The PP (Partido Popular) held an emergency meeting on December 22nd at La Herradura’s new Civic Centre, with local residents and property owners present. The intention was to alert the public that final plans of La Herradura’s new paseo were available for viewing at Almuñécar’s Town Hall. More seriously, we were informed that unless sufficient presentations were made by the deadline of 3rd January 2007, these plans were destined - literally - to be set in stone.

By this stage you’re probably thinking, “But we were all looking forward to a new and improved paseo, tossing out the treacherous railway sleepers and really smartening up the front line of La Herradura.” The theory is brilliant, but then reality steps in.

There’s been a lot of muttering about the fabled Paseo in La Herradura for several years and until now there has been no effort (at least none that I’ve witnessed) to give a graphic interpretation of how they think it should look. Apart from the complexity of the damn thing, the first thing that strikes you when you actually try to look at the plans available in Almuñécar is the size of this potential project. Not only is it destined to take up the whole of the two plus kilometre beach front, but it actually consists of a number of sections. Firstly, there is the variable footpath (with the objective of making it as wide as possible, given the physical limits of space), moving towards the sea the next section consists of a planted area approximately 1.15 metres wide, next comes the emergency vehicles only access which is a roadway which measures three metres wide, then another green patch of about 70 centimetres width, finally the paseo itself which comes in at a whopping 5 metres width.

Given the magnitude of the whole project, perhaps it’s not such a shock when I reveal that the Town Hall is expecting a shortfall of land. But rather than ask ‘Costas’ (the national authority responsible for Spain’s coastline) for an additional strip of beach, the ‘solution’ set out in the plan is to expropriate land from private owners, including residential blocks and businesses; i.e., some 10,200 square metres worth of land, to be precise. Intriguingly quite a meaningful proportion of this identified land is actually classified as ‘rustic land’, at least until the PGOU (General plan for the area) takes shape. This means that at the moment this land is sizeably discounted (hence part of the reason for the speed with which the Town Hall is attempting to move this plan for the Paseo through, together with implications for the cost of the whole project?).

The paseo, as envisaged by the Town Hall (and without including any expropriation payments) has been estimated at 8,887,576 euros. Now, you’d have thought that with such a high bill there’d have been some thought giver to where we’re all going to park. You see, all these brilliant car parks which have been reported in other issues (545 places under the football stadium, Las Tejas, plus 140 places under the sports pavilion) have already been allocated as permanent parking spaces, only available to purchase outright. Where does that leave the rest of us, then, when we want to buy things at the local market, or collect our children from school, use any of the local shops, or even enjoy one of the many seafront restaurants? You guessed it: up the creek without a paddle. Not good. Not even remotely helpful. Great to improve the seafront, so that we can all safely walk along and enjoy it, but not sensible if we can’t access it. Apart from crucifying the local businesses, how are we expected to lead our daily lives?

OK: so a new vehicle route is planned at second row level. Even this will require the expropriation of land and certainly won’t solve the parking issue. Things already get desperate during the summer, as we’re all too well aware. So, is this intended as a plan to prevent people coming to La Herradura? I have to say that it does raise suspicion when the whole plan thing is so badly handled. Why was it not widely publicised? And why is a copy only available in Almuñécar? Especially with the new Civic Centre in operation, you can’t tell me that there are no available areas to display the proposed plans locally for the actual residents to digest, understand and comment upon.

So where does that leave us? Just because the 3rd January has passed doesn’t mean that we have no option but to accept what’s been proposed. Every representation against the plan can make a difference. As the councillor Francisco José Sánchez Alaminos from the PP commented to me “It’s important that we contest what’s been proposed, otherwise everything will continue as planned. We need the new paseo to work for La Herradura, not the village to adapt to it!”

Brummmm! Brummm! And we’re off! Almuñécar will soon have 7,000 bilingual guide-magazines on leisure. Bear with me troops; I’m writing this on Christmas Eve and the Sol y Sombras are buggers to subdue long enough to write something in a known Earthling language… The publications will be in magazine format and will be bi-monthly. The first ones will be for January/February so keep your peepers open! This idea was fruit of an agreement between the Almuñécar Tourist Board and the Association of Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Pubs and Discotheques, together with the Almuñécar Open Commercial Centre… and a few minor deities, sort of thing. The magazine will also be available on the Net, i.e. via Internet (no address was given in the original article, unfortunately). The publication has a budget of 6,000 euros, with each association involved contributing 1,200 euros, as well as the municipal tourist board.

You will have noticed, as you walked through town, that Almuñécar’s junior schools have impressive metal-structure covers over their playgrounds: Río Verde, La Santa Cruz and La Virgen de la Antigua. The three structures cost just under half a million euros. This was thanks to a deal struck between the Town Hall and the regional Council for Tourism and Sport. In our climate, these sideless, hangar-like shelters are more to keep the sun off, than the rain out. Either way, it’s a handy addition to the town’s junior-school facilities and a good move from the Town Hall for getting it together.

