Players detained
Three players from a Burgos soccer team
are under investigation for an alleged
sexual attack against a 15-year-old girl.
They were detained last month in
connection with the offence which is
alleged to have been committed in the
apartment which the suspects share. The
club based in Aranda del Duero plays in
Group VIII of the Third Division.
Salobreña fire
Guardia Civil officers in Salobreña are
investigating a fire last month which
burned out four cars and badly damaged
four others. Two fire crews from Motril
joined local officers in dousing the
flames in the vehicles which were parked
on the site of the old municipal market.
The town centre area is used as an
unofficial car park for about 30 vehicles.
School star
The MIT School in Málaga could play a
starring role in a forthcoming TV
drama. With the second series about to
launch, staff from the company which
makes “The Crown” for Netflix have
been scouring the city for locations for
the third series. The impressive façade
of the bilingual school is reported to be
high on the list of sites likely to be
chosen.
Milk withdrawn
Three brands of baby milk have been
withdrawn from sale in Spain as a
precaution. Cases of salmonella in France
have been linked to them, although no
cases have been reported in Spain and all
tests have proved negative. Lactalis
Nutrición Iberia has removed 28
different types of formula sold only in
pharmacies from its Damira, Sanutri and
Puleva brands.
Suspect detained
Police from Colmenar have arrested a
man suspected of breaking into the
home of an 87-year-old in Riogordo a
month previously. The resident was
threatened with a knife but resisted his
attacker, receiving injuries to both hands.
A young man from Cútar is faces charges
related to the theft of cash, a mobile
phone and documents, as well as
violence and intimidation.
Sale report
Reports suggest that the government is
about to sell around 7% of the state-
owned lender Bankia. Such a sale would
be worth an estimated €840 million.
Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said
last month that the government, which
owns 67% of Bankia, was planning to sell
more stakes “as soon as possible.”
Vélez pedestrian
plans unveiled
Plans for the pedestrianisation of the
historic centre of Vélez-Málaga were
presented at the town hall last month
by the Nerja architect Bernardo
Pozuelo. Mayor Antonio Moreno said
the object of the Council’s “star project”
was to make it an area “for people, not
cars.” Streets to be pedestrianised
under the proposals now on the table
include over 9,000 square metres in
plaza de Las Carmelitas, calle Canalejas
and Camino de Málaga. A further 3,371
square metres calle Luis de Rute and
calle Poeta Joaquín Lobato in the San
Francisco district also come under the
plan.
The pedestrianisation project is
complemented by six other plans to
reorganise traffic and improve the
appearance of the centre. The first of
these, at the intersection of Camino
Viejo de Málaga and Avenida de la
Hispanidad, involves the construction
of a new roundabout. The €153,300
contract has been signed and work will
start at the end of the year.
The Mayor underlined that local bus
services will not be affected by the
pedestrianisation plans, although some
bus stops may be moved. He added
that a lack of shade in the plaza de Las
Carmelitas will be tackled by installing
awnings during the summer months.
Sr Pozuelo explain that his design for
the historic centre aimed to focus on
Carmelitas as the main focus of trade,
and to give greater visibility to the
town’s traditional festivals including
those throughout Easter Week, at
Christmas, and during Carnival. A
period of public consultation on the
plans now follows, with final decisions
expected to be made during next year.
Alhambra’s Royal Baths
restored
The completed first phase of the
restored Royal Baths in the Palacio de
Comares at the Alhambra Palace in
Granada was unveiled last month. It is
now one of the few examples of a
hammam, or steam bath, which has
been preserved intact in the West.
Construction began in the 14th century
under Sultan Ismail I and later Yusuf I.
The building became known as the
Royal Baths after it was used privately
by the Catholic Monarchs following the
Reconquest of Spain.
The €1.16 million, two-year project was
undertaken for reasons of preservation
which was under threat from rain
water filtering into the building. This
has been resolved, partly by natural
ventilation through skylights,
according to project’s technical
director, Pedro Salmerón.
He added that other work has included
replacing inadequate mortar and the
reinstallation of ambient lighting to
criteria including energy sustainability
and low light pollution. Previously
16
unknown medieval artisanal techniques
have been discovered in the vaulted
roofs after the original lime coatings
were exposed.
Future work will investigate the
evidence of doors leading to other
rooms. These would have separated the
four chambers in the complex, each
dedicated to one use: a massage area
and dressing room, a warm room, a
hot room and a room with cold water.