One year has passed since the senseless destruction of Paseo del Altillo in Almuñécar.

Despite promises of modern parking facilities and 'gardens,' we have been constantly presented with little more than a shameful pit, where some have attempted to bury their responsibility and misdeeds. What's done is done, they say, but equally what has not been done should have been done.

Growing evidence indicates that Parquigran, the company that was hired to build the underground car park, no longer exists. Even taking into consideration the hold up at the beginning of the work due to legal problems, the time permitted by the contract expires this month.

Read what the Mayor and principal opposition leaders have to say in their respective interviews.

Everybody was devastated when the JCB's moved in and destroyed 30 years of pride. We were assured that within nine months, scars would have healed and the town's blood would be coursing, once again, through the dismembered Paseo... Twelve months later, we are faced with a superating, open wound. What do those who guide the town's fate have to say about this and other Almuñécar topics?

Juan Carlos Benavides, Mayor
SG: The Paseo del Altillo. Why do you think the work on the Paseo del Altillo is progressing so slowly? Yesterday, for example, only one JCB, its operator and two overseers were on the work site during the whole day.

JB: Well they are in a very complicated phase of the work, where they are diverting the sewage system that runs through the area. Until this is finished, they cannot use an increased work rate. When this happens we shall see a rapid rhythm of progress.

SG: Is it true that they hadn't taken this main sewage system, which was in place before the previous Paseo de Altillo was built, into account when they began the construction work?

JB: No, they were perfectly aware of this because it was of recent construction...

SG: 1965, or around there.

JB: No, more like almost the 70's. The problem was that they had considered a technical solution that, in the end, wasn't viable, so they had to change tactics. That was the reason.

SG: So when is the completion date going to be?

JB: The company has said that the Paseo will be open to transit for this summer.

SG: Changing the subject. If the situation is that on the Costa del Sol, they are selling off hotels and that along Costa Brava they are converting hotels into apartments, why are we building more hotels here?

JB: Because the situation on the Costa del Sol or Costa Brava is radically different from our own. Here there is an important deficit in hotels, along side a constant growth of demand. The places that you have mentioned have a very high supply/offer factor.

SG: So here there is room for more hotels?

JB: Yes, in fact, there are projects for four more hotels. If the hotel promoters have decided to do this, it is because they have done their homework and have seen that it is highly viable. Nobody makes such an investment to lose money.

SG: Speaking of what was Sol Meliá and now known as Playa Almuñécar - wouldn't it be logical that if two parties have entered into a contract, and if one falls down on his obligations that he should compensate the other? What I mean to say is this: If the hotel is going to close until February, the workers will be out of a job for that time. The workers have carried out their part of the contract, but the hotel hasn't. Wouldn't it be logical that the hotel has to pay them their wages, or a part of it, even if it means that the staff has to stand around with their arms crossed all day?

JB: That's a question of labour laws, and not the competence of the Town Council.

SG: Obviously.

JB: So, it is for the Ministry of Labour to decide.

SG: Your reply was immediate upon hearing that the hotel was going to close, leaving it perfectly clear that we need the hotel during the winter, and not only the high season.

JB: Yes, and we made it clear that if they go ahead and close the hotel, without sufficient justification, then all the economical support that they receive from the town hall will disappear. We are not going to subsidise hotels that only operate on a seasonal level.

SG: The hotel owners said in their letter that when the hotel opens, they would take the staff back on the same terms as they had before. If this does not happen, will the Town Council take measures to protect the workers?

JB: The town hall does not have jurisdiction in this field. It would be the Junta de Andalucía who would have to take the relevant action.

SG: Changing the subject, again... You can see, everyday, kids on mopeds, without helmets, screaming around doing wheelies down the towns main streets, doing it with seeming impunity. Many people, accordingly, blame the local police, because of a lack of 'continuity.' One some occasions the police crack down on them and on others - the majority - you can see police cars and young moped riders without helmets travelling side by side. What's your opinion?

JB: The local police understand very well what is their field of juristiction and their obligations. As far as whether they are doing it well or badly is a debatable subject. There are two elements involved here: corrective and educational. On the educational side, I find it surprising that there are parents who buy mopeds for their children and who are conscious that they don't wear helmets and are doing all kinds of foolish things with them, and react only when, one day, they receive a call from the hospital. The local police will have to increase their effectiveness but parents should also show a greater interest and exercise more control.

SG: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of foreigners here - the British in particular. Wouldn't it be a good time to provide a department for foreign residents, as there is in Nerja and Salobreña?

JB: We maintain a tight relationship with the various foreign resident associations in the township and we are looking for a mechanism to solve any problems that might appear. We have gone so far as to suggest a combined management service between the Town Council and the foreign resident associations. What's really needed, are people who have the confidence of the relevant foreign community and who can provide their social relations, not only with the town hall, but with any other entity, such as insurance companies, for example or a property management service. On several occasions I have suggested such a system that should be both fluid and capable, so that the associations can extend their field of operations. I think that this would be much more effective than sticking somebody in an office for eight hours, simply to attend a few questions. We used to have such an office but it didn't work at all. Firstly, because people didn't attend and secondly, the action that this office worker could take, with respect to other departments, was very complicated.

SG: Fine. It was announced that the Mayor was holding a meeting with the owner of the lorries in the township to find somewhere for them to park. Then the ecologists sent a communiqué, warning the Town Council that the Vega is a protected area, and not to use it for such an end. So, what is your opinion? It's obvious that a lorry park must exist and that there is a restriction on the Vega.

JB: Firstly, there is a very real problem that the lorries in this town do not have anywhere to park - they cannot just park anywhere, blocking the streets... And it is a growing problem. Secondly, the diabolical geographical limitations of this town complicates matters. You can't provide a parking lot for lorries just anywhere. You can't make one on top of a hill, and much less on a hillside. I think that instead of this radical stance (that the ecologists have adopted), they should look for a solutions - suggest an alternative. One solution is that the lorry drivers sell their lorries and joint the dole queue!

SG: In other words, fewer objections and more solutions?

JB: Exactly. Those that should make decisions here of these kinds should be the Town Council - that's what they were elected for. Their opinion is always valid and welcome, when it comes to making a decision. But if they want to be the ones that make decisions, then they should present themselves in the next elections.

SG: Well, the next question - and it is almost on a same note and your previous answer might be valid for this one, too, concerns the issue of the Crane and the Roman aqueduct. (The Ed. shows the Mayor last month's article on the subject). You can see from this photo that the crane is not 25mts from the aqueduct, as the municipal archaeologists claims...

JB: First of all, you can't see anything from this photo! In second place, the crane has been the focus of misinformation in the local media - total misinformation! Furthermore, one subject has been mixed with another with an object of producing a 'good catch'. There is an archaeologist report that was made long before permission for this residential estate was given, in which there is photographic evidence that thanks to work carried out by the town hall services during Franco's times a part of the aqueduct was destroyed to build a water tanks for the town. This document was used by the provincial authorities to give permission for the Cortijo Santa Cruz building project. In other words, where the crane is based there is no aqueduct because in that part it was destroyed almost 40 years ago, which you can see for yourself if you go there. But of course, it is much easier to fill a page in a newspaper in a 'sensationalist' manner than it is to do that.

SG: Fine! However, you can't do that because it is within the building site and closed to the public.

JB: The building company would be delighted for you to go and see for yourself. (Which we did - see the Cortijo Santa Cruz article). I would like to emphasis that this company has taken great pains to promote this aqueduct so that they would be the last to damage it. One of their plans is to tidy up the immediate area around that stretch of the monument, where there is a type of natural amphitheatre, so that the public can enjoy it.