A small, dead whale was washed up on one of the town’s beaches. Its body bore several wounds, but it is not clear whether they were the cause of death, or had been the result of the actions of the sea and other marine life on the cadaver. Why is it always so damned sad when one of these cetacea die, be it a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

The Motril law courts found a shopkeeper from Almuñécar guilty and sentenced him to a three-year in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing one of the staff of his supermarket - a 14-year old girl. He was also ordered to pay the girl 3,000 euros compensation for moral damages caused. The girl, as a consequence, suffered post traumatic stress and attempted to take her own life in February last year.

Could Almuñécar finally be getting its second gasonlinera? Those who have been around for 20 years or more will remember the little one that used to be in the Carrera de la Concepción, which was closed when the present one opened in La Paloma (by the main access junction). The Town Hall has authorised the installation of such a facility in the P-4, on the Motril side of the football stadium, next to the river. As could be expected, our political parties have lost no time in turning it into a point of conflict… bless their cotton socks. The three main opposition parties (PSOE, PP & IU) criticised the ruling party for allowing the installation on ground that they claim should be for sports facilities, and also for awarding permission to a company, without putting the licence up for public bidding. One point that the PP make is that the old gasolinera in the Carrera was removed because it was inside the urban area of the town, but now the municipal administration has given the go-ahead for one within the P-4, which is most definitely the new urban area of Almuñécar. However, on the same note, so is the existing one, which at some point will have to be moved as the town expands. Apparently, the company that received the licence did so in exchange for building a second grandstand within the stadium.

Jacquie does it again. This well-known restaurateur has made it a yearly tradition to provide a Christmas Dinner for the pensioners of San Luis in Motril, free of charge and out of the goodness of his heart. The residents thought that this year there would be no tradional supper, thanks to the controversial departure of the Hermanas de Mercedarias (nuns), who had run the home for the elderly for many years. But Belgian-born Jacques Vanhoren, who has his very popular restaurant on the Cotobro sea front, wasn’t going to let them down. For the last 25 years he has collaborated with the Mercedarias nuns to bring this Christmas treat to the abuelos and abuelas, who have come to see him as a sort of Santa. The only change this year was that Jacquie and his team couldn’t make it to Motril, so the pensioners were brought to Almuñécar for the feast. In fact, Jacquie had a double task, as he had already agreed to provide a feast for the pensioners of Almuñécar… You see, it was the nuns that always got in contact with him to request his yearly collaboration, so as there were no nuns in San Luis, he had agreed to perform his Christmas special for the Almuñécar old-people’s home. But he received a call from the new management of Motril, and as he didn’t want to let San Luis down, he took on both appointments. On these two days, his restaurant is closed to paying customers, whilst he and his staff - who all gladly work free of charge on these occasions - entertain the lucky pensioners. Chapeau, Jacques and staff!

Talking of Cotobro, apparently a small yacht keeled over, half a nautical mile out to sea. The crew – a couple of Spanish lads – managed to swim to shore (about 800 m), despite being reportedly drunk. The small craft capsized around 18.00h (which means that it was getting dark at the time) thanks to the wind and waves – God knows why the lunatics had decided to set sail under those weather conditions and in their personal condition! The wind had been gusting at around 75 kph. In fact, the wind had blown over a tree and toppled a couple of large billboards in Motril. The rescue services were alerted but the two had already reached the shore by the time that they arrived. Both men were taken to the Almuñécar medical centre, where they were treated for symptoms of hypothermia – they had body temperatures of just 30ºC.

This year’s Ornithological Competition (20th) went ahead as scheduled, unlike last year’s which was cancelled because of the Bird Flu scares. The Competition took place in the municipal indoor swimming pool (not the wet bit, of course: submerged parrots in diving gear are hard to judge for their plumage). Almost 100 bird breeders participated from all over Spain. I phoned up the Chairman of the Almuñécar Bird Club, Javier Rodrigo, who explained that following last year’s worries over Bird Flu they had had to take many precautions. Apart from that, he didn’t have time to explain much because he was in urgencies at the Almuñécar medical centre, where he was accompanying somebody else with a problem. He said he would phone back, but didn’t. However, we decided not to sue him under the circumstances.

It has been announced that the Nerja-La Herradura stretch of the autovía will be open for February this year. We have been waiting years for this coastal dual carriageway to finally reach the province, ever since the Rincón-de-la-Victoria stretch finally made it unnecessary for drivers to have to cut through the middle of Málaga to get to the airport, which was more than a decade ago, at least. On a cynical note, I couldn’t help but notice that the opening of the La Herradura link is only three months before the municipal elections… what an extraordinary coincidence! The La Herradura-Taramay stretch remains halted, however, pending the completion of the seemingly eternal judicial enquiry. Although the bridge accident did not occur on the nine kilometres of the Nerja-La Herradura, it has affected work on it – any alteration to the original specifications or routing is examined exhaustively before getting the go-ahead. The Ministry of public works maintains its promise that the Autovía del Mediterráneo will be completed within the first six months of 2009, however, despite the constant delays. The project for this part of the autovía, which includes two bridges and three tunnels, was approved in July 1999, receiving the green light for land expropriation to begin. That’s seven and a half years to build nine and a half kilometres, basically.

