tajo and the Puente Nuevo. The area to be covered covers 120 metres in height and 500 metres in width. The images would reflect the origins and history of Ronda through the Roman and Arab epochs, water vapour would pour beneath the bridge, birds would fly and the town’s links with bullfighting and the Goyesca feria would be displayed.

The soundtrack would rely for its scripting on historians and researchers. The images would be projected from ten cabins in the Molinos del Tajo area situated at the foot of the cliff face. The images will be visible for 15 kilometres and says the tourist office would attract thousands of people to Ronda and boost night stays in its hotels.

However the first phase it to find the funding required for the project. The hope is that the various levels of government will contribute to the three million euros budget. Little is likely to happen before the May elections and of course a change in administration could make the Ronda Experience short lived.

Jardines de Cuenca reopen this month

Ronda’s celebrated and historic Jardines de Cuenca overlooking the Tajo gorge will be reopened to the public this month. The mayor and his wife, who happens to be the councillor responsible for parks and gardens, visited the site last week and reported the work is 95 per cent completed.

The project has been funded with over 211,000 euros from an ICO loan to improve the tourism infrastructure of the town. New furnishings have been installed in the gardens and the height of the wall above the gorge has been increased. In addition over 1,000 roses have been planted from 65 different species.

MAYOR ACCUSED

The case surrounding the diversion of Grazalema’s river and the building of homes on the old river bed is returning to court. The judge has finalised the preliminaries and ten people will face trial including the PSOE mayor of Grazalema and the former mayor. They are accused of bribery, obstructing justice, carrying out businesses prohibited to public officials and town planning law violations.

JOBLESS UP

The number of unemployed in Ronda grew again in March rising to 4,669 from 4,602. Men were the hardest hit sector with a rise of 84 cases bringing the total to 2,249 whilst the number of women has dropped by 17 to 2,420. Women still dominate the totals. Of the new contracts on offer the majority are temporary; agriculture took up most workers.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The training section of the Andalucía health service dedicated to domestic violence is working with nurses in emergency units to enable them to detect cases of women who have suffered abuse. Currently these courses are being held in hospitals in Ronda and La Línea but will be extended to all medical centres in due course. Often these nurses are the victim’s first contact.

STRONG WINDS

Residents of the Ronda area woke up last Wednesday morning to find that 80 km an hour winds had left a trail of destruction overnight. One woman was injured after a lamp post fell on her. Trees were toppled crashing on to cars – eight vehicles were damaged in the Patronato Militar alone and a large pine fell on the hospital’s parking area.

MASS OPPOSITION

PSOE in Ronda is feeling the heat from the PP, PA and IU ranged against it. The problem is the socialists absorbed the former PA mayor and his fellow councillors who were officially labelled political turncoats. The PA has sworn it will not pact with PSOE and the socialists say the PP, PA and IU have a secret agreement to keep them out.

RURAL CINEMA

The second edition of cinemáscampo is being held in Benarrabá, Benalauría, Júcar, Jimera de Líbar, Cartajima and Cortes de la Frontera in conjunction with the CEDER rural development programme. The object is to bring dynamism to the rural communities and especially young people in small municipalities through short films with workshops on production and script writing in conjunction with Ronda and Málaga University.

DODGY MAYOR

The socialist mayor of Alpandeire in the Serranía de Ronda, Gabriel Jiménez, will still be number one on the party’s list for the town hall elections despite being recently accused of receiving stolen heavy machinery. The Guardia Civil say he received construction equipment that had been stolen on the coast. Jiménez insists he was set up and never new the machinery was illicit.

SUSPICIOUS NUMBERS

The national statistics institute (INE) and the office of electoral registration have voiced their suspicion over the number of residents added to the roll in seven municipalities of Málaga province, five of them in the Serranía de Ronda and are investigating. They say the increase cannot be justified in these small communities: Benarrabá, Genalguacil, Atajate, Faraján and Jubrique along with Sedella and Totalán.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 7, 2011

2011-04-07T12:14:00.001+02:00

TWO RONDA YOUTHS KILLED IN GRAND PRIX ACCIDENT

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The motorbike Grand Prix was held in Jerez last weekend and hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the event many by motorcycles. The traffic authorities and police mount a major security exercise to help prevent accidents but as this year people are still killed on the roads.

The worst of the weekend accidents was on Sunday at around 8.30 at Algodonales on the A-384 Ronda to Sevilla road. Two men aged 28 and 24 years old, both from Ronda, were killed in a multiple pile-up. Six other people suffered serious injuries.

One of the victims was a biker heading for the Jerez circuit when he crossed in to the lane for on-coming traffic and collided head on with a car travelling towards Algodonales. Both he and the young passenger in the car were killed.

Involved in the collision was another biker plus a car. The six injured aged between 24 and 39 years were taken to the hospital in Villamartín. Two have been kept in and whilst they were seriously injured they are not in a life threatening condition.

There were numerous other accidents in Cádiz province related to the Grand Prix. Apart from the two deaths in Algodonales 47 people were injured and first aid teams attended to 307 people at the Grand Prix circuit.

EROSKI DEVELOPMENT HITS ANOTHER SNAG

The major project to build Eroski’s largest commercial centre in Andalucía in Ronda has hit another snag. The property register has refused to issue a deed for the sale of the land to the company because of irregularities in the documentation.

One hitch is that the land was initially to be sold to the Grupo Ruiz Jurado but that was later changed to the Gestión de Proyectos Comerciales SL. The registry states the correct payments for this change have not been made.

The deeds cover the lands of the former football stadium and old fair ground that will be the site of the Eroski supermarket, numerous fashion shops, a cinema plus leisure complex along with a large car park. The town hall recently banked 3.5 million euros for the sale of the land.

The handling of the sale of the land has been highly criticised by opposition parties at the town hall – the Partido Popular and Izquierda Unida. In addition small and medium sized businesses have opposed the development as they fear it will kill the traditional shopping areas of Ronda.

For its part Ronda town hall says it is working to sort out these latest problems with the Eroski project. The last council meeting approved changes to the local development plan (PGOU) to allow the scheme to proceed.

FINISH IT

Ronda council at its last meeting till after the elections allocated 340,000 euros of tourism funding to complete the building meant to house Mueble Rondeño. Finished in 2006 with 1.2 million euros of regional government money it never did become a showcase for Ronda furniture. IU candidate for mayor, Rafael Ruíz, says nobody has any idea what the building will be used for.

GYPSY CELEBRATIONS

Gypsies head for Benarrabá on April 8 - 9 as it holds the first event dedicated to the Pueblo Gitano in the Serrania de Ronda. Benarrabá has one of the highest gypsy populations. There’ll be talks on gypsy history and their origin in Benarrabá, the gypsy flag will fly from the town hall plus there will be gypsy inspired food and entertainment.

DANGEROUS ROAD

There has been another accident on the A-397 Ronda to San Pedro road – the road in Málaga province with the second highest death toll. On this occasion a car collided with a van last Monday at 7.25 at km 18. The fire brigade and ambulance teams raced to the scene and an occupant of the car had to be cut from the wreckage.

RAJOY VISIT

It’s election time in Ronda. Partido Popular leader Mariano Rajoy spoke before 700 people to back Maripaz Fernandez as the party’s candidate for mayor. Meanwhile the Partido Andalucista’s Pilar González went to a notary to swear her party would not form a pact with PSOE as the socialists have absorbed the former PA mayor and councillors – all of whom were deemed political turncoats.

CRIME WATCH

National Police and Guardia Civil have set up a joint watch in Puerto Saúco and Ronda la Vieja. On March 24 six farms were robbed, one had six young pigs killed and over 20,000 euros of machinery was stolen. There has been a wave of such robberies for over a year. Now police will patrol as well as stopping and search passing vehicles.

CABLES GOING

Ronda is removing all the unsightly cabling from its historic old town. The project will take three years to complete. Work has started in the plaza de Mondragón with the power and telephone cables being laid underground. The project is being carried out by municipal employees working with Endesa. They recently removed the cables in the Patio de Santa Ana in Padre Jesús.

WALL CONCERTS

The historic Murallas del Carmen in Ronda date from the 8 th century Muslim period. Now they are to have a specially created space for outdoor summer concerts. Around 120,000 euros of job creation funds will be used to build a stage, changing rooms, toilets and install a lighting system. The work will be finished before the summer for the festival Cante Grande.

UNICAJA GOING

Unicaja has announced it is closing its branches in Cartajima and Alpandeire in the Serrania de Ronda. Another three closures in the Serranía are being considered, all only open for limited hours. The mayors and residents of the zone are angry as this could leave them without banking services. Other banks are being approached to see if they will take over the premises.

BRONZE CHESTNUTS

Igualeja has inaugurated its new plaza de Andalucía with a fountain in which the centrepiece is a bronze statute of man and woman gathering chestnuts in a sack. The chestnut is a major source of income in Igualeja and the surrounding villages – all of whom sent their mayors for the celebrations. The 1.87m high statue is by the celebrated Granada sculptor Venancio Sánchez.

NO POISON

Ronda has signed an accord with the Fundación Gypaetus with the objective of working to eliminate the use of poison bait in the municipality. Many animals die each year from eating the bait laid in the rural areas largely dogs and birds. Ronda will now be linked to the network of town halls that are working to stamp out this illegal practice.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2011

2011-03-31T10:19:00.000+02:00

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

2011-03-24T07:21:00.000+01:00

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 17, 2011

2011-03-17T10:59:00.000+01:00

COURT FILES LOS MERINOS CASE AGAINST RONDA’S MAYOR

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

After the Málaga prosecutor recently announced it had no case to put against the mayor of Ronda over the case on the proposed Los Merinos golf course development the court has now followed up by filing the proceedings.

The court ruled that Antonio Marín had not obstructed justice by approving the project by his own decree to build a luxury golf, residential and tourism complex at Los Merinos. The prosecutor had stated that it believed the mayor had acted unethically but could not find grounds for a legal case.

The case was brought by Izquierda Unida in 2007 when it complained to the Málaga prosecutor that the mayor had committed an offence against the town planning laws, the natural resources of the area and the environment.

The mayor had given the go-ahead for the two golf courses, 800 luxury homes and three hotels even thought the Andalucía water authority had produced a report stating the site did not have its own water resources to sustain such a development.