SG: Which leads to the next question. It is surprising that a great many people - locals and visitors, don't know that these monuments exist. This is not the fault of the town hall, because it has provided excellent scaled models of the town in ancient time, in which you can clearly see these stretches of aqueduct. Why aren't they more open to the public?

JB: That is precisely one of the aims of the Cortijo Santa Cruz project - to provide and maintain public access to this stretch of the aqueduct. The only negative thing about the area is a house that was being built right next to the aqueduct, with a building permission granted by the previous administration. Said project has been frozen. Not only should the licence not have been given, but also the owner has even built an additional floor onto the house, which was not included in the project. Furthermore, it has been said that this house belongs to the Cortijo Santa Cruz project, which is totally not true.

Juan Luis González, PP Opposition Leader
SG: Why do you think the work on the Paseo del Altillo is progressing so slowly? Yesterday, for example, only one JCB, its operator and two overseers were on the work site during the whole day.

JG: Well, I am uninformed of the progress on the site and I can only glean from what I see when I go past the site. But, of course, the pace is not what it should be - it's too slow. One should remember that Parquigran initially said that the building programme would last nine months. Since the work began - without the requisite permission from Costas - a year passed. Even taking into account the time lost, eight months have still elapsed and I can't see how it will be finished next month - can you? We have asked during the Town Council meetings and via written request, when the project will be finished? - yet we still have received no reply. Bear in mind that the terms of the contract were altered without any other political party being consulted, which has left us in the dark.

SG: Is there any truth in the rumour that the building company is trying to wriggle out of the contract because it is experiencing financial difficulties with the project?

JG: I don't have any knowledge of this item of news. It was said, before summer, that the project had been passed to a company called 'Vera' (almost unintelligible). But, in the end, it turned out that Parquitran SA is still the company in charge, although they have subcontracted it to this company. I've heard no news that the company is in financial difficulties, but what is clear is that the work is moving along very slowly. Both the company and the Town Council owe an explanation to the public about exactly what is going on.

SG: If the situation is, that on the Costa del Sol they are selling off hotels and that along Costa Brava they are converting hotels into apartments, why are we building more hotels here?

JG: There is a palpable demonstration that when the hotels function well, then the townships where they are situated enjoy economical wellbeing and stable employment. Obviously, it is not enough that there are just hotels - they have to be open and functioning with a healthy clientele. During the previous two springs and summers, the various hotels here have experienced a volume of trade that had not been present previously. We are, at present, in a disturbing situation where there has been a drop in hotel occupation and influx of visitors. This does not mean, however, that Almuñécar should stop building hotels. In other locations they are thinking about eliminating hotels because they already have many. Almuñécar does not have many - better said, it has few. Motril, for example, is a large town of 60,000 inhabitants and it only has one 4-star hotel and one 3-star hotel. That is a very low ratio for a town of that size - even for one that isn't on the coast. As far as Almuñécar goes, it is a town that receives 200,000 visitors during August. The hotel occupation to 'flat rental tourism' is quite insignificant. I don't think that Almuñécar can renounce its necessity to build more hotels. What we have to do is to make sure that the hotels are fully occupied during the winter, and for that to happen the town hall has to make an effort, in three senses: firstly, to offer good service and quality; secondly, make an interesting promotion, so that people get to know our town and thirdly, to create interesting activities for those that visit us, other than the 'sun, sea and beach' (cheap tourism): the sub-aquatic park and golf courses.

SG: Most agree that we cannot compete in price ranges with places like the Caribbean or Eastern Europe, so we have to offer 'quality' rather than 'quantity.' That, apparently, was the idea behind Sol Meliá - class tourism. But with the change of ownership, Playa Almuñécar, in this case, what is most being offered is 'all-included,' which is the complete opposite of what the town expected. What is your opinion on this?

JG: I believe that there has been a big change in the type of clientele in this hotel - each hotel chain caters for its own kind. The Playa chain caters for 'family tourism.' They provide cheap rates for families with children, with plenty of activities for the children and although 'all included' might not exist, everything is aimed at keeping the client in the hotel. In fact, it is the children that prevent the parents leaving the hotel because there are always activities for them. The clientele of Sol Meliá participated more in the town, leaving money in the various businesses. The number of workers in both hotels is practically the same. Yet, the financial benefit for Almuñécar was more with Sol Meliá than with Playa Almuñécar. This is why we could not understand this note of joy announced by the Town Council when they announced that Sol Meliá was pulling out. Playa already has Playacálida in Taramay and has another one projected for Cotobro. We believe that diversity is best and that the loss of Sol Meliá was not positive for Almuñécar. For the business around the hotel, this was not the best solution.

SG: Everybody was amazed when the hotel announced that it would close for the winter to carry out reformation work. We carried this news in the magazine last month. The Mayor quickly responded, saying that if they closed, they would have to return all the tax benefits that they had received (approx. 600,000 euros). What is your opinion on this and what should town do about it?

JG: I think that the Mayor was aware of what was going to happen. I can't believe, with the connections that he has with the hotel chain, he was not informed long beforehand on what was going to happen. So now, the owner has said that it will close for the winter to carry out reforms' but has guaranteed that the hotel won't become merely a seasonal one. What I don't know is, if after making a show of asking for the municipal tax concessions back, and having received this reply from the hotel, they are not going to carry out the economical sanctions. Perhaps it's just a show to keep the workers happy. What we have done is to speak with both the hotel and the workers for them to come to an agreement. The workers should make a proposal, which would avoid workers being laid off during these four months. We will back this initiative. We also think that the Mayor made a mistake by immediately coming out with a threat to impose sanctions because, if they do close, he is going to have to keep his word and carry out his threat to both hotels belonging to this chain. Otherwise he is going to have to explain why he has had this 'change of tack.'

SG: So, the workers can expect some support from your party?

JG: Yes, of course. But I don't know whether I have made our position clear. In the first place, the proposed building reforms do not justify the closing of the hotel for four months. So there is going to be work on the swimming pool... Great, but I don't think that it is going to be in much demand in December, for example, in any case! The work in the dining room can be carried out in a couple of days.

SG: Change of subject. You can see, everyday, kids on mopeds, without helmets, screaming around doing wheelies through the town's main streets...

JG: Along the pedestrian ones, too!

SG: ... Right! And they seem to be doing it with impunity. Many people, accordingly, blame the local police, because of a lack of 'continuity.' On some occasions the police crack down on them and on others - the majority - you can see police cars and young moped riders without helmets travelling side by side. What's your opinion?

JG: Look, as we see it, since the present Councillor for Traffic has been in command, the organisation of the police force has been... rational. This summer, for example, there has been one patrol per shift during the month of August. This is totally unthinkable for Almuñécar. With 200,000 people in town, there were only two municipal policemen making the rounds. On top of that, these patrols, during the mornings, were busy protecting the workers who were out confiscating beach umbrellas. There was no police presence, for example, in the summer fair ground. Simply, there is a bad administration of the local police force. There has been no visible presence, you can't find them when you need them and they aren't carrying out the duties that you have mentioned. This is very important because at any moment there could be an accident - a knocking down or over on the streets. During the summer the mopeds were using pedestrian streets and there was no control.

SG: An observation that our readers could make is that this problem has been going on for many years now... including when you were the mayor. So, this isn't a recent problem but a long term one.

JG: Yes, but all the progress that we had made has been lost. We used the carrot and the stick. We gave them free petrol for having their papers in order, on one hand, and confiscated 89 bikes for not having their papers or for having illegal exhaust pipes. The problem did exist, but not as bad as now. Right now they're not doing anything.

SG: Another change of subject. Do you think that Almuñécar deserves a foreign department like Nerja's or Salobreña's?