Talking of roads and bridges, the new Jete bridge appears to be getting along fine. This is the one that is just after the gasolinera Virgen de la Agua. Rather than being an alternative access to the village itself, mind, it is more for the benefit of the Jete farmers who have land on the other side of the river. When the river is up and coinciding with a harvest it is virtually impossible to get the fruit out. Eighty percent of the 300,000 euros needed to build it come from the government: Consejería de Empleo y Desarrollo Tecnológico (Board for Employment and Technological Development). What any driver must ask himself, though, is why the hell did they put a bridge-cum-road junction on a blind bend?

The Almuñécar medical centre will receive more specialist services this year. It already offers paediatric, obstetric and gynaecologic services as well as rehabilitation, but this year will see the arrival of specialists for orthopaedic surgery, internal medicines, ophthalmology and mental health. Until now, inhabitants of the Río Verde area (Almuñécar, Jete, Otívar and Lentegi) have had to go to Motril’s Santa Ana hospital. The Almuñécar medical centre is not going to become a hospital and still comes under Motril, but what it is designed to be is somewhere where you can consult a specialist for a diagnosis; still, a trip to Motril will still be necessary for any surgery or specialised treatment that the illness might entail. The specialists belong to Motril but come here. This does not mean that Motril will suffer staff shortages either – the only difference is that the patients that they treated in Motril can now be treated in their area of origin. In effect, the doctors come to the patients, rather than the infirm having to make their way to the doctor.

Where have 20 years gone? The Casa de la Cultura has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. I could not help but to chuckle at the photograph of the time, with its new and shiny mayor, Juan Carlos Benavides, smiling before the camera. But then again, I was pretty new and shiny at the time. Our rock band was then a year old and we had been enticed to play in the inauguration ‘free’ in exchange for the promise of coming gigs there. Ten years later – and with no gigs having materialised – we were asked to repeat the gesture for the 10th anniversary; we declined. So, here we are with the 20th anniversary and I heard that the existing local bands had been asked to play free-of-charge for the event *sigh!* The Casa de Cultura was built on the site of what was Almuñécar’s ‘medical centre,’ which was really just a religious hospice run by nuns who attended to the village’s sick – it was a village back then; not a town!

I bumped into lovely Jeanette Ashby down near the Paseo and we were soon having a natter in Quirós, together with John Trainin. I asked her how the Saturday markets had gone this year and she replied that things had gone very well. The Rastro had taken 25,000 euros during 2006, which is well up on the 15,000 euros taken during 2005. By the way, 2007 will be the tenth year of this very popular charity car-boot sale. When it started off, there were just 40 stalls and she said back then that her dream was to see it grow to occupy both aisles, as the normal Friday Market does. Well, with 240 participating stalls, that wish has come true. John mentioned – because Netty wouldn’t – that she had received a prize from the town hall for this work. It nearly cost John a thick ear, but John’s verbal spontaneity has given him quick reflexes over the years! If you want to set up a stall there, it will cost you the symbolic amount of 10 euros, which goes to the AECC (Asociación Española Contra el Cancer). You can’t reserve a slot – it’s first come; first served. Make sure that you’re there well before eight in the morning. The Saturday Market runs until 14.30h.

There is no doubt about it, you will enjoy Jan Kruse’s new book, with its wealth of old photographs. It’s not just a hotchpotch of rescued, fading photographs of Almuñécar and La Herradura of yesteryear – it has been well set out into categories to make it much easier to find what most interests you. It is an excellent compendium of the daily life of these two towns, frozen in a mosaic of images from the first recorded photographs of this area, up to the 60s and early 70s. You will see people that you recognise, if you have been here long enough. You can muse over disappeared buildings, captured in bustling moments of activity. It is both testimony to what we have lost and what we still proudly enjoy. Jan tells me that it took three years, with the collaboration of CK’s Jean Louis Andreck, to bring this project to fruit. The book, which is entitled Ayer, contains 400 photographs, spread over 288 pages and is well worth the sale price of 35 euros.

While the opposition to the Mayor might be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of his having to find 3.4m euros, together with the other members of the old Tropical Fruits Board, there might well be some collateral damage in the wings with other members of that Board. Take the case of Ramón González, who formed part of the Board for just two years as an agricultural specialist. He is one of those that will have to find an equal part of the 3.4m euros from his personal estate, fruit (no pun intended) of a lifetime of hard graft and family heritage. He was 27-years old at the time and straight out of agricultural college and he saw this post as golden opportunity and a stroke of luck. Unlike the Mayor, Ramón has everything in his name, right down to his daughter’s dog. There are another seven members of the board like him. Of course, there are also members of the then Town Hall, like the Mayor, Rafael Contreras, who has been Vice-Mayor under Benavides, one ex-councillor under the Mayor’s previous administration, as well as one who is part of the present body. The non-political members of the ex-board feel that they are ‘collateral damage’ in the political struggle against the Mayor. “They aregoing to give Benavides a kick up my arse,” said one of them. The PP opposition party, as well as the PSOE, consider that it is ‘unfortunate’ that these people are being caught up in it, while those whom the opposition consider to be the real architects of this alleged fraud, have made economic provisions by shedding anything in their names that could be embargoed to pay an eventual compensation order. This is little consolation for the farmers who sat on the board, because for as much as the opposition parties lament their getting caught up, they are still gleefully pushing the action on. Ramón González asks, “And are they’re going to demand we pay it all in equal parts, when some of us where only on the Board for two months?”