The water issued has seen widespread protests by environmentalists and residents of Cuevas del Becerro the nearest village to Los Merinos which is many kilometres from the centre of Ronda. Residents and farmers fear the development will drain the water aquifers on which they have depended for generations.

After the court announced its decision the spokesperson and candidate for mayor for the IU in Ronda, Rafael Ruíz, announced they would appeal against. Ruíz labelled it a bad decision and intends to call the former provincial delegate for the environment, Ignacio Trillo to give evidence.

Los Merinos covers around 1,000 hectares near the boundary of Ronda with Cuevas del Becerro. Although the developers have maintained the scheduled payments to Ronda town hall demanded by the planning accord work has been halted since 2008 because of the economic crisis in the construction sector.

APPEAL AGAINST THE GO-AHEAD IN THE TAJO STABLES CASE

The decision by Ronda’s court to proceed to the pre-trial stage in the ‘Caballerizas” case has been appealed by the lawyers acting for the ten councillors from a former administration implicated in the investigation.

The case revolves around the illegal construction of a house and a stables complex in the Hoya del Tajo area of Ronda – a zone that enjoys strict environmental protection.

In the dock are the promoter plus the ten councillors from PSOE, PP and GIL. They are accused of breaking the town planning laws and also offences against the administration of justice.

In 2005 the councillors were all members of municipal commission of works that approved the construction despite the lands protected status. However they insist all they agreed to was the refurbishment of a building that already existed on the site.

The judge has called on the Málaga prosecutor and the individuals presenting the case to formally request the opening of oral hearings or the case would be shelved.

The majority of the councillors implicated in the case have now quit public life. Three are still on the council and the socialist Isabel María Aguilera has since become director general of the regional government’s rural sustainable development authority.

SUSPECTED SUICIDE

A 45-year-old man disappeared last Wednesday in Montecorto after having drinks with a friend then going to move earth near the village square. On the way back from another property in search of a more powerful machine his tractor slid into a ditch but despite a widespread search there was no sign of him. On Saturday his body was found near his home and police suspect suicide.

NO PROJECT

The controversial toll motorway between Ronda and San Pedro officially doesn’t exist. Proposed by PSOE before the last elections it was due to be completed next year but work never started. PSOE in Ronda have been featuring it on their election material but when IU asked the Andalucía ministry of works for details of this phantom motorway the answer was it doesn’t exist.

NEW PARISH

Ronda is to have a new parish in fast growing San Rafael district. The Bishop of Málaga has allocated two million euros for the church and is due to lay the first brick shortly. The faithful in the zone have had to worship in San Cristóbal. The new church will be built on land donated by the municipality and will accommodate 500 people.

POPULAR MAYOR

Benalauría’s Eugenio Márquez is a much sought after politician. He sits as mayor as an independent but both the centre right PP and centre left PSOE wanted him to head their lists at the municipal elections. However he has rejected their advances and will stand again for the independent Agrupación de Electores de Benalauría which last time received 13 votes more than PSOE.

BLIND TOURISM

The tourist office in Montejaque in the Serranía de Ronda has presented a special tourism plan of the municipality designed for people with impaired sight. Montejaque is only the second municipality in Europe to make specific provisions for visitors who are partially sighted or blind. Montejaque is a key walking centre and a special route has been created for those with eyesight problems.

FOOD FAIR

Ronda Abierta wants to help integrate foreign residents living in the municipality with the local population. On April 15, 16 and 17 it’s organising at the Casino the first Feria Gastronómica Internacional where food from various countries will be on display and can be sampled. Currently there are 22 participants in what is billed as an international celebration of the arrival of spring.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2011

2011-03-10T09:53:00.000+01:00

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 MARCH 3, 2011

2011-03-03T15:41:00.000+01:00

PROSECUTOR SAYS RONDA’S MAYOR ACTED LEGALLY BUT UNETHICALLY

By David Eade - Costa del Sol News

Good and bad news for the mayor of Ronda Antonio Marín over the controversial golf and leisure development at Los Merinos.

The environmental prosecutor has recommended that the case brought against Marín for obstruction of justice in the approval of the complex be filed. Although the project is currently halted because of the financial crisis when it proceeds there will be two golf courses, 800 luxury homes and hotels built in the open countryside.

The prosecutor says that having studied all the documentation relating to the mayor’s decision it does not appear that any law has broken but he believes Marín did not follow the moral or environmental code.

When he gave the go-ahead for the development by his own decree Marín was a member of the Partido Andalucista. He and his fellow PA councillors have since left the party, sit as non-aligned but he will lead PSOE in to the elections this May.

In February 2006 Marín issued his decree for the development to proceed although an environmental impact report had already raised questions over the lack of water resources on the site. This has led to major protests by environmentalists and the residents of nearby Cuevas del Becerro that fear the complex will drain their own water aquifers on which they and farmers have depended on for generations.

Curiously the prosecutor says there is more than a simple suspicion that irregularities have taken place but says that alone is not sufficient to determine whether illegal conduct has taken place. So Marín stands condemned of unethical behaviour but seemingly spared prosecution.

The battle over Los Merinos will continue not least because the ecologists will not give up even though the Andalucía High Court will ask the regional government to lift any hold-up on its final approval for the scheme.

However this is the second blow suffered by Ecologistas en Acción and Silvema Serranía de Ronda in a matter of days. Last week the regional government’s environmental ministry said it was dropping the complaint against the developers for carrying out works that damaged the environment. This complaint was laid in 2006 and the environmentalists will contest the decision.

In the end a lot may rest with politics and not the courts starting with whether Marín is re-elected mayor in May for PSOE and whether PSOE remains the government of Andalucía in 2012.

SEVILLA ACCESS

The new intersection on the road from Ronda to Sevilla has been opened as part of the Andalucía government’s 14 million euros investment in creating three new access points to the town. Two other flyover - underpass links are being created from the San Pedro and El Burgo – Ardales roads and despite financial hold ups they should be completed in around two months.

ARTS BOSS

José Garasino, currently the director of the Media Business School in Ronda has been unanimously appointed as director general of the Acadmia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España in Madrid. Born in Paris Garasino has worked for 18 years in the film business and films include Torrente 2, La niña de mis ojos, Soldados de Salamina and Pasos de baile.

NOT TALKING

Ronda’s councillor for employment, Josefa Valle, who also happens to be the mayor’s wife, has broken off relations with the Apymer small and medium business association. Valle has accused Apymer of criticising the administration’s handling of the economic crisis and being opposed to the Eroski commercial centre. Apymer says the Eroski report was signed by Los Verdes and Valle should learn to read.

STREET WORKS

You can tell the local elections are approaching as Ronda has given work to 50 people and ordered them to put the town’s streets in order in the shortest possible time. Thirty streets will benefit with work starting in the Cruz Verde - 500,000 euros is being allocated to pavements; 600,000 euros to repairing the road surface and the filling in of potholes.

EROSKI CLOSER

Ronda’s council has approved its fourth amendment to the local development plan (PGOU) to allow the Eroski commercial centre to proceed on the site of the old sports stadium and fair ground. The change was required by the Andalucía government to allow the project to proceed. It’ll see a 120 million euros investment and create 1,200 jobs. The opposition PP and IU abstained.

MAY TRIAL

In February 2007 we first broke the news four National Police and a Guardia Civil officer in Ronda had been arrested for extorting money from brothels and having sexual relations with the girls. The case will finally come to trial this May in Málaga’s court with the prosecutor seeking a total jail term of 39 years for the five.

GIVING BIRD

Ecologists have given the bird to the spectacular of raptures from Ronda’s Blas Infante auditorium. The tourism initiative was launched at the FITUR tourism fair in Madrid. The ecologists say they don’t oppose the spectacular rather consider it a positive initiative but point out the proposed location will have the raptures flying over breeding nests and the Murallas del Carmen would be better.

TARMAC ROW

Angry confrontations in La Indiana as work crews ordered by the Andalucía environment ministry tried to remove tarmac from the right of way through the Ronda enclave. Tarmac had been laid by Adif after heavy lorries had broken the surface during the works on the Ronda to Algeciras line. The tarmac cost 60,000 euros. Adif will be fined 150,000 if it’s not removed.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2011

2011-02-24T10:23:00.000+01:00

GINER DE LOS RIOS – AUTHOR OF THE YEAR

By David Eade

Britons will have heard of the famous Spanish writer Cervantes and also the poet Lorca. Perhaps not many will be aware of the life and works of Francisco Giner de los Rios.

That could be about to change as the Andalucía government has named him as its author of the year and a travelling exhibition will visit all eight provinces during April. Born in Ronda in 1839, he is described as a “fundamental malagueño” and also as Spain’s Socrates.

Certainly Giner de los Rios was more than a writer. He was a progressive teacher and a thinker – one of the ideologues who was as the forefront of the explosive cultural revolution that overtook Spain.

By honouring him in 2011 the regional government has placed Giner de los Rios on the same pedestal as Aleixandre, Alberti, Bécquer, Cernuda and María Zambrano. The Centro Andaluz de las Letras is organizing the exhibition in conjunction with the Fundación Francisco Giner de los Rios.

The exhibition will be staged in Ronda to coincide with the international day of the book. In addition 100,000 leaflets on his life and works will be distributed amongst libraries in Andalucía.

Although Giner de los Rios died in Madrid in 1915 his ideology was a key element behind the Institución de Libre Eseñanza amongst whose initiatives was the Residencia de Estudiantes. It was this centre that nurtured the talents of Federico García Lorca, Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel which formed the revered Generation of 27.

When he died aged 76, lying in bed with his body defeated, he refused any medical attention. He said: “It is futile. One’s duty is to die with dignity” so ending a distinguished lifetime of dignified teaching, thought and writing.

FENCE DOWN

The Andalucía High Court ruled in favour of Ronda town hall ordering the walls and fences erected by a private individual in the area of the Virgen de la Cabeza shrine to be immediately removed. The person has also been fined. The court dismissed an appeal against an earlier ruling the obstructions must go as they impede the enjoyment of this popular area.

MINISTER’S SUPPORT

Spain’s minister for foreign affairs, Trinidad Jiménez, was in Ronda last Saturday to present PSOE’s candidate for mayor at the forthcoming May elections. Jiménez is from Vélez-Málaga and spoke on behalf of Antonio Marín. He is currently a two term mayor having been previously elected for the Partido Andalucista but he and his fellow PA councillors defected, sit as independents and joined PSOE.