JG: Well, now it turns out, after informing myself of the situation, that Nerja has the same as Almuñécar.

SG: That's not the case because Nerja has a foreign department with its own office. They also have monthly meetings whereby foreign residents can be informed of events or make enquires.

JG: But is that organised by them or by the Town Council?

SG: By the Town Council.

JG: Look, I think that this has to proceed in two ways. Firstly, the Town Council has to make an effort to integrate our foreign residents into the society. But the foreign residents also have to make an effort. I say this because in the last municipal elections only five percent of the foreign residents, registered on the town scrolls, bothered to vote. And that is only the registered ones, who represent only ten percent of the real foreign population figure. Foreigners want us to provide services for them, but on an economical level, because the majority of them aren't 'empadronados,' we receive no funds from the regional government for this extra population. From a political point of view, 79% of the population voted in the last elections, compared with only five percent of the ten percent of the foreigners who actually live here. (The justifiable inference here is that political parties should devote their energies to those that bother to vote). Yes, the town hall should show more interest in them, but it seems that they have no interest in being better attended. There are exceptions, of course, because there are many people who carry out a lot of community orientated work. Summing up, I believe that the foreign population has to demonstrate that they want to participate more in the local society and the first step is to 'empadronandose.'

SG: Next question - the crane (last months article, p ). The municipal archeologists stated that the crane was sited 25mts from the aqueduct, but from the photo you can see that it is not. What do you think about it?

JG: Well, the truth is that it is a little complicated. In the end, it seems, the Diputación de Cultura de Granada (regional authorities) has accepted the Town Council's explanation. So, it would appear, perhaps, that the damage was caused in the 60's and not by the present location of the crane. The positive thing, of course, is that certain bodies above the level of the Town Council are watching when we carry out projects around or near this types of sites.

SG: Fine. It was announced that the Mayor was holding a meeting with the owner of the lorries in the township to find somewhere for them to park. Then the ecologists sent a communique, warning the Town Council that the Vega is a protected area, and not to use it for such an end. So, what is your opinion? It's obvious that a lorry park must exist and that there is a restriction on the Vega.

JG: Well, as you know, we pulled out of the elaboration of the new PGOU, so we are not aware of how that is going. I remember from the plans of the 1987 PGOU that there is a strip of land, on the other side of the main road from the P4, which runs alongside the river, which was designated for 'industrial use' and which has still not been used. Now if it deals with this piece of land, there should be no problem because it was already contemplated in 1987. But if the plan is to use another part of the Vega, then the Junta de Andalucía will not let it go ahead, obviously. And we shall oppose it, too.

Rocio Palacios, SOE Opposition leader
SG: Why do you think the work on the Paseo del Altillo is progressing so slowly? Yesterday, for example, only one JCB, its operator and two overseers were on the work site during the whole day.

RP: Look, about a year ago when the Mayor opted to change the terms of the project, we put forward what we considered would be the problems that would crop up. We pointed out that this would prolong the work; that the car park would occupy municipal area where the town's infrastructure (sewage system) was buried. I also raised doubt about the building company, Parquigran S.A. This was because colleagues in Torremolinos had alerted us to the 'capacity' of the company to carry out such a large-scale project as the Paseo del Altillo. In the Plaza de Andalucía in Torremolinos this company has been building an underground car park similar to Almuñécar's. It turns out that this building operation has been completely paralysed for the last two years, which has provoked various local businesses closing down and laying off workers. What is basically happening there is that a JCB turns up with a couple of workers, digs some holes or fills some in, and then they go, with nobody else turning up during the rest of the week (Sounds familiar - Ed?) We warned the Town Council about this and for it to demand a bank guarantee from the company. The Mayor took no notice of us and went ahead and permitted the project modification.

SG: that basically answers the next question, which was that if you thought the rumour that - the company was in financial difficulties, hence the slow pace of work - had any foundation.

RP: I can only tell you what I was told by a local. When he saw the big billboard with the name Parquigran S.A, he decided to phone them to find out if he could buy a parking slot. He was told that this company no longer existed and that there had been a change of company. The partners of the new company were divided over the whole affair and... Well, it read like a script for a Hollywood super production! What appears to be clear is that Parquigran S.A. does not appear to be financially sound. At least, that is how it looks from here. It's a pity because everybody agreed that we needed a central underground car park next to a pedestrian area. The trouble is that this mayor works along fait accompli lines and couldn't give a damn what the people or the opposition think.

SG: Everybody was amazed when the Hotel Playa Almuñécar (ex-Sol Meliá) announced that it would close for the winter to carry out reform. We carried this news in the magazine last month. The Mayor quickly responded, saying that if they closed, they would have to return all the tax benefits that they had received (approx. 600,000 euros). What is your opinion on this and what should town do about it?

RP: We immediately spoke with the workers' committee because this was going to involve a hundred-odd workers being laid off - people who have mortgages etc, and now they find that they will only be working between seven and eight months a year. It would appear that this is the 'normal policy' of this hotel chain. In a recent press conference we urged the Town Council to take a hand in this situation. Obviously, we cannot interfere in the internal running of a private hotel. But we can intervene, from the point of view that this town has made a great effort to reserve choice building land for hotels, giving them all kinds of economical benefits, under condition that they provided local employment and maintained the establishment open all year round. You see, up 'til recently, the big tour operators haven't used Almuñécar as a winter destination precisely because we didn't have enough hotel beds to interest them. Now, if this hotel company works this way further down the coast, that's fine by us, but we don't want it here.

SG: Most agree that we cannot compete in price ranges with places like the Caribbean or Eastern Europe, so we have to offer 'quality' rather than 'quantity.' That, apparently, was the idea behind Sol Meliá - class tourism. But with the change of ownership, Hotel Playa Almuñécar, in this case, what is most being offered is 'all-included,' which is the complete opposite of what the town expected. What is your opinion on this?

RP: I don't want to judge whether Hoteles Playas has a higher or lower standing than Sol Meliá. I will only say that Sol Meliá is an internationally prestigious hotel chain but I cannot undervalue what type of service Hoteles Playas might offer. We are trying to promote quality tourism because we cannot compete with cheaper destinations that have been operating some time. This kind of tourism obviously works but what must offer is a better quality offer alongside this. We have been pushing our points of cultural interest, our ancient monument, which we have to protect - not destroy, as is the case of the Roman aqueduct. We have also been promoting leisure sports such as trekking, paragliding and sub-aquatic activities with the proposed underwater them park. We have a climate that not many places can boast our sub-tropical fruits: We have to compete by being different; not by offering the same as you can find along the Costa del Sol, for example. Look, nobody thought when Sol Meliá did its sums, or whatever, and decided that it wasn't viable to stay here, that this was anything other than bad news. Politically, we could not intervene then, the same as we cannot intervene in this question of Hotel Playa Almuñécar. We can only say, "Gentlemen, if you do not carry out what was agreed upon, then you must return the funds received from the town hall."

SG: Also, perhaps, the town hall could turn around and revoke the planning permission for the hotel that this company plans to build in Cotobro, no?

RP: Yes, to revise the situation.

SG: Do you think that is possible, if the political parties pull together on this?

RP: I think what we have to have a rethink on, is our enthusiasm to promote hotels here. Hotels are the best way to break out of the high-season-only tourism rut. Once we have hotels here, then we must decide what kind we want here. If the governing party wants six-month's tourism a year then, of course, they will not count on us. If on the other hand they want to promote all-year-round tourism then they can count on us.

SG: Summing up and in few words, then, the workers' committee at the hotel can count on your party's support?

RP: Of course.