With the elections just around the corner, Almuñécar’s political parties are already taking up positions and announcing candidates for mayor. Rocío Palacios - who rejected an offer in 2003 from the PP to become mayor under a PSOE/PP coalition, which would have denied Juan Carlos Benavides his minority administration - has been chosen as her party’s candidate. The PP – then and now under Juan Luis González Montoro – has made it clear that his party has discarded the possibility of making post-electoral deals with either the Mayor’s party (CA) or the PSOE under Rocío Palacios. Rocío’s decision to refuse the PP offer of mayoralty was heavily criticised by members of the local branch of her own party, who saw her reluctance as an indication of not wanting to jeopardise her own political career in the Junta – where she is now a regional MP. In other words, putting herself before her town’s needs. That remains to be seen, but it is clear that the previous PSOE leader and mayor, Antonio Rebollo, was cast into the wilderness for forming a coalition with the PP and thus not playing ball with his party’s regional strategy, where townships are exchanged as bargaining chips in the supremacy struggle. This, of course, is true of all the political parties, not just the PSOE. Juan Luis, on the other hand, appears to be making reassuring noises, more to his party superiors than the Almuñécar electorate, that he will not sin again and pact with the enemy in a combined effort to dethrone Juan Carlos Benavides.

The Junta de Andalucía has reportedly ‘armour plated’ the tropical valley of Almuñécar, making it impossible to turn it into a building site. But that’s not just Almuñécar; it’s all along the Costa Tropical. The Regional Parliament has approved an amendment to the POTA (Plan de Ordenanza Territorial Andaluz) which is a kind of region-wide version of municipal PGOUs. This amendment expresses the consideration that the vegas and hillsides that are covered with fruit trees are all a ‘unidad paisajística prioritoria,’ (unit of landscape priority). This means that no PGOU will be approved that contains building development in these areas. A good deal of the credit for these moves must go to the Motril branch of the IU (United Left party) whose proposal it was and who have been tireless in their insistence. This new amendment will certainly kill the Río Verde golf course project, which would have been sited precisely where the fruit orchards now stand.

The Regional Supreme Court (TSJA) has stopped two building projects, approved by the Mayor, making it three all told that have been stopped in the last month. A firm sentence (one that cannot be appealed against) has meant the suspension of 13 ‘apparently illegal’ houses on ‘terreno no-urbanizable.’ All told the law courts have frozen 38 dwellings since November. The judicial tide certainly seems to be turning against the Mayor who, until very recently, could boast that there were no firm court sentences against him or his administration. On the 16th November the TSJA suspended work on a project along Camino de los Marinos, which was affecting a private green zone. This project had received its licence on the 31st January 2006. On the 11th December, the TSJA suspended work on another project in San Antonio, comprising of 13 dwellings. That’s three blows in just one month! *Ouch!*

Another street becomes a pedestrian one. In this case if is the Calle Juan de la Cierva, which is just down from the municipal fish market. The street will be paved out with these grey and red blocks. In fact, Calle Carmen Alta, will be next to have its traditional pebble-embedded surface substituted for this design. That have done a damned good job, as well, in the little square where I live, why has been completely resurfaced and has had a nice wrought-iron railing installed on what was a hitherto unprotected high ledge. You can say what you like about Benny, but he sure does shift his ‘mellifluous donkey’ (sweet ass) when elections are just around the corner.

Meanwhile, building companies might not be the happiest bunnies on the planet… It is looking increasingly like they have forked out millions of euros over the dreaded - and highly dubious, morally speaking - ‘convenios urbanísticos’ which have no value whatsoever, ever since the Junta has at last woken up. The Councillor for Public Works for the Junta de Andalucía, Concepción Gutiérrez, said, quite clearly, “The Town Hall of Almuñécar cannot obtain money for a PGOU that does not exist.” Put another way, the Town Hall has received money for convenios urbanisticos on a PGOU that does not exist and is never liable to. It would be a bit like somebody selling the eggs that his hen lays, when he still hasn’t bought the hen! In fact, some of the projects that the Town Hall has received money up front for had received negative reports from its own departments! So what happens if the PGOU eventually dies? Well, the money received will have to be returned, with, in some cases, 20% interest – and guess who gets to pay that? Yep, the poor old Almuñequero taxpayer!

So, what exactly is all the fuss about over the VPOs (state-subsidised houses) in San Sebastian? Basically, they were built on a plot of land reserved for industrial use; not a residential one. The Junta stepped in months ago and told the Town Hall to stop – they didn’t. So now you have dozens of hopeful youngsters fully siding with the Mayor against the wicked Junta, because they desperately want an opportunity to get the keys for one of these now-completed dwellings. It’s the sort of confrontation that the Mayor excels at, and those that march with banners and cry, “Down with the Junta,” don’t give a damn that there might be something shady behind it all.