GOOD HEALTH

The 40.8 million project to build at new hospital to serve Ronda, the Serranía and parts of Cádiz is proceeding on target. The works started in October 2008 and will be completed in 2012. It will be the first hospital in Málaga province with single rooms – 186 of them. This will give the new medical centre 39 more beds than the existing hospital.

BY-PASS ANGER

Political parties have expressed their anger over the hold put on the by-pass around Arriate. Currently 4,000 vehicles a day have to negotiate the narrow main street. The 5.3 million euros road would take traffic approaching from Setenil via a by-pass connecting with the Ardales to Ronda A-367. Much of the road has been completed but has been halted in the budget cuts.

MISSING CASH

The State auditing body, Tribunal de Cuentas, will complete a report on the missing 360,000 euros from Cuevas del Becerro’s coffers. In January 2009 the long serving town hall accountant was accused of misappropriating the badly needed funds from the small municipality. The mayor and prosecutor have opened a legal case against him, his accounts have been frozen but he says he’s innocent.

SENATOR MAYOR

The PSOE mayor of Genalguacil, Beatriz Álvarez, is to become a senator. She will be one of the four senators (three of PSOE, one PP) representing Málaga province in Spain’s upper house. Álvarez is a two-term mayor and replaces Emelina Fernández who has become president of the Consejo Audiovisual Andaluz. She has stood down as mayor but will be a candidate for councillor.

ESTHER’S PETITION

The parents of Esther, the young girl who was murdered in Arriate by a neighbouring youth, have started a campaign to collect signatures on a petition. Juan and Carmen want tougher sentences handed down to minors convicted of blood crimes under the Ley del Menor. They collected 3,000 signatures in just one week. Shortly they’re expected to return to their native Cádiz village.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2011

2011-02-17T12:17:00.000+01:00

ACINIPO IS NOW AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTED SITE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The council of the Andalucía government last week placed in the catalogue of historical heritage sites the Roman ruins at Acinipo. It has been entered in the section relating to archaeological zones.

Acinipo is within the municipality of Ronda some 20 kilometres from the town centre. It was the original settlement in the area and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Andalucía. It dates from the first century BC and was used until the Nazari era.

Acinipo has been well preserved given that it was largely uninhabited after the end of the Roman epoch. The site also contains remains from a fortified Iberian settlement with some circular and rectangular prehistoric homes.

Of the Roman town there are the vestiges of the wall, the urbanisation with terraces and some private homes with painted walls. Near the Roman theatre are some ceramic ovens and two necropolises where they held funerals. There are also baths that were part of the forum complex with painted stones dating from the first century AD.

All these remains along with the theatre have been protected since 1931. To this has now been added the Mesa de Ronda la Vieja which takes in a zone of 251.66 hectares.

The theatre is one of the oldest and best preserved in Spain. To this day can be seen the graded seating in consecutive rows. At the front is the orchestra or semi-circular spaces reserved for the dignitaries. These are marked out in pink local stone. Behind the stage rises the high frontage of the building which in the Greek style has three entrances.

The archaeological excavations currently underway have been very fruitful. Amongst the discoveries has been a large extension dating from the first century AD possibly associated with the forum of the town which includes three tiered bathing pools. Also uncovered is part of the water heating system.

Ronda town hall is to create an interpretation centre at Acinipo. However this has been put on hold as both the regional government and environmentalists have objected to its location.

MAYOR ARRESTED

Alpandeire - a Serranía de Ronda village best known as the birth place of Fray Leopoldo – has had its mayor arrested by the Guardia Civil. Gabriel Jiménez is accused of buying stolen heavy construction machinery. A man in San Pedro and Estepona have been arrested for robbery plus another in Ronda for receiving. It remains to be seen whether PSOE insists he resigns.

HABITUAL ROBBER

Local police recently arrested a 35-year-old Ronda man for breaking into a bar in the plaza Duquesa de Parcent making off with the till. First arrested in mid-January he was charged with a total of 18 such offences - that total has risen to 24. The one man crime wave was released by the court but now has been jailed for 18 months.

BONES FOUND

During construction work on a site between the calles Torrejones and Empedrada in the San Francisco old quarter of Ronda ten skeletons and coins have been uncovered. All face towards Mecca and it is believed the site was a burial ground dating back to the Muslim era. Two of the skeletons have been identified as children aged around 3 and 8 years.

ROUND-ABOUTS

Roundabouts are on the agenda in Ronda where large amounts are being spent to easy the traffic flow. The new 23,000 euros roundabout inaugurated last week is easing traffic through the industrial estate which has seen its flow increase to 13,000 vehicles a day because of diversions caused by the massive new access programme. Two new roundabouts are planned for the industrial zone.

SERRANÍA PROJECTS

Two villages in the Serranía de Ronda are benefiting from projects funded by the province. In Faraján there is now an old people’s residence which can cater for 29 people from throughout the area and has created ten jobs. In Alpandeire the first brick has been laid for the new municipal swimming pool. Catering for 156 it will be completed for next year.

LIGHTS OUT

Montejaque faces having the plug pulled. It owes around 240,000 euros to Eléctrica Serranía de Ronda with the town hall’s bill dating back to 2001. The case has gone to Ronda’s court because money was assigned to pay the debt and used for other purposes. The mayor says the debt is no higher than other municipalities and money was used on vital services.

LEAVING TOWN

The parents of María Esther, the 13-year-old murdered in Arriate on January 20, will leave the village after the mass in her memory. They are from Paterna in Cádiz but moved to Arriate to work five years ago. A petition is making the rounds in Arriate demanding the Ley del Menor is changed to increase the penalties for minors convicted of blood crimes.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE

An 8-year-old girl was rescued from the Sierra de las Nieves by Ronda’s Guardia Civil, fire brigade, Protección Civil and forest guards. The child was enjoying a day at Puerto de Los Pilones, one of the highest peaks in the park, with her parents when she fell injuring her back. Rescuers took her by stretcher to Quejifales refuge where an ambulance was waiting.

STORK’S NEST

A campaign is underway to extend the number of stork nests in the Serranía. The birds are widespread in Cádiz and Huelva but less so in Málaga with nests in Alameda, Ronda and Arriate. A new nest has been placed in the high chimney of an old soap factory in La Indiana and it is hoped that young birds from Ronda and Arriate will nest there.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2011

2011-02-10T12:56:00.000+01:00

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 FEBRUARY 3, 2011

2011-02-03T16:52:00.000+01:00

STOP PRESS – MINOR DETAINED FOR KILLING MARÍA ESTHER

At 15.00 today (Thursday) the Guardia Civil went to a house in the calle Vinillas in Arriate and arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the murder of María Esther Jimenéz. The youth will be brought before a judge in the coming hours. The 13-year-old went missing on the night of Wednesday January 19 and her dead body was found in a swimming pool pump house by a fireman searching for her 24 hours later. Tuesday, February 1, would have been her 14 th birthday. She had spent her last evening with friends at a bus shelter near her home and the youth is said to have been one of those in the group. First reactions in Arriate to the arrest were shock with locals says he was a normal lad from a normal family.

FORO GLOBAL 21 REJECTS RONDA TO SAN PEDRO MOTORWAY

Opposition to the proposed toll motorway between Ronda and San Pedro de Alcántara is growing. The latest to reject the scheme is Foro Global 21 which says the road is unsustainable ecologically and economically. The news was broken by Ecologistas en Acción which itself opposes the scheme.

The deputy for the environment and president of the forum, Miguel Esteban Martín, has presented this negative assessment to Málaga’s provincial authority.

Foro Global 21 forms part of one of the programmes developed by the province – the Agenda 21 of Málaga. One of its objectives is to investigate projects that affect the environment and land of the province.

The construction of the toll motorway of around 33 kilometres says the forum will inflict important and irreversible damage along the way. It argues there are serious errors in the scientific aspects of the project.

The composition of flora and fauna is badly reflected in the environmental studies. This says both the forum and the ecologists is an unforgiveable error in the report and the authorities did not bother to take the trouble to gather data from the area. This in effect invalidates the environmental impact study on the road.

Foro Global 21 is also of the opinion that the economic benefits stated for the region are not real. It says it would accelerate the disappearance of jobs from the inland region and see more workers try to travel to the coast although presently the labour market there was saturated. It would also open the zone along the route to urban development and speculation.

EARLY BLOSSOM, LESS ALMONDS

One of the delights of driving through the Serranía de Ronda right now is that the almond trees are out in full bloom. Whilst this is beautiful on the eye the association of young farmers in the area are worried. They say that in past years when the trees have come in too flower early they have suffered the effects of the cold, rains, snow, ice and winds then produced less almond nuts to harvest.

It is usual to see the almond trees in blossom in later February but many have been in flower for weeks. It is believed this happened because the winter temperatures have been warmer than usual but recently there has been a cold snap with snow in some places.

The full effects of this early blooming have been felt in El Burgo which is one of the major producers of almonds in the Serranía de Ronda. Here the owners of orchards of almond trees are very worried by the situation.

Rafael Cordero from Asaja Ronda explained that in the Serranía there are over 100,000 hectares assigned to cultivation of which 1,200 are given over to the production of almonds, around one per cent of the territory.

The trees are normally planted on land of low agricultural value with poor soil or difficult access. Many of the small producers harvest the almonds for their own consumption whilst others sell them to markets in the area.

REPAIR WORK

Twenty of the 60 social housing units at Olivar de Las Monjas in Ronda that were handed over at the end of December had defects including cracks, exposed power cables and pools of water in the garage. The project for 111 apartments is being funded with 5.07 million euros by the Andalucía government. Its delegate in Málaga is now going to supervise repairs.

ELECTRIC BIKES

Ronda’s local police have just unveiled a Nissan car which is being added to the forces fleet. In the past year four new cars have been acquired plus the existing two and an unmarked vehicle. It is planned to acquire new motorbikes this summer and the possibility is being examined to use electric engines to improve the police image and aid the environment.

GONE MISSING

National Police and Guardia Civil are searching for a 26-year-old from Puerto Real who went missing in Ronda on January 22. After a night out with his girl friend they had a row, he took cash from a bank machine and has not been seen since in Puerto Real, Ronda or Barcelona where he spent Christmas. He’s driving a red Seat León 0780DYG.

CHACÓN RETURNS

The Partido Popular’s Begoña Chacón is a politician on the move. She was the mayor in Benalauría for three consecutive terms. Then she became a councillor in Ronda - part of the coalition with the PA. She is still a Ronda councillor and is also an MP in the national parliament. However in May she will stand again as mayor in her native Benalauría.