SG: There is something about this whole affair that doesn't add up. If any man in the street wishes to carry out some building work in or on his house, then he needs building permission. Now, if the hotel says that it has to close for four months because of 'extensive' building reforms, how is it that it caught the Town Council by surprise? (At this point she chuckles - Ed) Either they never asked for building permission or the Town Council were aware beforehand of what was going to happen.

RP: Look, if a shop, for example, wants to liquidate stock through a special sale, then the law stipulates that this can only be done during specified times. Of course they can get round it by saying, 'Big sale due to building reforms!' In other words they invent an excuse to have a sale. Personally, the reason that the hotel has given to close is an excuse. Hotel Fenicios in La Herradura closed down for six months last year to supposedly carry out building reforms and I don't know what kind of reforms they did, that could justify being closed those six months... or however long it was. In the majority of hotels in the world, building reforms are carried out with the hotel still operating - they close down one wing or floor, do the work there, then move on to another.

SG: Change of subject. It was announced that the Mayor was holding a meeting with the owner of the lorries in the township to find somewhere for them to park. Then the ecologists sent a communiqué, warning the Town Council that the Vega is a protected area, and not to use it for such an end. So, what is your opinion? It's obvious that a lorry park must exist and that there is a restriction on the Vega.

RP: We hold the point of view that the Vega must be protected. This has always been one of our banners, so to speak. The solution that the Mayor has proposed is the right-hand side of the river, from the river up to the Camping Rio Verde. This particular plot of land is inhabited by a protected colony of chameleon. We consider that the town needs parking - and not only for lorries, because we need parking of all kinds. We made the proposal that there should be parking facilities under the Plaza Blas Infante, (where the Friday Market is held). The PP (conservatives) backed this motion and added that it would also serve as a lorry park, as well.

SG: Underground, right?

RP: Yes, that's right. We've always considered this a better site than the one that the PA have proposed in La Carrera (at the top of town by the fountain and Otivar road). We consider this idea ludicrous because everybody knows that under that area is a great wealth of archaeological remains. Nobody has made a bid for this contract to date, anyway.

SG: Next question - the crane (last month's article, p.74 ). The municipal archaeologist stated that the crane was sited 25mts from the aqueduct, but from the photo you can see that it is not. What do you think about it?

RP: I think it was very amusing that when we appeared before the media to denounce it, we had based our complaint on a report by the Provincial Council for Culture. Several experts from that department inspected the site. Well, the report was a shock. Stones from this ancient monument had been used as filler for the crane base. They obviously hadn't respected the limitation imposed by Cultura when they had obtained permission to erect a crane there, i.e., they hadn't left a six-metre margin either side of the aqueduct. This report was made exactly one month before the owner of the crane was arrested and taken to the police station to make a statement. This means that one month before the Town Council were aware of the situation but they had taken no steps to rectify the situation.

SG: An important question. Which political parties had given building permission to the building company?

RP: Permission was requested in various phases during the previous legislature. It was approved by all the political parties because it counted on the benediction of the provincial authorities, providing the requisites stipulated were observed. Funnily enough it was the head of this company who wanted the new 2003 PGOU cancelled because it prejudiced his project. In this PGOU it was contemplated turning that section of the aqueduct into a public square. In other words, this developer (Ureña) was a firm ally of Sr. Benavides and which called for the demise of the PGOU because it was not favourable to them and others. What a coincidence that for a month this company was breaking the rules and the Mayor took no steps to impede this. I asked for an explanation at that time and the municipal Councillor Cultura said that the municipal archaeological report said that no damage had been caused to the aqueduct and that the actual damaged had been caused by work in the 60's. Strangely enough said archaeologists has been off work for months, so he certainly hadn't been anywhere near the site.

SG: Next question! Typically topical. You can see, everyday, kids on mopeds, without helmets, screaming around doing wheelies down the towns main streets... with seeming impunity. Many people, accordingly, blame the local police, because of a lack of 'continuity.' On some occasions the police crack down on them and on others - the majority - you can see police cars and young moped riders without helmets travelling side by side. What's your opinion?

RP: A lack of continuity is not the problem - the problem is that there is a lack of local policemen. I'm going to give some figures so that you can see what I mean. At the moment we have one police patrol (two policemen) once every eight hours. There is another policeman on desk duty. Now, I'm not talking about La Herradura, which has another patrol team.

SG: What's our present population?

RP: Just over 23,400.

SG: Amazing!

RP: In fact, that's the official figure - we think that in reality it's almost at 50,000. And that's not taking into consideration the summer population of 150,000! On the big day of the summer, 15th August, so badly organised was the police force that only four policemen were out keeping an eye on 150,000 people!

SG: So there just aren't enough municipal policemen?

RP: There aren't enough, and on top of that, the Councillor for Citizen Safety is making a terrible job of it, as well! He is dismembering the police force. He's taking policemen off the beat and putting them behind desks doing administrative jobs. Anybody could do these administrative functions but not anybody can do the work of a policeman, who requires special training. Almuñécar needs a police force of 70... and it doesn't even have half that amount.

SG: Who finances the municipal police?

RP: The town hall does.

SG: Right, last question. Do you think that Almuñécar deserves a foreign department like Nerja's or Salobreña's?

RP: This is the eternal debate. Every political party in its electoral programme has suggested a foreign department to attend our foreign residents. It's a question of political will. Sooner or later we shall have to make the decision of providing such an office with adequate staff. As far as the foreign population goes - excellent! Many of them are carrying out social functions and take part generally in the fabric of our town. However, I think they should participate more. They organise themselves amongst themselves and meet in places where their particular nationality frequent but, outside that, they don't really mix. The vision that somebody from outside the town can offer, interests us a lot. Their view is probably more objective and not so subjective as those of us who were born here

The Ideal provincial newspaper recently interviewed the Mayor and some of the questions/answers were very interesting, so I'll quote a couple. When it was pointed out to him that summer visitors were not impressed by the 'Great Sunshade Snatching Competition' he responded: "the beach umbrella incident was a mere anecdote, with a lot of journalistic repercussion, but not a social one." Asked about the dreaded parking problem he responded: "this is an important contradiction. Everybody in Almuñécar complains that you cannot park but on only three days during the summer were the existing car parks full." Asked who complained more - the locals or visitors, he replied: "the majority of people come to enjoy themselves but there is a group of people - which, fortunately, is very small - who come here to work out there frustrations and create absurd controversies. Almuñécar is not for rent and they must to learn to abide by our rules." The reporter pointed out that a group that complains a lot are the summer residents of Velilla, to which he had to say: "Velilla has an 'infra-rental' and 'over-exploitation' problem. When 14 people rent and share a 60sqm flat, there's no way that they can be comfortable inside, let alone outside." Finally, Sr. Benavides is of the opinion that whatever he does, people will criticise it. "You can't make omelettes without breaking eggs," he quoted.

The new high school on the P-4 is coming along nicely. According to the town hall, it will be ready for the spring of next year. "The school is moving at a good pace, so much so, that it will be ready ahead of schedule," said Miguel Ávila, the Councillor for Education. Sr. Ávila was a schoolteacher at what was then, Almuñécar's only high school, back in the 80's. Yes... I could tell you a story or two about Miguelito, el Terror de las Aulas, but I shall keep journalistically quiet. This new school was sorely needed, (note the correct spelling - God did that error in last month's editorial really piss me off!). I.E.S. Al Ándalus, for example, is operating at twice its ideal capacity - it has a pupil population of 700. Ah, by the way Paco Prados, who is the Head there, tells me that it will be possible this school year to access the school via Internet to see how your brat... sorry, dear child, is coming along. You will have an access PIN, with which you will be able to monitor their attendance, achievements and behaviour on a day-to-day basis. Who speaks English there? Well, besides the five members of the English Dept: Paco Martínez, Pablo Serrano, Paco Peña and Mari Carmen, you will also find that Pablo Serrano, the PE teacher, also has good conversational English. As things would have it, amongst the 60 odd teachers, there are two teachers with the name Pablo Serrano, but fortunately, both speak English. There are also two Paco Peñas: one is an English teacher, who does, and the other is the RE teacher, who only speaks to God... but in Spanish. What else? Mari Carmen, by the way, is known to everybody as Mao, which corresponds to her initials, and rhymes with 'now.'