The Junta de Andalucía has given the green light to the underground parking facilities in San Cristóbal and Velilla. The Department of the Environment has given permission for machinery to occupy parts of the Paseo to carry out test bores (drilling to ascertain the composition of the ground). The project technicians calculate that the parking facilities will be finished within two years… (Yeah, right! Just like El Paseo del Altillo y Avda. Don Juan Carlos!)The company that will be carrying out the construction work is the co-operative, Periferia, which belongs to another co-operative called GI 25. With names and convoluted connections like that, who needs to feel nervous? Just remember this, Folks; the project was unanimously approved by all political parties in June… so when/if things start to go egg shape (go wrong) and some of them start to disown it, don’t be fooled. The price of one of the 295 project parking slots – in the San Cristóbal one – is estimated at 15,025 euros, plus 16% VAT. Those interested have to put 30% down and pay the remaining 70% upon completion of the project. The Velilla parking project is situated near the water park and will have space fore 421 cars. The price per unit here is 13.522 euros, plus VAT.

Did I mention that the elections are around the corner? The little square on top of the Paseo night bars - where an un-brained and radically castrated Phoenician stands on one leg in a half destroyed boat – is also being renovated and should be finished, according to the Town Hall, this month. Those that are carrying out this work are the same people that built the underground, Paseo del Altillo car park. The overhanging structure that provides shade all along the new Paseo has been extended over the four beach bars at the western end.

Interesting that so many businesses are closing, even if it’s just for a ‘well earned rest.’ Speaking to local proprietor of the highly successful La Barrica, located just off the Plaza Nueva in La Herradura, Antonio claims that although they can’t complain about the amount of business that they’ve had over the festive season, things really have been very quiet generally and that’s part of the reason that they’ll be shut from the 8th - 22nd January inclusive. Perhaps there’s not much happening because people have been saving their coffers in order to splash out on the New Year and Three Kings celebrations, but the reality is that all the restaurants and shops have noticed a real drop in takings on last year. Could it be that we’re not supporting the local establishments as much as we could do? Please don’t tell me that you’ve organised friends and relatives flying in from abroad to bring a whole booty of goods and products, when you know that there are local equivalents, if not exactly the same items available here. You really can’t stand by and moan that there’s nothing on offer, if you don’t do your bit to support businesses here. Our trade really is so important to their survival throughout the coast and inland. After all, isn’t that what living in a village is supposed to be all about: mutually contributing to and benefiting from one another’s efforts. Perhaps I’m painting an idealistic picture, but hey, I figure we have to assume some responsibility, if we want things to work and grow here for us all. We certainly can’t just hang around and wait for the tourists all year round!

Complete restoration of local fortress in eight months during 2007, costing just over one billion euros, according to the Town Hall. Built by 1773 during the reign of Charles III as a military stronghold (possibly indicating the strategic importance of our area), from 1839 until 2003 the building was used as headquarters for the Guardia Civil. It was then purchased by the Town Hall in 2005 for 600,000 euros with the promise of restoring both the interior and exterior of the building to its former glory. The aim is now to incorporate exhibition rooms, where information would be available describing the historical value of these fortresses along the coast as essential watchtowers in defence against foreign invaders/raiders. Also, the restored building will include meeting rooms and a theatre. It remains to be seen whether transforming the neighbourhood into a leisure area for various major and minor local fiestas, will finally be adopted and developed. Not sure how the immediate residents will feel about this!

New sports pavilion will cost twice as much, as it turns out, than the original estimate of 1.3m euros, which was wildly optimistic. It doesn’t come as such a surprise to note that in defence of this increase, the powers that be have indicated that the building currently taking shape across the N-340 from the area known as ‘La Mezquita’ is set to occupy a total built-surface area of 3,497 square metres, out of a total allotted area of 9,600 square metres. Externally it appears as though the structure consists of two buildings of different heights. Internally, these structures are united to include space for changing rooms (males, females plus referees!) a workshop, four toilets, offices for trainers, control, administration, first aid area, a bar, plus storage for sports facilities. The higher section of the building will in turn be dedicated to playing sports with an indoor court/field measuring 40 metres by 20 metres. Spectator seats will be located at the northern end of the building. At the eastern edge in turn, there will also be space for four paddle courts. Not forgetting, of course, the much-talked-about, underground car park, with capacity for 141 vehicles - great for spectators and those playing sports, but not so convenient for people wanting to park their cars and then set off to the beach for the day, perhaps.