NAUGHTY VIDEO

There’s anger amongst PSOE politicians in Fuengirola and Ronda. The PP has used municipal workers at the Fuengirola TV station to produce a slick election video for the party in Ronda. Fuengirola has a PP administration led by Esperanza Oña and other political videos are being made. To add insult to injury the station has been upgraded with funds from the Zapatero government.

MORE OLIVES

The campaign to harvest olives in the Serranía de Ronda has produced a bumper crop with 15 per cent more of the fruit. Around 6.5 million kilos have been harvested but a million kilos were lost through rain. Vitally the season has generated 10 per cent more working days for the rural workforce. In the Serranía there are 5,000 hectares of olive groves.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JANUARY 27, 2011

2011-01-27T15:55:00.000+01:00

SEARCH FOR THE CHILD KILLER OF ARRIATE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Arriate is a small peaceful village just 15 minutes drive from Ronda. That sense of calm was shattered last Thursday when a fireman, who was part of the search team for missing María Esther Jiménez, found her battered body in a swimming pool pump house.

Her parents had reported her missing in the early hours of Thursday morning. She had spent Wednesday evening in Arriate at the bus shelter with school friends, one even capturing her smiling on her digital camera.

At 21.30 she went into a bar for a glass of water. Since the investigation into her death started one witness has come forward to say he saw her with a man by a bridge some 100 metres from where her body was found. However as the word used was “tarde” it is not clear what time of the latter part of the day the sighting took place. As a veil of secrecy has been imposed no clarification is forthcoming

Arriate is a close community and within minutes of the family raising the alarm local people and the police were searching the streets and disserted outbuildings to try and find the youngster. The hunt went on till the fireman made the tragic find almost 24 hours after her disappearance.

The owner of the pool house in El Membrillar said the door was usual left unlocked. It has been reported that María Esther had received fatal wounds to the head and police forensic teams removed some heavy objects including a blood covered brick from the site.

The council met after María Esther was found and declared three days of mourning. After the body was released from the post mortem on Saturday a funeral service was held in the chapel of Arriate’s old people’s home. On Sunday María Esther was buried in Paterna de la Ribera in Cádiz – her parent’s home village.

A frightened village

The present cause of alarm in the village is because last week the mayor Bernardino Gaona said he was confident that the culprit or culprits will soon be found. His view was further backed up by the family with the grandfather, Moisés Villegas, stating: “the investigation is going very well and soon the culprit will be in prison.” An arrest was spoken of for Monday or Tuesday.

What seems to have changed is that a crime investigation unit has arrived in Arriate from Madrid and taken over the investigation from the Ronda Guardia Civil. Some of the officers worked on the Rocío Wanninkhof (Mijas) y Ana Elena Lorente (Álora) cases. It was this squad that summoned María Esther parent’s back to the village straight after the funeral to take DNA tests. Numerous such tests have been carried out and these will take a week to complete. The sub-delegate of the government in Málaga, Hilario López Luna, says investigations are proceeding well but will take time. The Guardia Civil will make no comment on whether there was a sexual motive till after the post mortem results are released. In the meantime Arriate has a child killer in its midst.

María Esther has been described as an “innocent” thirteen-year-old; she was happy and not bullied. She did not own a mobile phone and the Guardia Civil are examining her friend’s computer as this was the only access to the internet that she had. One line of enquiry is checking social network websites.

The family home, the bus shelter where the children hang out, the bar where she asked for water and the place where she was killed are all within minutes walk from each other. She was never more than three minutes from her front door.

Arriate is a frightened village and none more so that the children at the infants, junior and senior schools. María Esther attended all three and the pupils will gather in her memory on Thursday, a week after her body was discovered.

SNOW CAUSES ACCIDENTS ON RONDA – SAN PEDRO ROAD

At daybreak on Sunday snow started to fall on the Sierras surrounding Ronda. It arrived accompanied by strong winds and low temperatures. Whilst it did not settle in the town itself it did on the higher parts of the Serranía de Ronda and of course the aptly named Sierra de las Nieves.

The Sierra de las Nieves received the heaviest covering and saw families heading out to enjoy the snow. However the snow also caused major problems on the Ronda to San Pedro de Alcántara road between kms 20 and 25.

Two coaches skidded on the ice and a number of cars were also involved in accidents but thankfully nobody was injured with the crash barriers preventing them tumbling down the abyss.

The Andalucía public works authority spread salt on the Ronda road and warnings were placed to alert drivers to the dangerous conditions. However although snow did fall in other areas of Málaga province it did not settle nor cause any major problems.

IU WANT RONDA – SAN PEDRO TOLL MOTORWAY DROPPED

The IU group on the Málaga authority have voiced their opposition to the planned toll motorway that would link Ronda with San Pedro de Alcántara. The project was an electoral promise by PSOE ahead of the last regional government elections but other than a report being produced which is currently subject to consultation nothing has happened.

The road would be very expensive to create which at this time of economic crisis neither the Andalucía government nor any private investor wants to fund. Hence the foot dragging. However the IU wants the regional government to drop the entire project and to improve the existing road instead.

Apart from the high cost factor the toll motorway is opposed by environmentalists as it would destroy many protected zones and also says the IU open up the area to urban development. None-the-less the current road is one of the province’s major accident black spots so some solution is urgently required.

The proposed road would be 32.8 kilometres long, a dual carriageway with a central safety barrier and would cut driving times from 50 to 22 minutes. Crucially it would cost 350 million euros at current estimates and say environmentalists would damage the Sierra de las Nieves and harm the delicate eco-system of the Sierra Bermeja.

Far better says the IU is to stick with the present road. This is currently single lane for its entire lengthy and one of the reasons for the high accident rate is that vehicles overtake slow moving lorries that cause long tailbacks with inevitable collisions and near misses.

The IU wants the road widened so that parts can be dual carriageway or have overtaking zones. The road also has numerous bends which take a high toll on the lives of motorcyclists and these too should be removed. Given the mountainous terrain it would be a costly exercise but nothing compared with the 350 million euros needed for the new road.

BIG TIME

Ronda National Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who is accused of carrying out 16 burglaries in the town. All were on commercial premises where he forced his entry. Officers recovered a cash till stolen from one of the shops and his tools. He was arrested as he broke into a shop at El Fuerte and has a lengthy list of previous convictions.

ANTEQUERA LINK

The Partido Popular is promising to create a motorway between Ronda and Antequera which it says is fundamental to improving communications if it’s elected to government. Javier Arenas and Mariano Rajoy who would lead PP administrations in Sevilla and Madrid have put in writing their commitment to build the road which they say has been an objective of the PP for many years.

MUSEUM NO

The regional government has written to Ronda town hall to say it will not give its approval for the plans to build a museum at the Roman town of Acinipo. The Andalucía authority says the proposed site is not zoned as urban in the local development plan. Environmentalists opposed the location of the building which they say is too close to the ruins.

MAYOR ACCUSED

The socialist mayor of Alpandeire, Gabriel Jiménez, is under investigation by the Guardia Civil after at least two stolen heavy earth moving machines were found in a warehouse on his land. He insists the property is not used by him but his father-in-law. He says he knows nothing about the machinery but Izquierda Unida are demanding explanations alleging he is implicated in illegal sales.

FOOTPATH RIGHTS

Ecologists and walkers’ associations are starting a campaign in Ronda to walk alone the various ‘caminos púbicos rurales’ in the municipality and Serranía. The purpose is to exercise the right of way as in many cases land owners illegally fence off the public footpaths. They start in Los Merinos with the agreement of the developers where the controversial golf course will be built.

NO POLICE

Thirteen municipalities in the Serranía de Ronda including Benalauría, Benadalid, Atajate and Jubrique with less than 500 residents have no local police officers nor could they justify them on economic grounds. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Guardia Civil but in the case of traffic offences - if a car is blocking a street - residents have to sort the problem out themselves.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2011

2011-01-20T10:26:00.000+01:00

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 JANUARY 13, 2011

2011-01-13T20:21:00.000+01:00

SEVEN COUPLES IN THE SERRANIA WITHOUT MONEY, PHONE OR FOOD

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Seven pairs of people from Andalucía are to participate in a TV experience and their adventures are being organised by the Centro de Desarrollo Rural de la Serranía. The reality TV show will be record on location in the Serranía de Ronda between February 28 and March 6.

The key challenge is that the seven pairs have to get by for seven days in the municipalities of the Serranía without any money, mobile phones, food or accommodation. How they cope with that situation is what will hopefully make compulsive TV viewing.

The programme is called Serranía a hierro and is a pioneering experience on behalf of CEDAR. The participants have to survive on their wits and in recent days the casting sessions have been held for the members of the public keen to take up the challenge.

RONDA TO SAN PEDRO MOTORWAY PLANS OPEN FOR INSPECTION

The Partido Popular and Izquierda Unida both believe the plans to build a toll motorway between Ronda and the Costa del Sol are nothing more than an electoral bribe.

The project was first announced before the last Spanish general election in 2008 and now municipal elections are this May with another national and Andalucía voting round on the horizon next year. Hence both the PP and IU would argue the announcement that the plans for the project are now open for inspection.

The fact is the toll highway was by now meant to be under construction and not still on the drawing board. None-the-less Ronda’s councillor for public works, María José Martin de Haro, has announced the project can be studied for a month from January 4. The document in digital form is at the office of the Servicio de Atención al Ciudadano. The town halls in the Alto Genal area will also be making the plans available to their residents and interested parties.

The road will require an investment of 350 million euros, would be 32.8 kilometres in length and reduce the driving time between Ronda and San Pedro from 50 to 22 minutes. Ecologistas en Acción have presented numerous statements against the project but Izquierda Unida says it hasn’t because it does not view the project as real but just an electoral ploy.

GAS DEATHS

A tragedy in Ronda just days into the New Year. A 43-year-old couple died in their apartment in the town centre. The case is being investigated by a judge who has imposed a secrecy order. Police believe the gas fumes from their wood fire is a likely culprit. The mother of one of the victims discovered the bodies and suffered a nervous breakdown.

DEBT REDUCED

The Three Kings brought 1.5 million euros for the suppliers to Ronda town hall. The welcome news means almost 100 companies, collectives and associations have had their bills paid. However this amount is just the tip of the iceberg as the municipality still owes three million euros to its suppliers. Overall the debts of the town hall stand just over 16 million euros.