The Councillor for Equality and Welfare, Micaela Navarro, announced that there will shortly be a member of the town hall staff whose task will be to accompany and assist any women who have suffered physical or mental domestic abuse, i.e., is a victim of domestic violence. This new system, which already operates in over 300 townships within Andalucía, is part of a plan to cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy and to provide immediate support and advice to victims.

Otívar City, as it is known to the locals, has plenty of plans for the future, as it sags under the awesome weight of the British invasion. Talking of which, Pepe Luis at the town hall there tells us that there are now around 200 British living there, which when you take the present population of just over 1,000, the impact is staggering. Gone is the very Spanish village of Otívar, to be replaced by the dreaded Anglo-mutation. Anyway, back to the Mayor's plans... "Amongst the projects that we have planned, is the municipal park [up on the area above the Guardia Civil, on the other side of the road]. There will also be a trekking route to the west of the village that will be three kilometres long, between the Malagueña and the Molineta, which will begin near the municipal swimming pool," said José Gambil. Another project is a day centre for pensioners (not to be confused with the existing pensioner's club down in the Era. This will be in the old Casa El Cantor. Rumour has it that Carmen at the village hardware shop is really pissed off with the noise that an English family is making. Apart from that, all the old men who used to gather and play dominoes outside the Era bars have now found themselves at a loss, as both bars have been sold to foreigners. My father-in-law is one of them. But the British invasion continues all over the province as Granada has been 'discovered.' Mayors in such out of the way places such as Cádiar (Alpujarra) complain that the British population has not the slightest interest of integrating. It's all so bloody sad.

The town hall has finally taken over the running of the municipal swimming pool, after three years of management under the regional authorities. And - as with every new management - there is a completely new set of rules. On the good side, the swimming pool will now be open at weekends but on the negative side - for those who can't be bothered to 'empadronarse' at the town hall, non-official residents will have to pay more than official residents. Here are the new opening times; Mon - Fri, 08.00h to 23.00h. Saturdays: 09.00h - 23.00h Finally, on Sundays and Bank Holidays, the pool will be open to the public from 09.00h to 14.00h only. Prices are extensive and range from three euros per hour to 45 euros a month. For more information, enquire at the door.

The municipal fruit and fish market could be getting a facelift, says the Mayor. A total of 194.164 euros have been set aside for the task. The flower sellers, for example, will have their own stands. Outside lighting will also be replaced. The present market building was built in 1989. Before that, it was just off Avda. Andalucía (down the street in front of the bike repair workshop.)

The day that one political party has something good to say about another will probably be declared a public holiday and be celebrated with rockets and rogerings. The day is still far off, and so, in the meantime we bring you news that the PP is having a go at the PA governing party for the state of 'abandonment' of the town's football pitches. Such is the diabolical state of the pitch across the main road from the stadium that our local kick & kiss squads have to traipse over the La Herradura to have themselves a match. Juan Luis, our ex-mayor, said that under him, everybody had been happy bunnies and the lions lay down to sleep with the lambs and the Lord was impressed, sort of thing. He reminds us that when his legislature finished the football stadium Francisco Bonet and the Rio Verde pitch were all but finished. However, in the last 14 months under Benny the Bad, not a sausage has been advanced - not even a raw one! Apparently, the turf that was done away with to make way for the National Motor Cross competition a few months ago has not been adequately replaced. Life's a bitch!

The Almuñécar fire service has received new gear, thanks to the town's incorporation in the Consorcio Provincial de Extinction de Incendios. Thanks to a budget boost of 300,000 euros, the local fire service acquired a BUL (light urban fire engine), capable of delivering 2,000 litres of water and an UPI (Rapid Intervention Unit), with a water-carrying capacity of 400. This second vehicle is designed to be able to operate within the town's narrow streets. The firemen also received 12 individual breathing apparatus. Finally, they also acquired a 'heavy-duty extraction kit' (used in bad road accidents, where victims trapped in wrecks).

Don't forget, Ladies & Mantelpieces, that the Grecian-Latin theatre representations will be held this month at the Casa de la Cultura on the 9th, 10th & 11th. This is the fourth year that Teatro Grecolatin Sexi Firmum Iulium has been held here and put on by the SKS theatre group. No doubt, some of the more unsavoury among you will fix your goggling marbles on the word 'Sexi' and will rush out to buy popcorn and a rain-mac, but you will be disappointed: Sexitano is to Almuñécar, as Mancunian is to Manchester.

Last month we ran an article in the Andalucía section on Alzheimer's disease and entitled it, 'The Forgotten Illness.' It is very good news, therefore, to hear that families affected by this illness have got together to form an association here. This Almuñécar group can count on the support of the town hall and will be able to hold weekly meeting in the evenings, although the day of the week has not yet been decided upon. The meeting place will be the Asuntos Sociales (Social Affairs), which is next to the medical centre. One of their main aims is to advise the families of sufferers about economical and social help available. A long-term project is to open a day support centre.

And now for the good news... Emilio González Pavesio, our illustrious Councillor for Tourism, announced that said tourism had increased by 4.21% in the first nine months of the year...Hmmm! Now, it is not the same, Ladies & TV Remote Control Hogs, to 'give the benefit of the doubt,' as to 'benefit from the doubt.' This is not a case of cynical overload but of genuine confusion because at the beginning of October, the PP announced that they had carried out a survey around the town's businesses and found that it had been the worst summer - economically speaking - in many years. Why this glaring difference of opinion? Anyway, back to our mate Pavesio the Possible Porkie Projector. Said councillor said that these figures had been obtained from two, three and four-star establishments. The average occupancy figure stood at 58% from January to March, 65.7% from April to June and 85% from July to September. You must take into account, however, with respect to the PP opinion poll, that the opposition would be hard put to find 'willing urine' should the Mayor's office experience a room temperature superior to 451F.

You might have heard that the Provincial Tourist Board and the Granada City Tourist Board have had a row and will be presenting themselves at the various tourist fairs around the country and in Europe separately. The trouble is that the rest of the towns in the province, Almuñécar included, are at a loss who to follow. Well, the Mayor has announced that we shall be operating with the provincial authorities, on the condition that they give greater protagonism to the Costa Granadina, or 'Tropical,' if you prefer.

At first, the press announced that the 38-year-old lorry driver, whose cement lorry swerved off the road and down a gully, had escaped with his life, though badly injured. However, at a quarter past midnight that same day, he died of his injuries. Apparently, he had taken the bend too fast, just before the bridge on one of the big road loops before Taramay. Drivers, approaching Taramay from the east, often suddenly find themselves approaching these tight, downhill bends, and find themselves in testicle-levitating situations.

The Saturday flea market is a hit. It's a very popular monthly event. Things have changed a lot from when it first began making an appearance eight years ago. Now the market has 201 stalls and a waiting list of nearly another hundred. It's a lot of work though, which is why the Almuñécar branch of the AECC had declined to make it a fortnightly market. Seven people get it up and running each first Saturday of the month, which entails being there at six-thirty in the morning. The cancer association hires out market slots for only eight euros a month, so it is a bargain, as well as a bit of fun for the traders and punters. Yet it also a platform for other organisations to host a stand to further their causes, like SOS Andalucía and the Anglican Church.

