News
Prosecutor dies
Spain ’ s attorney general died last month in a Buenos Aires hospital where he had been admitted with a kidney infection . José Manuel Maza , aged 66 , suffered from diabetes and was in Argentina to attend a meeting of the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors . He had held the post for under a year and had been leading the state ’ s investigation into ministers ousted from Cataluña ’ s government .
Daring escape
The former mayor of Caracas arrived in Madrid last month vowing to fight Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from exile . Antonio Ledezma managed a daring escape from house arrest and slipped past security forces to make his way into Colombia from where he flew to Spain . Ledezma was detained in 2015 on charges of plotting against Maduro the previous year .
Oil spill
A Galician court says that Spain could be owed over € 1.5 billion in compensation following an oil spill in 2002 after the tanker Prestige split in two and sank in the Bay of Biscay , leaving 2,000 kilometres of Spanish , French and Portguese coasts seriously polluted . A further € 61 million could be owed to France . Jointly and severally liable are the vessel ’ s captain , owners and insurers .
Royal visit
Queen Sofía , mother of King Felipe , was in Málaga last month to attend the National Alzheimer Congress . During the event ’ s inauguration , she had words of encouragement for families of sufferers and said they deserve a break from caring . An estimated 100,000 people in Andalucía are believed to suffer from the chronic neurodegenerative disease .
Grant claim
Socialists have claimed that Torrox has lost a € 216,000 grant to build three new pádel courts . The town was promised the development at the Santa Rosa sports complex at Los Llanos but opposition councillors say the necessary paperwork has not been completed . Torrox Town Hall , controlled by the Partido Popular , said the documentation was “ very complete ” and that their electoral promise would be fulfilled .
See Smalltalk on page 22
La Malagueta plans make progress
Plans to revamp Málaga ’ s La Malagueta bullring received initial approval from the Provinical Heritage Committee last month . The decision was reached after a detailed analysis of the proposals which will enable the building , which is listed as an historical monument , to be available for new uses .
The Committee said that it had wanted to ensure that the proposed development would retain the present characteristics and spirit of the bullring . Separate studies were carried out into the parts of the construction which are in a poor state of conservation and which would be demolished , and into justifying that changes made would improve the overall heritage of the complex .
It is proposed to include a centre featuring the art of bullfighting , including an exhibition area and conference hall , as part of Málaga ’ s plans to increase the amount of space in the city available for cultural uses . Use for purely commercial purposes will not be permitted , while the café – restaurant will not be permitted to expand its present area , and with no fast-food franchises permitted .
Further studies are being made into the
Businesses along the coastline of La Herradura were surprised last month when a series of wooden posts was installed between the edge of the town ’ s beach and the road which runs along its length . The move had the effected of eliminating around 50 parking spaces in an area which already had limited parking available .
First to object were the owners of the beach bars and restaurants whose customers habitually used the spaces . Their association complained loudly above the development , describing the loss of parking spaces as “ intolerable .” Almuñécar Town Hall was quick to point out that the problem was one caused by the Costas department , and its deputy mayor with responsibility for La Herradura immediately began design of the permanent exhibition , while guidelines on respecting the original design and its conservation continue .
Meanwhile , the town hall ’ s plans to seize back a city centre building in plaza de La Siglo which has been home to a privately-own museum of bullfighting have suffered a setback . The city claims the owner , Extremadura businessman Juan Barco , owes over € 400,000 in unpaid water and power bills , plus IBI tax .
However , a litigation court last month refused the City Council permission to enter the building in order to enforce the termination of their contract with him . It argued that Barco has now filed an appeal before an administrative court and that this must be heard first .
Parking row in La Herradura
discussions with both sides . By the end of the week , Juan José Ruiz Joya had reached agreement with Costas that the controversial wooden posts would be removed , and the road modified to allow around 50 vehicles to be parked “ nose in .” The work was expected to be completed last month .
La Herradura has chronic parking problems , particularly in summer , and this year 300 extra spaces were created on an empty plot near the beach . Sr Ruiz Joya says talks are underway with the owners of two or three more areas which could be used for parking next summer , while in the longer term , the Council is preparing to invite tenders for the construction of an underground car park in the area of the children ’ s playground .
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