RUMANIAN ROBBERS

Guardia Civil have arrested two Rumanians who carried out thefts on a supermarkets and shop in Gaucín and Algatocín. The pair stole alcohol and food products to the value of 1,300 euros. Officers raced to Algatocín after the staff and customers at the shop surprised the men who threatened them. They were detained as they loaded the goods and till into their vehicle.

FLY PAST

Ronda has signed a novel agreement with a company that will use the Blas Infante amphitheatre to hold flights by raptures. There will be two flights by the birds each day over the Tajo gorge and they have been described as “educational, ecological and environmental”. The spectaculars will mean that amphitheatre can be used year round and will be aimed at tourists.

GET STONED

The first political film festival in Ronda held last December honoured the veteran British director Ken Loach. Now the mayor Antonio Marín has announced that the second festival will be dedicated to US director and screenwriter Oliver Stone. In addition the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, is expected to participate in a debate during the festival to commence at the end of November.

TWO GORGES

The Fitur international travel fair will be held in Madrid with January 21 being dedicated to Ronda. The town of the Tajo will share a stand with Cuenca who both have famous gorges and historic links. Amongst the announcements will be a plan to illuminate Ronda’s gorge, the Puente Nuevo with spotlights highlighting both the San Sebastián minaret and the Mondragón Palace.

FOUR MORE

Ronda ended 2010 with four more unemployed than at the end of November. The final total for the year was 4,445 which is 288 more than in January of 2010. Women still make up the largest jobless group with 2,324 with the male total on 2,121. As usual the majority of the unemployed are in the services sector followed by construction and industry.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2011

2011-01-06T18:44:00.000+01:00

POLITICAL TURNCOATS OFF THE HOOK

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

On the Monday after Christmas the Partido Popular formally broke the anti political turncoat pact with PSOE meaning that politicians deemed of committing such acts could be accepted as candidates in the forthcoming elections.

In Andalucía this will affect El Puerto de Santa María, Jabugo, Chiclana de la Frontera, Alcaucín, Estepona, Ronda, Cañete de los Torres, Yunquera, Mengibar, Bollullos del Condado, Sierra de Yeguas, Jabalquinto, Morelabor and Genalguacil. However there are also numerous cases in the regions of Aragón, Asturias, the Canary Islands, Cantabría, Castilla y Leon, Castilla – La Mancha, Cataluña, Galicia, Madrid and Valencia.

The agreement was meant to stop a politician or a group of same from standing and being elected for one party then switching allegiance after he, she or they were elected. A commission of experts was set up to determine whether a politician or politicians had become turncoats and the pact was aimed at preventing their adopted party from accepting them as future candidates.

Perhaps the most extreme example of this can be found in Ronda. At the last election the mayor Antonio Marín had led his eight councillors from the Partido Andalucista to victory as the largest party and continued its coalition with the Partido Popular.

Months later Marín broke the accord with the PP and joined in coalition with PSOE instead. Then he and his eight fellow PA councillors resigned from their party, now sit as non-aligned councillors but have all become members of PSOE.

This has left the Partido Andalucista without any councillors at the town hall when it was elected as the largest group by the voters. The commission on political turncoats deemed Marín and his eight PA councillors all to be guilty. However the breaking of the pact means he will now almost certainly lead PSOE into the next municipal election.

It should also be noted that before he left the PA for socialist PSOE Marín had declared an interest in throwing in his lot with his then coalition partners the centre right Partido Popular. The move fell through because the PP was not keen to have him. This May the voters of Ronda will have the final say!

RONDA FAMILY EVACUATED ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

A Ronda married couple and their three children aged 21, 12 and 9 years of age spent New Year’s Eve in a hotel after a fire badly damaged their home.

The fire broke out at 20.00 at their house in the calle Juan Ramón Jiménez in the Doctor Vázquez quarter as they prepared for the evening’s celebrations. What happened is not yet clear but flames appeared on top of the gas bottle heater and the fire brigade and local police rushed to the scene to put out the flames.

At the time of the blaze the mother was in the shower and the children helped their father flee the property as he has had a leg amputated. Mercifully none of them suffered any injuries but the flames damaged the kitchen and part of the back of the house. In addition a large amount of clothing that was near the gas heater was destroyed.

The local police say the incident could have been far more serious had the gas bottle exploded. In the event both they and the fire brigade managed to take it out on to the terrace away from the flames.

The family were left in the street in tears but local families offered to take them in to share their New Year’s Eve meal. The local police arranged for them to be taken to a small hotel for the night and on New Year’s Day the cleaned up operation begun.

FIRST BABY OF 2011 BUT NO CHEQUE

It was back in May that the Spanish premier, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, announced that the “cheque-bebé” would be withdrawn as of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The payment of 2,500 euros was made to the parents of babies but was stopped as part of the government’s austerity measures.

There have been reports that doctors were being put under pressure by expectant families to ensure the babies arrived before midnight. Now they just have the new arrival plus a new year to celebrate.

The first baby in Málaga province was delivered at Ronda’s hospital at 1.20 on New Year’s Day. He was José Antonio Jiménez de los Santos and he weighed in at 3 kilos, 750 grams.

José Antonio’s parents, María Luisa and Manuel, say the birth was totally natural and without any problems. They already have two other children, Aroa and Manuel aged 5 and 9 years respectively.

The family in the Sierra de Cádiz village of Algodonales but Ronda is their nearest hospital some 30 kilometres away. They lamented they had just missed out on the baby cheque by the skin of their teeth and said they thought the government should have maintained it for those women who became pregnant in 2010.

FOUR RESCUED

Four people were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in an apartment in the calle María Cabrera in Ronda in the early hours of the morning. In the flat were a grandmother and her two granddaughters. They were sent to hospital along with a neighbour who had led them to safety. A short circuit in the fuse box is to blame.

FIESTA LECTURE

Ronda’s mayor and the fair commission have met to decide who would be given the honour of making the opening speech at the Pedro Romero feria in September. Writer Fernando Sánchez was in the frame but was discarded because of the scandal over under-aged sex in his latest novel. Instead the honour goes to Adelaida de la Calle, the rector of Málaga University.

UNHAPPY RESIDENTS

The Andalucía public development company handed over the keys to 60 of the 111 social housing units at Olivar de las Monjas in Ronda. Five million euros has been invested in the scheme but many of the new owners are far from happy. They say there are numerous defects with cracks and damp whilst some even found building tools littering their home.

BLOOD BATH

Ronda has been included in the map produced by the Andalucía government showing the sites of common graves dating back to the Civil War and Franco era. The old San Lorenzo cemetery has six such graves in which an estimated 1,600 victims are interred. The association concerned with these events says the death toll is due to the butchery in the Serranía region.

MORE ENGINES

The Málaga fire fighting consortium is to spend 3.1 million euros on new equipment that will benefit fire teams in the entire province. The organisation has opted to lease vehicles rather than purchase them which means the funds can be spread further. The Ronda fire service has 72 operatives but it is yet to be determined what new equipment will be stationed there.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 30, 2010

2010-12-29T18:08:00.000+01:00

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.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 23, 2010

2010-12-22T17:33:00.000+01:00

RONDA MAN ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTING MINORS

In Ronda the National Police have arrested a 61-year-old man accused of corrupting two minors. The youths run away from a care centre in Gaucín as they feared they would be arrested for robberies in Zahara de la Sierra as one of the property owners had seen them.

They fled from Gaucín to Ronda where they were befriended by the accused. He sheltered them at his home in the town and was intent on having sexual relations with them and gave them money and drugs. The man has no previous convictions and is being held by the court.

WIKI RONDA

Ronda has made it into the Wiki Leaks file. According to the website the then Spanish foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos and the American ambassador in Madrid met in the town of the Tajo to discuss international subjects as well as the state of relations between the two countries. Included was the sale of patrol boats by Spain to Venezuela and Cuba issues.

ANOTHER DEATH

Last Thursday afternoon a 31-year-old motorist died on the Ronda to Benaoján road by the Cueva del Gato. His car went off the road, excessive speed it the likely cause. From Montejaque he was well-known in Ronda where he ran a bar. This is the second death at the same spot – in October a 34-year-old businessman from Montejaque was killed in a motorbike accident.

WIFE BEATER

The National Police arrested a 23-year-old man from North Africa after he attacked his wife at their apartment in the calle Jerez in Ronda. He is said to have struck his wife last Thursday afternoon whilst she was caring for their nine month old child. He was duly arrested on domestic violence charges and is being held at the disposition of the court.

FULL MONTY

The National and local police in Ronda stopped a vehicle and gave a breath test to the 40 year old driver on suspicion of being drunk. It proved positive and it transpired that he had stolen the car, he did not have a driving licence, the vehicle was not insured and to complete the list didn’t have a current ITV road worthy certificate.

HISTORIC SIGNS

Ronda’s tourist office is changing the street signs in the historic centre. They will be larger and will include biographic information on famous people who have lived nearby or events. The change over comes after the Plataforma pro Ronda Patrimono de la Humanidad heritage association lobbied for the new signs initially in the Pedro Romero, Vicente Espinel and Virgen de la Paz streets.

DIESEL RAID

Guardia Civil arrested in Estación de Benaoján three young Rumanians accused of stealing diesel with violence. When their Nissan car was stopped they had inside a carafe with the fuel plus the equipment to siphon it from a vehicle’s tank. Wearing masks they had previously threatened two people. One of those detained had breached an order excluding him from the Schengen Treaty area.

ME NEITHER

The mayor of Ronda recently appeared in court where he denied he was responsible for the publication in his magazine of confidential information about the president of the PPs Nuevas Generaciones, Juan Ignacio Vega, which came from the local police. Now the councillor for security, Rafael Lara, has told the judge it wasn’t him either although his mayor says they were his responsibility.

CATASTROPHE UNIT

The Serranía de Málaga health authority held a simulated exercise for its new catastrophe unit in Ronda. The team, made up of 22 professionals, attended to volunteers contaminated in an incident involving chemical, nuclear or biological agents. It forms part of the Andalucía plan for emergencies centred on health service hospitals for which the region receives 3.7 million euros from EU funds.

FASTER TRIP

Trains on the Algeciras – Ronda – Granada line have been upgraded by Renfe from December 19. There are three trains a day in each direction and depending on the schedule the overall journey time has been cut from between 15 to 40 minutes. Granada to Algeciras now takes 3 hours 53 minutes, 2 hours 20 minutes to Ronda and hour 16 minutes to Antequera.