School’s out for… Christmas as the end of this term has featured a whole programme of special events to mark the festive season. Interesting to see that this year Marie Carmen and her enthusiastic staff decided to keep along the same international theme, revved up in the summer. Instead of the usual ‘desayuno sano’ of bread, oil and tomato purée, parents were faced with the challenge of equipping their children with some traditional cakes, biscuits and sweets typical of seasonal celebrations abroad. This is surely a sign of the times, with a consistently high proportion of students of foreign origin within Las Gaviotas? Mind you, I have to say that some of the local families weren’t necessarily entirely convinced about the removal of the usual ‘desayuno sano’ and the implications of imposing our traditions over and above theirs. Easy does it: certainly Marie Carmen is keenly aware of the need to retain some kind of balance: hence the inclusion of only one (brilliantly performed, in my humble opinion – congratulations to Raquel, as music teacher) English Christmas song at the school’s concert in the local church. But why did we have to squash into San José when there’s a great big Civic Centre available for the whole community? Sorry, I digress...

The appointment of Tessa Macpherson as member of the school council also comes at a good time, with her brilliant communication skills (and I’m not just talking about her fluency in both Spanish and English!) and consistent commitment to the workings of the school. She’s definitely an important contact for all parents who might find it a bit difficult conveying their point of view, or even understanding just what’s happening within the school. Let’s make sure we give Tessa all the support she needs in this challenging role!

Tarmac of campo roads picks up pace as the routes between El Rescate and Los Escobales, plus Cuesta del Marchante receive some long-awaited attention. This work, together with the improvements made inland behind Almuñécar in the Río Seco and Torrecuevas areas, complies with the objectives outlined in the General Works and Services Plan of 2006. And with an estimated price tag of some 185,230 euros, it comes as great news for everyone who wants to use the local facilities, schools, shops and even just touch base with the coast. With an increasing population choosing to take on a kind of semi-campo existence ‘in the hills’, these two kilometres worth of 5 – 6 metre wide improvements are bound to make a difference to their ability to access the main centres.

Support group for Andrés Segovia competition has been proposed by the current owner of Segovia’s house in La Herradura, Tony Morton. As mentioned in the last issue of the Gazette, there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the competition, both locally and abroad and the feeling is that a lot more could be done with the event to promote it, increase its national and international appeal and nurture it into a real occasion that would put La Herradura and the talent that converges here onto the map. When the last competition took place during December, Tony and others indicated that they would very much like to become involved in the formation of a support group. Well, never too early to start, we say. What we would ask, on behalf of Tony, is for you to register your interest and support, by contacting him on his email address at anthonymorton@hotmail.com Why not seriously think about participating in some way in what has turned out to be something significant, but could be made even more special if managed carefully? Here’s your chance to really get things moving.

The commemorative dinner and book-launch on Cuba was a great success, as almost 200 people came to Venta Luciano on the evening of 5th December to recognise the efforts of the Association of Friends of Cuba during the past seven years. Launching the book Lo que hemos hecho (What we did) put together through the work and dedication of Joaquín Barbero and others, this event was a real testimony to the solidarity of the cause and the benefits that have emanated from everyone’s hard work. You’ll be pleased to note that despite his other commitments, Joaquín is continuing to work with the ‘Amigos de Baracoa’ and you can look forward to the next fund raising event set to take place at the Parque Majuelo in Almuñécar over the weekend of 20th and 21st January 2007. Make sure that you join him and enjoy his now famous paella, whilst supporting this worthwhile cause.

Felicia Hall stimulates all the senses with yet another series of musical and literary evenings. Apart from the stunning series of miniature works on show until the end of January, Felicia, Andrew and Rosi are pleased to invite you to a recital on Thursday 4th January at 19.30h. This will include violin cello performance of various Bach pieces by César Jiménez, a professional musician who lives in Málaga, but whose parents live in La Herradura. César’s brother, José Felix Jiménez, is one of the hugely talented artists from the current exhibition, focused on watercolour interpretation of details, such as a door at the Alhambra. The next exhibition change will take place with the opening on the 2nd February of the works of a fascinating surrealist from the Canary Islands, Luis Alberto Hernández. Pictured in the above photograph is Reinardo Jiménez, who was the winner of the X Premio de Poesía and author of the book, El Vuelo Único.

Liz Saint’s Introduction to Life Coaching Course of four weekly sessions of one and a half hours starts in January. This will take place in the Hotel Almijara in La Herradura, focusing on building self esteem, eliciting your core values, setting goals for 2007 and working towards them, step by step, in a positive empowering way. Here’s a chance to learn more about yourself, improve your life and have fun. Sounds positive to me! Run at 5pm on consecutive Tuesdays, course dates include: 16th January; 23rd January; 30th January; and 6th February. For more details on the course and one to one Life Coaching contact: Liz Saint on 629 46 12 62.

Youths robbed at knifepoint in La Herradura’s children’s park. Sadly, it is actual proof that even this relatively sleepy village has fallen victim to serious crime, whereby two, sixteen-year olds seized the wallets and money of two youths at approximately 11.30pm one Sunday night during December. Clearly, the offenders didn’t have many friends as they were quickly identified and the Guardia Civil was summoned to sort them out. The point is that it doesn’t make for a happy ending from any perspective, since it’s an indication that the innocence of the village and its inhabitants is something that can no longer be taken for granted. The 21st century has arrived here in all its splendour and squalor. The rest is down to us, God help us!

