Mountain death
A 17-year-old youth reported missing
after walking in the Sierra Nevada was
found dead last month. He was found in
an area of difficult access and is believed
to have fallen down an escarpment. The
teenager from Güéjar Sierra disappeared
the previous evening while out walking
with friends.
Violent robbery
National Police in Málaga are
investigating the theft of €1,200 from the
owner of city bar by four men who
followed his taxi home after work. He
told officers how he was doused with
pepper spray and thrown to ground by
two of the four men in the following car
as he arrived outside his property. Police
took him to hospital for treatment to cuts
and bruises.
Casares fire
Sixty people had to be quickly evacuated
from their homes in Casares on July 21
after strong winds blew a countryside fire
towards them at up to 20 kph. The
town’s recycling plant was one of the
buildings under threat. The outbreak
began in the area known as Finca del
Álamo. The blaze was tackled by around
130 ground operatives supported by 14
aircraft.
Road upgrade
The Public Works Ministry is to spend
€1.2 million upgrading the A-7204 in the
Axarquía. The stretch begins at the
intersection with the A-402 in Venta Baja
and runs 22 kilometres to Riogordo. The
work, which is scheduled to start early
next year, is almost entirely within the
municipality of Periana.
Body found
The body of a 72-year-old German
woman has been found at her home in
Vélez-Málaga. Police said there were no
signs of violence, adding that she had
probably died of natural causes about a
month earlier. Neighbours alerted the
emergency services to a strong smell
coming from the woman’s sixth floor
apartment in calle Felipe el Hermoso.
Road death
A 43-year-old man detained by local
police in Málaga following a road
accident in the city tested positive for
cannabis and cocaine. A 41-year-old
motorcyclist died when a van driven by
the suspect turned left into his path in
the city centre on July 16. Emergency
services were unable to revive the bike
rider.
Opposition to planned
El Ingenio expansion
Groups representing businesses and
traders in Vélez-Málaga and Torre del
Mar say they are against plans to
expand the El Ingenio shopping centre.
The owners, Sociedad Azucarera Larios
S.A. (SALSA), have put forward
proposals to increase the retail area by
5,000 square metres.
The centre, which opened in November
2000, presently covers 42,200 square
metres and includes 120 shops, the
Eroski hypermarket, 12 cinema screens,
2,600 parking places, a gymnasium and
a petrol station. SALSA have submitted
plans to Vélez-Málaga Town Hall to
expand near the service station where
Aurgi has a mechanical workshop, and
at the other end of the complex where a
nightclub once operated.
When it was first discussed by Vélez
Town Council last month,
representatives of the Partido Popular
and Izquierda Unida argued that any
expansion would damage small
businesses in the municipality. The PP
noted that the plan states it would be
expected to increase business by 9.9 per
cent, which is below the level at which
SALSA would have to compensate the
municipality. The proposal was due for
El Ingenio, Vélez-Málaga
further discussion at a meeting
scheduled for July 30.
The Association of Traders in Torre del
Mar (ACET) commented that Vélez and
Torre, “need to develop their urban
centres with more trade and life in our
streets,” with more pedestrian areas,
more parking and “above all” more
public transport.
Their opposite number in Vélez-Málaga
(ACEV) said it was “not time” for an
extension of El Ingenio which, “we
opposed at the time of its construction.”
The group also noted that work was just
starting on the pedestrianisation of the
centre of Vélez.
Málaga’s Soho Theatre
on track
Málaga-born actor Antonio Banderas
(pictured) plans to open his latest
project next September in his home
city. The future Soho Theatre is
expected to be ready in time for
Banderas’ Broadway production of
Zorba the Greek.
The theatre project is funded partly by
Caixabank and Banderas says he has
reached agreement to screen the new
production with subtitles in Spanish in
what he says is a pioneering project for
Spain. A Spanish theatre company will
then present Zorba the Greek in the
local language.
Banderas hopes to repeat the project
with other Broadway shows, including
10
ballet and opera, as well as staging
original productions by Spanish
playwrights including Lope de Vega
and Lorca. The Theatre will also be
available for courses and seminars in
either its 700-seat main auditorium or
the smaller 200-seat hall.