EXPENSIVE WINE

A new project to establish the Bodegas Excelencia in Ronda has received almost 400,000 euros from the regional government in development aid. The vineyard will have a budget of three million euros and will be located on seven hectares at Los Frontones. There are now 37 bodegas in Málaga province producing vines on 1,300 hectares in Axarquia, Serranía de Ronda and Los Montes.

STAMPING MAD

When a flamenco artist stamps his or her feet in a performance it’s about passion but dancer Juan Andrés Maya has been to court to stamp his feet furiously at Gaucín town hall. Contracted to appear at the July flamenco festival his 3,000 euros fee is still unpaid. Gaucín is bankrupt and the administration says it will pay when it has the cash.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 16, 2010

2010-12-16T11:39:00.000+01:00

ECOLOGISTS OPPOSE LOCATION OF ACINIPO CENTRE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Ecologistas en Acción in the Serranía de Ronda have lodged a number of objections against the project to construct an interpretation centre at Acinipo – the ruins of the original Roman town of Ronda.

They have made it clear they are not against the historic site having such a centre but they believe it should be away from the impressive ruins. The ecologists argue that the proposed location would have a negative visual impact and it should be placed outside of the monument’s perimeter.

Ronda town hall and the regional government’s culture ministry signed a collaboration agreement in 2007 to carry out excavations at Acinipo amongst them the recovery of the Roman baths and theatre which date back to the third century AD. The heritage site is rated as one of the most important in Málaga province.

The ecologists consider the installation of the centre inside the ruins is not acceptable and are campaigning for it to be moved. The building, of which part would be below ground, has a budget of 900,000 euros and would cover 730 square metres. It would include a reception area, exhibition hall and visitors’ centre.

The construction of the complex is envisaged as the final part of the 2007 agreement. Over the last year security measures at the historic site have had to be improved with night patrols as there have been a number of robberies of artefacts.

Acinipo is thought to have been an important Roman town judging by the numerous historic references at the time and the inscriptions found to major Gods and personalities of the epoch.

UNION SAYS SERRANÍA RAIL SERVICE IS UNDER ATTACK

Just weeks ago the Partido Andalucista warned that villages in the Serranía de Ronda would be left without bus services once the regional government withdrew its subventions.

Now the SFF-CGT union says that the rail service in Málaga province is under attack from Renfe after it made changes to its timetable. This is because the regional train that leaves Málaga at 7.45 will no longer connect with the Granada to Algeciras train.

The loss of this connection will insists the union leave over 100,000 people in the municipalities of the Serranía and the Valle del Genal without this service and it could endanger the viability of many of the stations along the route.

Not only is Renfe in the firing line but also the ministry of public works which is also accused of attacking the rail connections between the Ronda region and the Campo de Gibraltar. This the union insists will have a negative impact on tourism as well as affecting the access of residents to places of work, medical centres and leisure facilities.

The SFF-CGT says the populations of Campillos, Almargen, Teba, Ronda, Benaoján, Jimera de Libar, Cortés de la Frontera, Gaucín, Jimena de la Frontera, San Roque and Algeciras will all feel the effects unless the decision is reversed.

QUICKER TRAINS

Renfe has carried out a series of improvements to the Algeciras - Ronda - Madrid track that will see trains cover the journey between Ronda and the capital in less than four hours. Trains will leave Algeciras at 8.45 (14.05) and 15.05 (20.25) and Madrid at 8.40 (13.46) and 15.05 (20.15). Trains between Ronda and Algeciras are quicker taking one hour 25 minutes.

RESERVE FUNDS

The new reserve of the biosphere in the Sierra de las Nieves is to receive 1.4 million euros for its conservation – part of the seven million euros allocation by the regional government’s environment ministry. A large part of the spend will go to municipalities that take in the reserves where the funds will be used to promote sustained development to protect the areas.

FOUND CAPTURED

Ronda’s delegate for security, Rafael Lara, has been giving information about the four people arrested on the street on December 6 who were seeking donations for an association with which they had no link. It has since emerged that one of those detained was subjected to two find and capture warrants issued by the courts. Lara warned residents to look out for scams.

GOOD GRIEF

A story from El Burgo which beggars belief. A 37-year-old man has been arrested by the Guardia Civil for stealing a chainsaw plus other items of agricultural equipment from a neighbour’s finca by forcing the property’s door. Officers received a tip off from locals and found the items in his possession. At the time of the robbery the deceased neighbour was being buried.

MORTUARY PROTEST

PSOE is leading the protests in Benaoján over the location of a new mortuary in the village. The site is adjacent to a school, a nursery, the football pitch and swimming pool. The socialists have collected a petition with 300 signatures and will raise the matter at the next council meeting. The works have already started with 165,000 euros of job creation funds.

TOXIC ADVICE

The Serranía de Ronda health authority has produced a leaflet advising people who collect the wild mushrooms from the mountains on which are safe to eat. At this time of year this activity is very popular yet many mushrooms are toxic whilst others are simply deadly with no known medical cure. Therefore knowing what mushrooms are edible is a life and death matter.

JOB TRAINING

The 20 municipalities of the Genal – Guardiaro – Serranía consortium of town halls which excludes Ronda have decided to create a new employment training workshop. Sixty people will benefit from the scheme that is being backed with 800,000 euros. Montecorto, Jimera de Líbar, Montejaque, Gaucín, Benarrabá and Atajate are amongst the villages being helped with schemes on renewable energy and national park vigilance.

SOCIAL WELFARE

The president of the Catholic Church aid agency Cáritas in Ronda and the Serranía, Enriqueta Carrillo, has reported on the organisation’s activity up to November. Over 131,000 euros has been given in aid, of which 52,000 euros went on food – a 20 per cent increase over last year. Another 25,000 euros went towards paying rents and deposits plus 4,700 on water and electricity.

OPPOSITION MOUNTS TO COAST MOTORWAY LINK

2010-12-09T12:34:00.000+01:00

OPPOSITION MOUNTS TO COAST MOTORWAY LINK

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Ecological groups, Los Verdes, residents associations and other organisations have presented a catalogue of objections to the proposed Ronda to Costa del Sol toll motorway.

The regional government is in the process of publishing the study carried out in to the viability of the route. It has established the construction would cost 350 million euros for the 32.8 kilometres from Ronda to San Pedro de Alcántara. Current travel times of 50 minutes would be slashed to just 20.

The date for presenting allegations against the project passed on Monday of last week. However the ecologists have asked the Andalucía ministry of public works to extend it as the study has not yet been put on public display by the town halls through whose municipalities the route passes for all to examine it.

The ecologists oppose the road because they say a new motorway is not necessary and it will bring a mass of urbanisation in its wake although that has to be questioned in the present economic climate. They have also proposed major improvement to the existing road – one of the major black spots in the Málaga road network.

In 2007 the then minister for public works, Concepción Gutiérrez said the road would be completed in 2012. Now it is clear it is unlikely to even have started by then.

However the ecologists have said from the start that such a road would have a great negative impact on the environment and would pass through areas declared of Community Interest by the EU because of their valuable flora and fauna. They have also raised fears that the construction could free potentially cancer causing materials that have been covered for over 20 years.

The spokesperson for Izquierda Unida, Rafael Ruiz, has said his party has presented no comments on the plans for the simple reason they do not believe it is a serious project but just an electoral ploy to gain votes.

RONDA’S HOMAGE TO KEN LOACH

Many major names attended Ronda’s first political film festival held all last week at the Convento de Santo Domingo conference centre. Amongst them was Spain’s internationally famous campaigning judge Baltasar Garzón. Yet pride of place went to the veteran British film director Ken Loach who received a special ‘Goyesca de Honor’ for his life’s work at this cutting edge of socially orientated cinema.

Loach is renowned for his social comment films. He received his ‘Goyesca’ last Friday evening from his collaborator screenwriter Paul Laverty. A number of films on which they have worked together were shown over the week.

Amongst the Loach films shown was his latest Route Irish. This involves two young Irishmen who have known each other from school. They decide to go to Iraq as part of a security team earning 10,000 pounds tax free a month.

One of the lads Frankie dies in Iraq and his friend Fergus returns to Liverpool and anger by the cover up of his death starts his own investigation. Loach was on hand with Laverty to talk to the audience about this film and other shown during the festival.

The festival which featured ten films amongst its official entries attracted large audiences. Over 200 university students and 700 pupils studying for their Bachillerato attended the various screenings and sessions along with members of the public.

The fledgling Ronda festival has now been linked with the festival of political cinema in Buenos Aires which will be held next March. The director of the first Ronda event, Piluca Baquero, was to promote synergies between the two festivals and not to compete. The Ronda festival is the first of its kind in Europe and the event in Buenos Aires will be the first on that continent.

FIVE YEAR JAIL TERM FOR OLIVE GROVE BLAZE

The Málaga prosecutor is seeking a five-year jail term for a man who is accused of starting a fire that destroyed or damaged 16 hectares of olive groves in Ronda. The ecological damage and loss of trees has been put at 67,600 euros.

The fire ignited on August 28 2007 when the accused “started the fire that caused environmental damage”. It occurred in the area known as Los Frontones on a plot of land. Because of the dry summer and the high winds at the time the flames raced along and up the high terrain with great virulence and were a major danger to those in the area.

The fire was finally put out on August 30 and covered 16.07 hectares of which 15.25 were forest land with the rest agricultural. Amongst those attending the inferno were eight environment agents, 15 fire specialists, support groups, five fire engines, five helicopters and two aircraft – all of which cost 46,216 euros.

The prosecutor says that apart from the jail term the man should be fined 16,200 euros and also pay the specialist fire fighting organization Infoca 46,200 euros – its costs in fighting the blaze. In addition another 67,670 euros should be paid to the Andalucía ministry of the environment for the damage and losses.

HANDICAPPED HOME

Ronda will have a residence for handicapped people before 2012. The regional government is funding the project with 1.2 million euros. The town hall will have to finance a similar amount which will come from the sale of the former football ground to Eroski. Located in La Isla building which is 55 per cent constructed it will have a swimming pool and solarium.

THIEVES ALERT

Farmers in Ronda have met with the local and National Police as well as the Guardia Civil to ask for improved security because of the wave of robberies on their lands. Mostly the thieves make off with young cattle, chestnuts and olives. As a result of the meeting the town hall will meet with the 700 members of Asaja to discuss the issue.

