News
Royal clean-up
Queen Sofia joined volunteers in Rincón de la Victoria on September 19 to mark the International Day of Clean Beaches . Carrying large blue and yellow plastic sacks , she helped volunteers clear the town ’ s beaches of litter . Followed by a crowd of surprised local residents , the mother of King Felipe set about bending down to pick up cigarette ends , discarded packages and other detritus which threatens the environment .
Stabbing enquiry
A 23-year-old local man has been arrested in Vélez-Málaga after allegedly stabbing a friend in the stomach during an argument in a private home . Police who arrived at the scene found the victim at the front door with a serious injury . An examination of the house found blood traces and a 16- centimetre knife .
New woodwork
Nerja Town Council has approved a budget of € 178,000 for the replacement of woodwork on the exterior of the Town Hall . The object is to save money on energy inside the building by use of more sustainable materials . The cash is coming from European Funds aimed at improving energy efficiency .
Tunnel crash
Firefighters were called to a tunnel on the A-7 near Almuñécar on September 11 to free a woman trapped in her vehicle in the east bound carriageway . She was injured after her car had collided with a wall of the Itrabo tunnel . After being freed , the woman was taken to hospital in Motril .
Footbridge wanted
Proposals are being discussed for a footbridge across the A-7 coast road outside the catering school in Valle Niza . Vélez-Málaga Town Hall says it has received numerous complaints from residents in an area which normally trebles in population in summer . Councillors are expected to make a formal application to central government shortly .
Nerja rejects GENA ’ s claims
Nerja Town Hall has rejected claims that there have been irregularities in the processing of a waste treatment plant in the area of Pueblo Rocío . The group GENA – Ecologists in Action wrote to the regional government asking for a plant operated by Narixa Recicla SL to be moved because of nuisance caused to nearby homes , and claiming that there had been irregularities in granting an operating licence to the company .
The facility is a “ transfer plant ” for garden waste and building rubble , with the materials taken there being transferred later to authorised landfills . GENA claims that its approval by the town council by-passed legislation relating to environmental protection which applies to such operations .
The allegations add that some private houses are less than 200 metres from the plant and residents have lodged numerous complaints with the Town Hall about dust , noise from heavy
A Catalan firm has been contracted to prepare feasibility studies on plans to build the world ’ s longest zip-line in Nerja . The project is the brainchild of local businessman Jonathan Méndez who says the “ novel and avant-garde ” sports attraction would be “ totally respectful ” of the environment .
A zip line consists of a cable mounted on a slope which enables goods or people attached to a pulley suspended on the cable to descend at speed from top to bottom using gravity .
The world ’ s longest zip-line at present is in Dubai and is 2,850 metres long , but , at 3,125 metres , the planned installation for Nerja would become the world beater . It would descend some 700 metres in the Collado de los Apretaderos area , flying over the course of the Chillar River and entirely within the natural park of the Sierras Tejeda , Almijara and Alhama .
Sr Méndez says the € 500,000 project is presently the subject of technical machinery , and the lack of a guarantee that it handles no toxic materials or others which may be harmful to human health .
The Town Council has responded to the ecologists ’ “ unfounded ” claims which it says are based on “ speculation .” It adds that , as previously , neither GENA nor the publications which printed its press statement contacted municipal officials to discuss the allegations . Planning councillor Nieves Atencia explained that the plant was granted a First Occupation Licence in July last year , “ with favourable legal and technical reports .”
Earlier last month , Nerja also rejected claims by GENA that the Chillar river had been polluted by dirty water . Environment councillor Javier Rodríguez accused the ecologists of creating unnecessary alarm , adding that the group should check the facts with the town hall before issuing notices to the press .
Zipping over Nerja
studies which will be presented to Nerja ’ s Town Council in due course , and then to the regional government .
He says that operationally it could be combined with existing tourist attractions in the municipality , such as the famous caves at Maro from where vehicles would depart to reach the zipline . As for the price of a breath-taking ride high above the countryside , Sr Méndez says that will depend on the outcome of the feasibility studies .
Spain ’ s longest zip-line runs for 950 metres over the Búbal reservoir in Aragón , while the 720 metre long zipline at Sanlúcar de Guadiana in Huelva is the only one in the world on an international border crossing over the River Guadiana from Spain into Portugal .
See Jottings on page 24
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