Have you ever been to Jete - it's the first village you come to as you go up the Carretera del Suspiro del Moro, more commonly know as La Cabra? It's a very small village, which until recently only had one bar - Damian's, down in the square. Now there is a very nice bar, as well, up on the main road, at the top of the long straight stretch, coming into the village. I (the Ed) recently met the mayor of Jete from the 50's, Don Antonio Bustos. He told me that back then, he had been responsible for the first public lavatories in the village... Jete, in the 1950's! Of course, all the Rio Verde villages had bigger populations back then, which dwindled to a third of their size, thanks to emigration in search of work in the big cities. Now, amazingly, they're full of Brits, Belgians, Lithuanians and Ecuadorians. Anyway, the local church has seen a few changes - a few comings and goings - but the 'comings' that are really proving a problem aren't the foreigners, but the woodworm in the church's beams and rafters. The doors, pulpit and pews haven't escaped the ravenous attention of these sacrilegious little nibblers, either. Well, it's going to cost around 14,000 euros to do away with them and the villagers, town hall and parish funds are going to have to pay for it. The woodwork is old, going back to the construction of the building in 1754.

Further up the valley you come to Lentejí, or Lentigí -both are correct, according to the mayor - after passing through Otívar. Now, Lentej/gí is even smaller than Jete. Until recently the population was around 500 and the predominant surname is Mingorance, which leads neighbouring Otívar children to refer to it as Mingolandia. If you want to make a phone call there and you don't have a mobile telephone, then don't bother looking for a call box or a public telephone in any of the two bars, because there isn't one. There's only one in Jete, and as far as I can remember, there's only one in Otívar, too. This lack of call boxes has led the Town Council of mighty Lentejí into sending a strong letter to Telefónica, demanding a public phone box. The mayor, Ángel Fajardo - one of the most common surnames in the valley - says, "the villagers and immigrants who don't have a land line or mobile find themselves helpless and incredulous in the middle of a communication driven society."

Almuñécar is sitting on a lot of hitherto undiscovered historic remains. Every year they are turning up something from the Roman, Greek or Muslim era. The latest discovery was in Cotobro, where they have uncovered a Roman well. By the way, if you have never bothered to pop up to the castle and see the very-well presented models of the town in the Roman & Phoenician epochs, then you are missing an excellent insight into the town's past. Going back to the Cotobro find, it would appear that the Roman settlement was far from confined to what is the modern centre of the town - the Majuelo Park. It has long been suspected that a fish-salting factory was present in the Cotobro area, but nothing was confirmed until experts were certain, which they are now. For such an operation (fish salting), plenty of sweet, or fresh, water is needed. Therefore, it came as no surprise to find this well, so close to the sea (at the bottom of the Barranco de Cotobro, almost on the beach). For centuries, the abundance of water that flowed down this watercourse was sufficient to keep the well clear of seawater. Incidentally, not far up the gully, there is a little bridge, which is mostly of medieval construction but was most probably built on the foundations of an earlier Roman bridge. Its aspect today differs very little from 1000 years ago. It was an important link in the Roman coast road, the Vía Herculea, which connected Cartagena (in Murcia) to Málaga.

Chocks away for the chirimoyas! At last, after a four-year battle, local chirmoyas will bear a special label: la etiqueta de denominación. This seemingly insignificant label is a visual guarantee of quality and origin and involves a complex system of checks from the very tree to a shop in Germany, for example. So far, four fruit companies are involved, which represent 30% of areas of production: Agrojete, Hermanos Fajardo, Latino Tropical & El Romeral. A lot of time, effort and money have gone into this project, which will provide prestige and greater trade for the area's fruit farmers. Just to give you an idea of the impact of this, 75% of the world's chirimoya productions comes from the Costa Granadina, or Tropical, and a very small part comes from the Málaga side. Although only 10% of the area's crop this year will be included (4,000 tons), it is the first step. Something else that is worth mentioning is that the chirimoya is that only fruit crop in the whole of Andalucía that has a 'denominación de origin.' If you're wondering what that is, just take a look on the rear label on the next bottle of Rioja that you buy. To distinguish the product from other chirimoyas on the market, it is being marketed under the name of Anona's. This special treatment, mind, means that there could be a 15% difference in price. A TV advert will be going out on TVE1 and Canal Sur, from now until Christmas to promote the brand name.

The European Spirit
The Día de Europa, which was held in the Parque Majuelo, was the eighth of its kind. The weather forecast had announced a likelihood of rain but was inaccurate - as usual. The first thing that was apparent was the British are not very European minded. Whereas all the other nationalities made a determined effort to exhibit their national cuisine and customs, the British contribution was merely symbolic. It would have been even less, had the Anglican Church not taken over the unclaimed British Legion stand. Sean Brown pointed out an interesting fact - the park was festooned with flags of all the contributing nations, yet the Union Jack was nowhere to be seen. So why is that the most numerous foreign comunity in Almuñécar couldn't - seemingly - give a toss? It was pointed out to me (the Ed.) that not even the Seaside Gazette had made the effort - which was a valid observation, though, in our case, there were mitigating circumstances: Nikki and Chloe were laid low by a stomach bug and I had been away on a sneaky four-day holiday in Almería, leaving Georg to distribute the Almunecars by himself - a daunting task!

For a nation that invented 'The Club,' we're a pretty unsociable lot, compared with the other Europeans. Never before in the History of Village Fetes have so many left so much to so few to do, could be a Churchillian observation of the British contribution. The Anglican Church deserves much praise for their single-handed effort to foster the foreign community spirit in the name of British residents.

This annual event has nothing to do with jingoism or international vying. On the contrary, the air of cordiality and mutual interest amongst the different nations present was excellent. Valerie and Michael, who have lived in La Herradura for the last 15 years, jointly won the Residente Extranjero del Año Award for their many years of social work and harmonious integration. The Seaside Gazette promises here, in this issue, that next year, we shall host a stand in the IXth Día de Europa de Almuñécar.

This is murkier than you think! During the course of last month, news leaked out that the town hall had halted work being carried out beside the watchtower on the Punta de la Mona. The work that was being carried out belonged to the Ministry of the Interior, no less, and involved the installation of sophisticated electronic equipment for coastal surveillance. The system is called SIVE and until recently, only covered the part of the Spanish coast closest to North Africa. It comprises of radar and infrared detectors, which constantly sweep the in-shore waters for illegal immigrants. Thanks to the massive arrival of 'pateras' (little more than rowing boats with outboard motors) bringing hundreds of desperate people to the Costa Granadina. These longer trips that avoid the heavily and highly effectively guarded Costa del Sol have been possible thanks to the use of GPS onboard. So, the SIVE stations are being built on our part of the coast, as well. The town hall, incredibly, stopped the work, because, says a town hall spokesman, the Ministry of the Interior hadn't asked for permission from them. Can you believe it? You can built a 60-storey, luminescent whorehouse, complete with vomiting camels and medieval toilet facilities and you'll not have the slightest opposition from the vote snatchers installed in the town hall. Yet, if somebody from higher administrative strata should dare to move a finger here, then the municipal JCB will be out there, waving its shovel menacingly. Vox populi has it that a mobile telephone company wanted to install an aerial but was told by a certain highly-placed, local politician that a certain amount of non-traceable cash had to change hands. Furthermore - say the malevolent tongues that worship Gossip, wife of ubiquitous Rumour - this is an established custom... (Sound of thunder off stage and suitable prop shaking, optional.)