OPERATING NORMALLY

Ronda hospital which serves the town, Serranía and parts of the Sierra de Cádiz has returned to normal after 50 operations had to be cancelled in a single week due to the lack of anaesthetists. The health authority has now added another specialist to the staff with a further addition due in the near future. The hospital had five of its allotted seven anaesthetists.

FIRE BREAK

The regional government has invested over a million euros in upgrading the Forest Defence Centre in Ronda. The landing area has been extended so it can now cater for seven helicopters. A giant water reservoir has also been created holding 200 million litres of water which can be used by the helicopters and land based crews to fight forest fires in the region.

JOBLESS UP

November saw a rise in the number of people unemployed in Ronda. The new total is 4,441 which is 113 more than in October. Since the start of 2010 the number of jobless in the town has risen by 284. The majority of those out of work are women. The town hall has created a number of job creation schemes to boost employment.

NOT ME

Again the mayor of Ronda, Antonio Marín, has appeared before the courts and claimed others were responsible for the offences he is accused of. In this instance the case surrounds his publication La Gaceta de Lunes which published confidential information about the president of the PP’s Nuevas Generaciones. Marín said he was blameless - he didn’t approve their publication it was PSOE’s political secretary.

POLITICAL FRICTION

Friction between the Partido Popular and Partido Andalucista in Montejaque. The PA spokesperson, Cristóbal González has dumped the party, joined the PP and will be their candidate for mayor in next May’s municipal elections. This has led the PA to say it will break all ties with the PP in Málaga because of this disloyal act, accusing it of being the extreme right.

MOSTO CIRCUIT

Atajate has been famous for its mosto grape based drink for generations and its Fiesta del Mosto celebrates its 25 th anniversary. Now an open museum has been created with the various exhibits showing the history of the brew spread around various areas of the Serranía village. It takes just a short and pleasant walk to complete the route aimed at boosting tourism.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY DECEMBER 2, 2010

2010-12-02T17:55:00.001+01:00

SERRANÍA DE RONDA VILLAGES COULD LOSE BUS SERVICES

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The Partido Andalucista in Ronda has issued a warning that the majority of municipalities in the Serranía will lose their bus lines in 2012. That is when the regional government will liberalise its public transport policy and the PA says that 15 of the 21 villages in the area will be without public transport.

The claims were made by the PA’s spokesperson for transport and communications, Francisco González. He said the majority of the bus connections in the Serranía and in the Genal and Guadiaro valleys run at a deficit.

The services had been maintained by regional government grants but that will end in 2012. Companies will not compete to run routes that operate at a loss so they will simply disappear.
González stated that 15,000 people who live in villages in the western zone of Málaga province will suffer badly from this development as the majority are elderly and do not have their own transport. In addition most of these communities do not have a railway station nearby.

Ronda is the major centre for the villages that surround it but also feeds of the income provided by their residents. Hence both Ronda and the villages will suffer if the transport links go. Villagers come to Ronda to shop but also many use its hospital, health centres and administrative offices.

The PA is suggesting that Ronda and the affected municipalities should act quickly to form their own transport consortium. Such consortiums operate in many parts of Andalucía and the regional government pays over 25 per cent of the costs which is matched by another 25 per cent by the province. This would mean that Ronda and the other 20 municipalities would only have to co-finance the balance.

GARZÓN VISIT
Amongst those scheduled to attend Ronda’s first political film festival is the controversial campaigning judge Baltasar Garzón. The event runs through to December 4 with a homage to British film maker Ken Loach. The budget is 500,000 euros funded by the town hall, the ministry of culture, Málaga province and Unicaja with ten films from various countries in the official section of the competition.

DELAYED DECISION
The recent meeting of PSOE in Ronda was meant to vote on the executive’s decision to back current mayor Antonio Marín as the party’s candidate for the post in May’s elections. However members were only informed on the background to the executive’s choice. The vote will now be in January with an error in interpreting the rules being given as the reason.

OPERATIONS CANCELLED
A crisis at Ronda’s hospital which also serves the Serranía and parts of the Sierra de Cádiz. Fifty operations have had to be cancelled in one week alone because of the lack of anaesthetists. The Andalucía ministry of health says it intends to solve the problem by allocating another anaesthetist but the medical union insists this situation at the hospital is not new.

MORTGAGE WOES
Three Gaucín municipal workers could be in danger of losing their homes because they have not been able to make their mortgage payments. The situation has been caused by the constant delays in paying the 24 employees their salaries. The PSOE opposition alleges that 15 workers engaged in rural job creation schemes have never been paid although the town hall received the money.

POISONED LAND
PSOE’s spokesperson at Gaucín town hall, former mayor Teodoro de Molina, has reported the existence of an illegal toxic waste dump. The earth is said to be black from oil, carbon products and other contaminates near the Ronda to Algeciras railway line at El Pritchuelo. De Molina says he presumes the dump was authorised by the town hall and wants an urgent explanation.

CORK CRISIS
Cork producers in the Serranía de Ronda say they’ll receive 30 per cent less for their harvest this year. One of the major reasons for the slump is wine producers now increasingly switching from cork to plastic stoppers for their bottles. They are asking consumers to demand a bottle with a cork as some 4,000 people depend on their livelihoods from this sector.

SEWAGE ALERT
Izquierda Unida is calling on the Andalucía ministry of the environment to complete its plans to provide sewage treatment plants for the municipalities in the Guadiaro valley. IU says the river is now one of the most polluted in Andalucía and has alerted residents not to take water from it. Arriate, Montejaque, Benaoján, Jimera de Líbar and Cortes are all awaiting sewage plants.

HANDICAPPED WALK
Montejaque’s tourist office has created the first walk specifically designed for handicapped people. The area is very popular with walkers and this route goes from the village to the shrine on a nearby mountain side. The route runs for three kilometres and Ana María Montes from the office explained that it could be used by people with mobility problems and in wheel chairs.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2010

2010-11-25T10:18:00.001+01:00

RONDA ANTIQUARIAN ARRESTED IN CHRISTIE’S AUCTION CASE

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

The National Police have recovered pieces of enormous value that were taken from tombs at the necropolis of Aguilar de la Frontera in Córdoba province. The works were dated from the first and fifth centuries AD. The investigation remains open but four people have been arrested, two of them in Aguilar, one in Ronda and another in Marbella.

Antonio Tenorio, the chief inspector of the brigade dedicated to protecting Spain’s historic heritage stated that the importance of the seizures was qualitative not quantitative.

Police were alerted when they found that the London auction house, Christie’s was offering for sale the base of a column from the period of the caliphate in Córdoba. The marble piece had been valued at 150,000 euros and had come from the ruins of Medina Azahara.

Once it was aware of the sale the delegation of culture in Córdoba was able to determine that the column’s base had been uncovered in an excavation of the site. It contacted the organisation that had carried out the archaeological excavation and asked for an inventory of all the pieces found.

It was then that it was discovered that the column and 15 other pieces had disappeared from a private store in which they had been placed on behalf of the delegation. The police then notified Christie’s that the base had been stolen and requested its return – an action which is now undergoing the various international formalities.

Amongst those arrested is a Belgian-Lebanese man who is alleged to have undertaken the stealing of items from the archaeological site. He was detained in Marbella after a joint action between Spanish and British police involving Interpol.

In addition apart from the Ronda-based antiquarian the two men in Aguilar are an antique seller and a coin collector. Another five people have been questioned by police.

THE BATTLE OF THE MOLLETES

If you go for breakfast or a sandwich at your local bar the chances are that one of the bread products you’ll be offered is the mollete – a local type of bap.

For many the mollete is synonymous with the town of Antequera. However the bakers of Ronda have taken issue with this and are very angry that what they see as the inferior bap is making in-roads in to bars and cafes in the town of the Tajo.

As the first blow in their battle against the Antequera mollete the social-political collective Alianza por Ronda set up a stand in the plaza del Socorro to hand out Ronda molletes to passing members of the public. They were obviously very popular because over 300 were given to passers-by.

The collective is committed to defending Ronda’s products such as goat’s cheese, olive oil and wine from “blow ins”. The origin of the local mollete is not known but it is recorded that at the wedding of King Alfonso XIII the Ronda version of this bap was featured on the menu.

You might think a bap is a bap but a mollete is not a Ronda mollete so be careful what you say in the Serranía town. The Alianza por Ronda insists their mollete has more substance, more body and was specially designed to be eaten with the local rich pork dishes.

PLANNING ROW
Tense, angry scenes at Ronda’s council meeting when the administration pushed through a vote to change the name of the owners of the land assigned for the Eroski commercial centre. The land was awarded to Grupo Ruíz Jurado but now goes to a subsidiary and 3.8 million euros has been paid over. The IU and PP voted against and three PSOE were absent.

STILL BUNKERED
The controversial Los Merinos golf, 800 villa and luxury hotel development in Ronda has been on hold for 18 months due to the economic crisis. The Catalan based developer Copisa has said there are no immediate plans to restart at present although the company is said to have spent 103 million euros so far with another 50 million yet to be invested.

DIESEL THEFT
The National and local police in Ronda have arrested a man who was seen siphoning off 38 litres of diesel from the tanks of two lorries parked on the town’s fair ground in the early hours of the morning. Officers pursued the local man eventually cornering him in the calle Genal. He was found in the possession of two containers with the diesel.

CURTAIN DOWN
Ronda’s Teatro Municipal Vicente Espinel is closed until February. The building will have new flooring installed as well as work to the roof to prevent leaks during the heavy rains. There will be an improvement to the acoustics in the venue and the realignment of the seating. The 50,000 euros project with be funded by the regional government, Málaga and the town hall.

INTERNET HEALTH
The 52,000 users of the health centres in Ronda, Benaoján and Algatocín plus the surgeries in Gaucín, Cortes de la Frontera, Montejaque, Arriate, El Burgo, Cuevas del Becerro, Jubrique, Jimera de Líbar and Igualeja are now all connected to the Diraya medical information system. This means doctors and nurses can access patients’ tests and treatment on-line wherever they were carried out in Andalucía.

HUNKS’ CALENDAR
The firemen in Ronda have stripped down to produce a calendar that is on sale in the town with the Proyecto Hombre drug dependency group and the Asprodis handicapped association receiving all the profits. In total 2,5000 calendars have been printed and are priced at 5 euros. The scenes featuring the firemen stripped to the waste including fighting fires and posing with equipment.