The PSA – known for their reluctance to speak through the media – demands that the Mayor should put some order into the private use of public spaces. The spokesman, Francisco Palomares, claims that there are no rules governing bars and restaurants occupying public footpaths and terraces. According to this gentleman, the last year has seen a growing abuse of this practice. Fair enough, Frank, you have a point.

Salobreña business owners consider the II Concurso de Escaparates (Shop-Window Competition) to be ‘very positive.’ The Chairwoman of the Merchants and Proprietors of Salobreña, Isabel Garrido, said that the event, which was organised in cooperation with the Department for Tourism and Commerce, had drawn a larger crowd than the previous year. A total of 21 different premises had decorated their shop-fronts. The first, second and third prizes were won by Almuleto, Brastán and Parafarmacia Utrabo, in that order. The cash prizes ranged from 600, 400 and 200 euros. Here we are, with yet another year between us and the introduction of the Euro, and you get a first prize of 600 euros; in other words, exactly 100,000 pts. However, it is a sign of progress that the second and third prizes were not 300 euros (50,000 pts) and 150 euros (25,000 pts). Sra. Garrido said that they had plans for next year’s competition to include shop interiors, so that those premises without a shop front could participate.

The PA (Partido Andalucista) has proposed an alternative access junction for the N-340. The party spokesman is calling for a entrance for light traffic only to be opened before summer this year between the actual entrance near the gasolinera and the village sports ground on the other side of the main road. Apart from the junction itself, this would entail around 300m of road to reach town.

Whoohoo! Salobreña will have its indoor swimming pool, which will be handed over by the construction company on the first of the year. (Future time for me, Folks!) The only things remaining to be carried out are a bit of farting around with the shrubbery and exterior paintwork, according to the Mayor, Jesús Avelino Menéndez.

A group of school kids recovered the booty of a jewellery robbery. The children from a fourth-year class (nine and ten-year olds) at the CP Segalvina came across six diamond rings worth 4,200 euros that the thieves had thrown away upon seeing that they were about to be captured.You can imagine that for kids that age, it must have been a tremendous adventure for them to help the police out, solving a robbery. It all started when the class under teacher María García, were on their way to the auditorium, next to the Town Hall, where they were to watch a Nativity play. Suddenly one of the kids found small boxes, containing rings, lying at the foot of a tree. “Miss, look what I’ve found!” In the meantime they had been trying them on and passing them around. One of the kids actually threw one of the rings away, thinking that it was just another junk trinket of the kind found on the street markets and hawked (sold on the streets). To be on the safe side, somebody at the junior school phoned the Guardia Civil, who immediately broke out the party hats and farting cushions. The rings had been stolen from Joyería Oliveros in the village. As can be expected, the owner of the jeweller’s, Antonio, was more than happy. Four young men – one of whom appeared to be a minor – had come into the shop and had asked him for some earrings. Whilst two distracted him, their companions managed to pocket the rings that had been on display in the shop window. He hadn’t realised at the time, but his suspicions had been aroused, so he checked… His jaw hit the ground long after the culprits had hit the street. However, he ran out in pursuit, together with the husband of his assistant. He didn´t think about it at the time but the thieves could have been carrying knives. Amazingly, they managed to catch up and even struggle with them until the Municipal Police turned up (must have been a long struggle!). However, in the meantime the men had managed to ditch the incriminating evidence. Owing to a lack of such, the magistrate was about to order their release, but the kids from CP Segalvina changed all that. Two of them are now locked up, awaiting trial. They are a 19-year-old from Madrid but of Romanian nationality and a 24-year-old Romanian, living in Almuñécar. The minor was questioned before being released and the forth managed to elude capture on the day and remains on the run.

Over the River in Motril, there seems to be a good deal of debate going on about the planned arrival of shopping complexes and the impact that they will have on local small businesses. In fact, as for the Motril Town Hall Administration, made up of four different parties, the subject is dividing them as well. As can be expected, it is the leftist groups that oppose them and support the small business owners, whereas the Councillor for Tourism accuses them of ‘not having their feet on the ground,’ considering the posture of IU to be counter-beneficial for Motril at large. “Trying to stop the arrival of big shopping and leisure centres is impossible and he who cannot see this, is incapable of seeing further than the end of his nose,” said the councillor. He also justified their support of such facilities, saying, “If Salobreña or Almuñécar build ones first, we will be losing an opportunity that we will not be able to recuperate.” On the other hand, the association of traders and shopkeepers, together with the IU, say that they do not oppose these commercial centres in themselves, as long as they are treated just like everybody else and do not get special incentives. Ah well, it’s the same the whole world over. No matter what the Town Hall says about how this will benefit the local economy, in reality, the money never stays in the area, owing to the fact that the companies behind the amenities are national or multinational concerns.