We have another estate agents in town, but in case you are thinking 'too many chiefs and not enough indians' this is providing a business centre service as well. Currently, we are not completely sure of what this involves, but will inform you as soon as we do. The site of this new venture is the old Toscana premises, right next to Karcher's.

Word has it that we will soon have a guardería/kindergarten in town. This is most definitely welcome news for parents that have not been able to get their kiddies into the state guarderia. Furthermore, the kindergarten would be using Steiner methods, which is also welcome news to parents, seeking a more alternative approach to education. As soon as I have more definite information, concerning when, where and how, I will definitely let you know !

Last month saw the closure of Los Fenicios, which somehow didn't feel right, in view of the splendid summery weather we have been having. However, one paraglider didn't seem to be aware of this and opted for a rather flamboyant touch down directly in front of the hotel in one of the adjacent palm trees! We only hope the person in question didn't get hurt and presume he/she had to jump down from the palm tree and abandon the equipment for later retrieval.

Rumour has it that a new bank will be opening in town. We should soon have a Caja del Mediterraneo. Watch this space…

It is notoriously difficult to find out what's going on in that mysterious Centro Cultural de Jate. However, - thanks to a fellow mother and friend - I have discovered that the Musical Association has theatre lessons on Tues and Thurs between 18.00h & 19.00h. The fee is 20 euros per month for any activities in the Musical Association and enrolment is 30 euros. Rest assured, Readers, I fully intend to get to the bottom of this Cultural Centre mystery and find out all the activities that are going on down there….

Forgot to get your shopping done and now Sunday is here and all the shops are shut ? Hmmm…It's a familiar scenario, is it not ? Well, fear not, salvation is at hand in the shape of the Nuevo Camping Supermarket. They are often open when others are not, and they are open until 14.00h. on a Sunday morning. You are sure to find what you need, as they have quite a surprising variety of products, including quite a few English items, such as: Marmite, P.G. Tips, Jaffa Cakes, Mini Cheddars and English bread. They also have the most delicious crusty Baguettes, straight from the oven. If you're lucky it may actually be warm at the time of purchase…

Now we do have a paediatric service available in La Herradura which is fantastic, but it can be a very long wait! The service is available Mon- Wed - Fri 08h - 15h. You have to take a ticket, supermarket style, then wait your turn, (in my case, a wait of over four hours). This, when accompanied by a sick child, is not a great deal of fun. However, it did allow me the opportunity to meet and fraternise with other mums - all Spanish. Be reassured that my child was not the only perpetually-ill little monster in town! The much awaited consultation with this female paedritician was not a disappointment, as she was friendly, gentle and conscientious, despite being very overworked! I also learnt a cunning trick from the other mum's: get up early, collect a ticket, go grab some breakfast or do a bit of shopping, go back to the Consultario and, Hey Presto! Your turn should almost be up. This system does, of course, bear its risks, because if you linger just a little too long over your third coffee, then you poor child could miss it's turn in the queue…

For all the women out there (after all this magazine is predominantly male) : If you are in need of a bit of a uplift and renewed optimism then check out the following: Bajo el Sol en Toscana, available in most video shops. Frieda (available in the video shop in Bahia Jardin opposite Almijara hotel) - this film came out a while ago and was recommended to me by a very good friend. It is an amazing testimony to human courage and striving to transcend limitations through art and beauty. Listen to the song Ella, which is currently in the Spanish charts right now by a new artist called Bebe. It is brilliant, really inspiring, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Obviously you need good Spanish to get the lyrics, all the more reason to get learning the language! (Lyrics can be found on the Internet to make it easier)

If readers have any useful bits of information that they would like to share with others, then great! Contact us via email or drop into Simon Yard Young's office in the mornings where, my daughters health permitting, I will hopefully be!

It was packed. Many locals had turned up to see the inauguration of the new scrambling track - even though it doesn't physically exist yet! The important thing was that the metal gates leading to the future track do exist. I (the Ed.) might have had trouble finding it, had I not bumped into the Mayor and followed him up. It is not that it is difficult to find - it's just that you don't expect to find it so far away, so that before you get there, you're wondering whether you've taken a wrong turning and are tempted to turn back. The town hall has tarmacked four kilometres of hitherto dusty track, leading from the old municipal dump, right up to the site for the scrambling track. That, in itself, deserves praise. There was a good assortment of people up there - everybody from Hell's Angels to scrambling enthusiasts; from farmers to kiddies on push bikes who had set out on a three-day camel trek with a packed lunch, just to appear on local and regional TV. It was also an indication of brotherhood amongst bikers that a burly, middle-aged biker on a 1,000+ cc, sporting a German helmet and sleeveless leather jacket could quite happily share the limited space available with a eight-year-old boy on a mini-track bike, in full, sporting regalia. The Mayor knew everybody (his strong point) and everybody knew him and smiled gratefully when he stopped to chat or pull their legs. "Juan Manuel, you're getting fat!" "Not so," came the reply, "it's just that my T-shirt has got an 'airbag' installed." But he could take a ribbing too. Someone asked in a shocked voice, "who's that delinquent you're with?" The Mayor looked over and the speaker added, "no, I was speaking to the man next to you!" The whole event was very political. Benny announced that the gully would be filled with earth and rubble from building excavation over the next couple of years and on that would sit the new track. He pointed out that this would be a bonus for the area, not least because of their nice, new, tarmacked track, but because the site would host national competitions. Nobody bothered to raise the point of the bloody awful noise that would take hold of the valley. But then again, nobody was going to spoil the festive mood. Everybody present was a PA supporter - or better said, was a Benny fan. He also spoke of the new golf course that would be laid right next to the track. Again, nobody thought to voice the obvious - that a peaceful golf course and a scrambling track could never amiably co-exist. The little lad on the mini-bike was given the honour of placing a commemorative box in a pre-prepared hole and casting the first shovel of earth, then all the other town hall figures present did the same.

Next, everybody had to walk, ride or drive four kilometres down to the municipal rubbish dump, where the second public event of the day was to take place - the official closing of the said dump. From now on, domestic rubbish would be treated at the rubbish collection plant near the Repsol butano store. The rest would have to be treated in Motril. Only earth, stones and rubble could be dumped up on the new scrambling track site. The JCB, driven by the son of a friend of the Mayor, soon appeared and ostentatiously started to block the track with earth and stones. The young driver, aware of the cameras and of no more than 18, was very dextrous with the machine's shovel, using it to delicately pick up large blocks by protruding metal rods. "Your son loves poncing around (mariconiando) with that bloody machine," said Benny. The father started to defend his son but Benny butted in with, "at least he's inherited something from you!" Finally, Benny reminded all those present that dumping building waste in the riverbed could earn them a fine of between 3,000 and 18,000 euros. He said that because more than a few of those present would try it. It was his way of telling them that they could expect no help from him, because the fine would come from the provincial authorities.

As you have probably guessed, I like the man - but that doesn't necessarily mean that I would vote for him. (Ed.)

Well, it looks as though they have finally done it - Med Group and the Town Council signed the deal on the 22nd of October, which will bring Nerja's long awaited golf course into being. The Mayor, José Alberto Armijo, and the Chairman of Med Group, Jordi Robinat, signed the deeds for the land for the proposed golf course, which is situated in El Valle de la Coladilla, (near Maro). This company is also responsibe for the proposed golf course in Almuñécar (Fuentes) and Playa Macenas in Mojácar (Almería). The total investment for the Nerja Golf course reaches 165m euros and will provide one million square metres for the course, a luxury hotel and housing. Upon signing the deal Med Group handed over 15m euros, which corresponded to the purchase of the land. The company also promises to apply maximum efficiency in water consumption. The creation of 400 directly related jobs as well as many indirect ones is also foreseen.