VULTURE RESCUE
A study is being carried out by the Andalucía ministry of the environment to reintroduce the Egyptian Vulture into Málaga in the Serranía de Ronda. The last pair in the province died from poisoning in August. These rare vultures are present in Cádiz and a chick has also been recently born at Jerez zoo so they could be introduced from there to Málaga.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2010

2010-11-18T09:40:00.001+01:00

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 NOVEMBER 11, 2010

2010-11-11T18:46:00.001+01:00

SIX DOWN

In October Ronda had a reduction in its jobless total of six. There are now 4,328 unemployed in the area, the majority of them women. In a recent opinion poll 53.2 per cent of the people questioned said the high dole level was their major concern. Worries over the general economy, drug abuse and the state of the roads were of secondary concern.

DRUGS SNIFFERS

Ronda’s councillor for security, Rafael Lara, announced the local police are to have a canine unit specifically to sniff out drugs. Last week a dog team from Estepona visited schools in Ronda and searched the areas around the buildings resulting in the discovery of heroin, cocaine and hashish. The town hall is setting aside 1,200 euros to acquiring and training its own dogs.

MUSHROOM TIME

This is the time of year when the rural municipalities with a tradition of gathering wild fungi hold special events to celebrate the edible mushrooms. Benarrabá will be holding its first over November 12 – 14 with visits to find the fungi, exhibitions, workshops and tastings. Cortes was the first to pioneer these events in the Guadiaro Valley and Júzcar in the Genal Valley.

UNIQUE CEMETERY

The recent festival to honour the dead highlighted the cemetery in Benadalid which is one of the more oddly located in Spain. Its Roman castle was acquired by the town hall in 1821 and since then has been the final resting place of the residents. However every summer the castle comes alive when it is the venue for the Moors and Christians celebrations.

SERRANÍA WORKSHOP

The Poblado Nazari in Estación de Cortes de la Frontera is hosting an employment workshop to train 36 people between 16 and 25 years from nine municipalities in the area. The scheme will last for two years, will employ nine people in admin and teaching and is backed with over a million euros. Amongst skills taught are carpentry and installation of solar panels.

GOING NUTS

The Genal Valley has finished this year’s chestnut harvest. Over four million kilos of the fruit have been gathered and the quality is the best since 2007. One reason for this is the high rainfall last winter. The downside has been the low price paid, around a euro per kilo. The Serranía have been celebrating the harvest with the traditional ‘tostón’ chestnut roasting.

SOUR MILK

Around 200 goat farmers from the Ronda and Antequera area gathered outside the Arias cheese production plant on Ronda’s industrial estate last Thursday and poured churns of milk into the gutter. They were demanding a just price for their milk. The dispute may now be at an end after the two major users Forlactaria and García Vaquero agreed to negotiate with the producers.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2010

2010-11-04T09:52:00.003+01:00

AVE BUDGET BOOST FOR 2011

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

Last week the socialist MP Daniel Pérez steamed in to Ronda’s railway station like an express train in a hurry. His urgent message was that in the government’s budget for 2011 675,000 euros has been assigned to the AVE link between Bobadilla and the town of the Tajo.

Pérez hoped to signal the claim by the Partido Popular MP, Begoña Chacón, that only 100,000 euros had been set aside was nothing more than an engine blowing hot air. The former leader of the PP in Ronda said this called in to question the government’s commitment to the project.

Not so said Pérez. He promised the green flag had been waved but couldn’t say when the train would leave the station. That, he said, was a matter for Adif, the railway infrastructure company.

On hand was Francisco Cañestro, PSOE’s secretary general in Ronda. “The AVE will be a reality in Ronda and it will arrive within the timetable set by the socialist government,” he assured the media. Cañestro went further and insisted that the AVE would arrive in Ronda in 2012 as had been promised by the then minister of public works, Magdalena Alvarez, when she visited Ronda to launch the scheme.

In addition to the AVE funding Pérez said the government would spend 11.6 million euros in 2011 on upgrading the line between Ronda and Cortes de la Frontera. This is part of the massive spending the line is receiving between Ronda and Algeciras spread over several years.

Meanwhile the other major infrastructure project promised for Ronda – a new toll motorway to the Costa del Sol will have its study published shortly. The Andalucía public works and housing ministry says the documents will be sent in the coming month to the town halls along the route and to the Málaga provincial authority.

The proposed road would stretch for 32.8 kms running directly from Ronda to San Pedro. It would replace the existing road, one of the major accident black spots in the province. It would also slash travel times from 55 minutes to little over 20 minutes on a two lane highway.

However the PP has questioned the socialists’ commitment to this project too as it was announced before the last national and Andalucía elections and is still at the report stage.

PSOE WIN
A recent opinion poll has shown that the PSOE party in Ronda which has taken in PA mayor Antonio Marín and his fellow councillors would win between 10 and 11 seats at the local elections. The Partido Popular would take 7 – 8, with the IU and PA taking between 1 and 2. PSOE would have a massive 62.8 per cent of the vote.

STEP NEARER
The outlying districts of Ronda – Montecorto and Serrato – have moved a step near to becoming independent municipalities. Currently they have local autonomy but they are so far from the town centre that the town hall has backed their separation. Last week the council passed a motion to set the segregation in motion. The regional government has already approved the two zones becoming municipalities.

GENERAL USE
A new sports centre at La Dehesa in Ronda is underway. It will cost over one million euros and take nine months to complete. It’s being constructed within the grounds of the Virgen de la Cabeza school and will be used by pupils and the public. Over two floors it’ll have two sports pitches, one covered and will be used by 2,000 people.

GETTING THERE
The massive building project around Ronda to create a series of road accesses to the town is now 70 per cent complete. The work is costing over 13 million euros and is being funded by the Andalucía government. The three key access roads with flyovers are due to be finished by next spring. The scheme’s created 202 jobs of which 107 are direct.

BARRACK PARKING
The space occupied by the former Concepción barracks in the centre of Ronda was used for parking during the fair then closed. In the interim the area has been resurfaced, walls built and lighting installed and has now been opened again and can accept over 200 cars on 5,000 square metres. The demolition of the barracks cost 600,000 euros from State aid funds.

FRUIT ROBBERY
National Police in Ronda arrested a 43-year-old man accused of holding up a fruit shop at gun point. He struck at 14.30 on October 25 when the shop had closed and the staff were counting the takings. Some witnesses say there was a second man armed with a knife. When detained the accused had 130 euros still in a bag from the shop.

THIRD MAYOR
The new mayor of Gaucín is the Partido Andalucista’s Francisco Macías - deputy to the outgoing PP mayor Francisco Ruíz who resigned for personal reasons. He was elected with the support of the PA councillors and Ruiz. New PP councillor Pedro Godino put himself forward but received only his own vote. Since the last election Gaucín has had a PSOE, PP and PA mayor.

NUT CASE
Ten people have been arrested in Igualeja for stealing 300 kilos of chestnuts that had been stolen from various growers’ stores overnight. Local police stopped vehicles on local and Ronda roads with the nuts on board. They were an organised gang who were taking the chestnuts worth1,800 euros to market. In their cars were tools to break in to the growers’ premises.

CHESTNUT COOKING
International chef Dani García visited Genalguacil last Monday to hold a master class on how chestnuts can be used in cooking recipes. Genalguacil is the highest village in the Valle de Genal and of the 8,900 hectares in Andalucía given over to the growing of chestnuts 3,000 are in the valley. Amongst the dishes was a grill of pork with mushrooms and chestnut puree.

DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY OCTOBER 28, 2010

2010-10-28T10:58:00.001+02:00

MAYORAL D-DAYS AND WOOING

By David Eade – Costa del Sol News

November will be the month PSOE in Ronda chooses its candidate for mayor at next year’s municipal elections. The current mayor, Antonio Marín, who defected from the Partido Andalucista to head a PSOE administration, is probably favourite. However it will be up to party members to decide and there is some disquiet that Marín and his fellow PA councillors have been shoe-horned in to the party.

Today (Thursday) Gaucín will probably elect its third mayor since the last election after the PP’s Francisco Ruíz finally stood down. It’s expected that the Partido Andalucista’s Francisco Macías will take over although he is one of three PA councillors accused of town planning offences and awaiting trial. The PA has four councillors, PSOE three and the PP holds the balance of power.

Finally Arriate is famous for being a communist municipality with Izquierda Unida firmly in control at the town hall but there are tensions. Now the socialists are suggesting that mayor Bernardino Gaona might stand for PSOE next May instead of the IU. The IU says Gaona has rejected the approach and PSOE in Arriate denies being involved putting the blame on the Ronda party.

NEW STADIUM
Ronda’s new Ciudad Deportiva will be inaugurated in November. It will have a new stand, changing rooms and floodlights. It can hold 1,500 spectators which is needed as the soccer team in Division 3 currently attracts attendances of over 1,000. The town hall has also signed an agreement with the regional government that will fund the construction of a new swimming pool.

ILLEGAL DRIVING
The local police in Ronda won’t name the driving school but it has been fined for having three cars on the road without insurance. Another vehicle has not passed its ITV road worthiness test. The discrepancies were discovered during a routine check and one car was towed away to the pound. Further checks discovered 14 had no insurance and nine no ITV.

SYMBOLIC SPEND
Partido Popular MP and Ronda councillor, Begonia Chacón, criticised the government for only allocating a symbolic amount, 100,000 euros, for the project to bring the AVE from Antequera to Ronda. It had been promised the work would start next year. PP has warned voters to beware of PSOE pre-election promises of major projects that like the Costa del Sol motorway are never built.

OWN LABEL
The bodegas of Ronda and the Serranía want their own denomination of origin, the wines are currently part of the Málaga province vineyards. This year’s grape harvest has reached 500,000 kilos which will produce 450,000 bottles, the majority of them red. There are 19 bodegas in the area - this year’s vintage is said to be of high quality at 14 degrees of alcohol.

GIANT EGGS
A mystery in Genalguacil where Juan Ramírez’s chicken has produced eggs so big they could be from an ostrich. Chicken eggs are normally 60 to 70 grams but these weigh 165 grams each. Vets have explained the giant eggs are due to the hen keeping them in its ovary duct for longer than usual. The eggs are now on display in Juan’s fridge.