Salobreña Sparkles and Shines! If you live in or around Salobreña, you must have noticed how the village has changed in the last year? The new street lamps, of a different design to the normal ones, now adorning different parts of our village, the new central reservation on the road down to the beach, with its shrubs and flowers adding to the splendour of Salobreña and now looking as if they have been part of the road for ever. There have been other changes too in the village to improve its general appeal. The roundabouts always look special, with their fountains dancing to the music coming from loud speakers at times during the year and always decked with lovely flowers and shrubs. There has also been an active campaign to keep the village clean and try to stop the modern day vandalism of graffiti. If you are reading this magazine and have not had the pleasure of visiting Salobreña, then I would like to offer you an open invitation to see the splendour of the village for yourself. It has a long and south-facing beach, a Moorish Castle and Museum, lots of attractive international bars and restaurants, shops selling locally crafted items and lots of alleyways, nooks and crannies to explore in the old part of the village. There are a number of festivals throughout the year, parks to enjoy, a theatre in the town hall, other cultural centres in Salobreña and an amphitheatre staging all kinds of shows late at night, with its magical atmosphere. Come and see for yourself what Salobreña can offer!

Recent Changes in the Law. There have been a couple of changes in the law recently that will affect all of us, whether you are in possession of a residents permit, or if you simply come out to Spain for a few weeks or months during the year. The first changes concern Capital Gains when you sell any property you have here in Spain. If you are a non-resident in Spain, then the official Capital Gains charge has been reduced from 35% down to 18% and if you do have a resident’s identification card, then this charge has been increased from 15% to 18%. So we will all pay the same on any Capital Gains that we have on any property that we sell here and, obviously, it makes things much simpler for everyone. Anyone who had property in Spain before 1986 as a non-resident was exempt from Capital Gains before. Under the new regulations this exemption has been cancelled and everyone, without exception, has to pay Capital Gains. Another change concerns the Retention Payment, which has to be made, by non-residents, to the Hacienda or Treasury/Tax Department when buying a home in Spain. The purchaser used to pay 5% of the purchase price to the Hacienda and 95% to the person selling them the property. Now the purchaser pays only 3% to the Hacienda and 97% to the seller. More information on all the changes can be obtained from the following website, if your Spanish is up to it and these changes are effective from 1st January 2007. www.notariosyregistradores.com

A much easier to understand change in the law, currently applicable only in Andalucía, concerns drinking alcohol in the street. It is now forbidden to drink alcohol in the street, except in designated areas to be identified by the local council. The new regulation does not apply to Fairs, local Fiestas, Religious, Cultural and Political processions. If caught drinking alcohol, you can be fined from 300 and 60,000 euros! (The law is really aimed at teenage bottle fests in public areas, rather than at normal adults – Ed.)

The German hotel, near the beach and golf course in Motril, has joined the other new open-all-year hotels along the coast here… and closed for the winter! The excuse will be, no doubt, that re-furbishing was necessary for the coming summer months and they have, after all, been open for about two years now! However, is the real reason that they can claim re-furbishing is required now and use this as an excuse to lay off the hotel staff with no pay, no sickness benefit, no holiday allowance and no continuous length of service status? They can then re-hire them, when the busy season starts, at a reduced rate of pay just like many other hotels and if the workers don’t like it, then the attitude is to go work somewhere else!

A Motril woman, who tried to sell her baby, has been sentenced to two years in prison. The couple that tried to buy the child, have also received prison sentences; the wife to eighteen months and her husband to one year. However, the sentences seem likely to be suspended, but the child, now eighteen months, has been made a ward of the court and placed with a foster family.

Coastguards rescued the crew of a Canadian yacht last month, which was adrift six miles off the coast of Motril and had problems with its steerage. The crew were unharmed and the yacht was towed into Motril port by one of the coastguard vessels. The yacht was on its way to the Canary Islands when the incident took place.

A Spanish man, who was arrested over the death in Vélez Benaudalla of a local woman, Beatriz Ordonez, after her body had been found in an irrigation channel, 20 metres below a bridge, has been re-arrested. When he was arrested at the time of her death, he said that he had tried to stop the woman from committing suicide, he convinced the authorities that he was innocent and was released from custody. However, a second autopsy has revealed, that possibly a hammer, or other sharp instrument, could have caused one of the head wounds that were originally thought to have been caused during her fall from the bridge. As a result, the man is now back in custody pending further investigations by the police and the forensic experts.

Road works in Motril. For some time now there has been a great deal of disruption on the roads throughout the town of Motril. Motorists and pedestrians have found their route blocked by men, operating pneumatic drills and other road repairing equipment, as they bring to the good citizens of Motril, that wonderful commodity, that we Brits have taken for granted in the old country for some considerable time and it’s called Town Gas! I call it a wonderful commodity for the good reason that it will bring to an end to that horrendous and heavy item of domestic bliss when living in Spain, the orange butane gas bottle. I raise my glass to its demise! How many of us have struggled and cursed the orange peril, as we have had to change an empty one so that we can have a hot shower or cook the evening meal and then realised that the dirty one we have just carried out or brought back, has left marks on our clothes? So please smile sweetly at the men laying the pipes and think fondly of them, as they are going to make life easier for all of us with this new supply of domestic gas and the only time we will need to hump a gas bottle will be, perhaps, to connect it to the B.B.Q. and one bottle lasts for ever and a day. Great news!