José Alberto Tomé, Councillor for Infrastructure, has presented a project to do up c/. Manuel Altolaguirre, c/.José Muñoz and c/.José Moreno, with a budget of 300,000 euros. The residents of these areas are on the whole young families, which puts emphasis on open spaces and 'child-resistent materials' Are we talking about Chobham armour, used on modern battle tanks?

The 'movida' might be a 'word' that you've never heard of, but you will certainly have heard 'la movida' around town. It translates, more or less, for 'the move' and means the night life, the hubub of bars and discoteques. La Movida Madrileña of the 80's could be translated as The Madrid Scene - where it's at... Well, the movida could soon be told to 'move on' because the sleepless residents, the overstretched police force and the street cleaners have had enough. The Councillor for (Business) Establishments & Traffic, (where do they get these titles from - Lucky Bags?), Francisco Adrián Fernández, has confirmed that the council is seriously studying moving 'Ground Zero' out of the centre of town. One of the proposals for a new location is within the projected leisure port in Punta Lara-Ladera del Mar, near the town limits with Torrox. However, not only is this location a long way away, it's also a long way off, because the only part of the marina that exists at the moment is the sea water. And the residents of El Chaparil and Antonio Millón are in a desparate hurry to wave all those noisy buggers goodbye and will probably 'storm the Bastille' long before this option becomes reality. It's a dilema for the town hall because they want the taxes from these popular bars but they don't want the hassle... It's a bit like Government taxes on cigarettes, isn't it?

The business sector of Maro has been urging the town hall to execute, as a matter of utmost priority, the urban development at the eastern end of the village - from the Cuevas de Nerja roundabout up to c/.San Miguel. This would, says Manuel Casanova, who is the chairman of this business association, greatly improve the image of the village and enhance the quality of life for the locals. Hmmm. They also want a bus shelter in c/.San Miguel and the concession of a mini-train between Maro and the Caves. Oh, and that the fair ground should be made into public parking during the high season. Role up! Role up and what else do you want for Christmas?

Talking of parking, the good folk of c/.Méndez Núñez, c/.América and Bronce - between c/.Cantarero and c/.La Cruz - are worried about the loss of 40 parking spaces, after the reorganisation of the town centre. The new urban layout only foresees a parking zone in the Plaza de las Américas, in front of c/.Cervantes. Furthermore, the pavements will be protected by bollards to stop people parking up on them. The nearest parking elsewhere are the streets that run at rightangles to c/.Cervantes, C/.Alfonso XII, c/. Molino and c/. Angustias. Therefore the local residents of c/. Méndez, etc, demand street-level parking in the Cantero and Campo de Vidrio area. In fact, one solution, they claim would to provide a car park in Campo de Vidrio, next to the projected morgue building. Remember that until the year is out, approximately, you will not be able to park in c/.de la Cruz, because of the work going on in the Paseo Nuevo. Finally, the work on calles Méndez, América & Bronce will be finished next spring, before the high season. Amen!

Too bloody right! Carmen Jiménez, who is the spokeswoman for the Socialist Party, put forward the motion at one of the town council meetings that shops owned or run by foreigners should have to advertise their products in Spanish. She pointed out that a great many of these shops and businesses in general only use the language of the proprietor. "It should not be forgotten that it is a service to the public and that such advertising should be accessible to all the general public," she says. A Brit back in the UK would go ballistic, if a shop attendant couldn't serve him in English, or if all the publicity were in a foreign language.

Caught red-handed! The local police were rapturously happy after nabbing a man, by the initials of F.P.F., breaking into a bar in Calle Ruperto Andúez. The alleged thief lives in front of the said bar. The man gained entrance by breaking the glass in the rear door, in the early hours of the 24th of last month. Anyway, he was given a good tweaking and carted off to the cop-shop.

Watch out for watches. The local police confiscated a total of 75 watch forgeries of such brand names as Rolex, Cartier, Dior, Arman and Hugo Boss. The Culprit was Senegalese man, who had been selling these 'bargains' for between 15 and 20 euros each. It was the fact that this 'street seller' tried to make his rucksack vanish from sight when the two policemen strolled into view near the Plaza de la Fábrica de los Cangrejos that alerted the 'finely-honed' curiosity of Constables Dibble & Dabble. The fact that these intrepid law enforcers were nearly run down 86 times by kids on moped, as they tried to cross to the plaza, did not deter them from their single-minded duty. A similar bust - separated by a few metres and days - came about when the police nabbed another gentleman with an impressive suntan. He was in possession of 600 pirate DVD's and an overdose of optimism. His explanation that he was just keeping an eye on them for a gentleman, who he had never seen before and who had nipped off to buy some fags, failed to avoid the application of some shiny dual bracelets of the lockable variety.

Hey, great news for those of you who live in Maro! You're getting broadband! But let us get this into perspective, before you run screaming with joy into the street, with your modem in your hand... The town hall has 'asked' the telephone company to get ADSL into Maro, as soon as possible. This initiative came about after a meeting between the Mayor and the Asociación de Empresarios, (association of local businesses. One of the business that will benefit from this is Las Cuevas de Nerja, for example.

Sad news on the beach at Nerja. The Salon beach that is, has been dealt a resounding blow with the bar being torn down. Apparently it had been threatened for years, but you are probably more aware than me - thanks to my newcomer naivety - that an intended action by the local council can take anything up to 43 years to actually be acted upon. Well they said 'they would', and I suppose, considering that they actually did what they said they would, you have to give them credit. But I have no idea what it has achieved, other than to put someone out of business and lose themselves some tax revenue. I would love to give you more informative news, but nobody that it actually affects seems to want to talk to me…perhaps I smell (mental note - use more deodorant!) Anyway, the last time I looked, the quaint little fishermen's houses were still there, and well worth a photo, in case anything horrible happens to them!

The parking facilities in Nerja for most of October were pretty awful, as the big area at the back of Haveli's was closed for ages before the fiesta. This made side-street parking almost impossible. But now, as most of the tourists have now gone home, it can only get better!

Nerja Pool league seemed to be having a spot of bother with organising their teams for the coming season last month. There seemed to be more teams than spaces, though I am sure that they will have remedied the confusion by now. Let's hope that all of the teams that have been playing and have had an active role in the league for the last few years, have managed to keep their places! So get your balls out boys and may the best team win!

Art in general, is something that you can experience big time in Nerja, as there are so many different forms, from the beautiful masks outside some of the shops to the bigger galleries hung with magnificent paintings of all medias. A smaller gallery, which you could easily miss, unless you venture further into the back streets of Nerja, is the Linda Joyce Studio. (This is a working studio, where you can often find Linda up to her elbows in something… don't ask!) Not only does she exhibit work by local artists, supplying varying types and medias, but she is a talented sculptress herself. Her 'David Beckham' bust (and I don't mean Posh) is amazingly realistic and one that I am sure will be snapped up by an adoring fan soon. Local personality 'Ayo' also has his own bust clearly seen in the photo. (Lucky bugger… I'm still waiting for mine to grow!) The prices in this gallery are very down to earth and affordable, which is a shame really, as I have three of my own works of art there. I'm not going to tell you which ones - you'll just have to go and see for yourself. It is an interesting gallery, which you don't feel uncomfortable in, as Linda is very friendly and not at all 'In Your Face.' In fact, she could well be up the road in the nearby café bar for a well-earned coffee, as they do some pretty good chocolate muffins there, and what well-adjusted female can resist the call of good coffee and a double chocolate muffin, at least once during the morning? Not me, that's for sure! You can find Linda's studio at Calle Cervantes 6, Nerja. Telf. 651 758 091.