Soltalk July 2018 | Page 11

News

Nerja sewage project powers ahead

With work to complete Nerja ’ s new sewage system now well underway once again , there are hopes that testing will begin later this year and that the water treatment plant will be fully operational by the end of 2019 . Work resumed in February following the collapse in July last year of one of the three firms in the consortium which won the construction contract .
The remaining collector pipes are being installed beneath a number of streets in the town , while work to build a pumping station at the eastern end of Burriana beach is well advanced . The pumping station at the mouth the Chillar river is understood to be almost complete , while the treatment plant itself on the road between Nerja and Maro is practically ready .
Isolux-Corsán , the largest construction firm contracted to build the facility applied for a creditor ’ s agreement on July 5 last year , halting progress for seven months . The Environment Ministry , who are funding the entire project , eventually agreed that the remaining members of the consortium could take over the contract , so avoiding a further delay if the contract
A former mayor of Cómpeta has been banned from holding public office for six years and fined € 3,600 for a town planning offence . Leovigildo López was convicted by Criminal Court No 1 in Málaga a year ago , and early last month , lost his appeal in Málaga ’ s Provincial Court .
The case dates back to December 2005 when permission was granted by Cómpeta Town Hall for building on a site classed as agricultural . The Criminal Court heard that when the planning application was received , the municipal architect warned that the same developer had submitted six projects for six different homes simultaneously , and expressed concerns that this might indicate an urban development . However , the then had had to be re-advertised .

Cómpeta mayor ’ s appeal rejected pic : Dave Jamieson Work underway at Burriana June 22 , 2018

Work in the streets is likely to be completed early in July , but there have been concerns amongst businesses in the Burriana area about detrimental effects on trade caused by the construction works . The town hall has asked businesses for their “ understanding and cooperation ” in the completion of a project with a history stretching back over two decades .
Meanwhile , negotiations continue with the Ministry to cover work not included in the original project which will add an estimated € 2.2 million to its existing bill of almost € 23.3 million .
mayor , Leovigildo López , approved the application .
According to the court report , the mayor and architect acted , “ in the knowledge that it was contrary to planning regulations ,” but that they continued , “ under artificial legal cover created by the technical reports .” It added that the architect made an “ illegal interpretation of the rules ,” as laid out in Andalucía ’ s urban planning laws , while the mayor was “ fully aware of the matter .”
Both were found guilty of an offence against regional planning and the court annulled the licences which had been awarded . In addition to Sr López ’ sentence , the architect was fined € 3,000 and disqualified for four years .
Vehicle plunge
A 50-year-old man was taken to hospital and two women in their 20s were treated at Nerja ’ s health centre after their car plunged ten metres into a ravine . The incident took place on the 1.5 kilometre track between the N- 340 and El Cañuelo beach . The route has restricted traffic all year and visitors are served by a minibus in summer .
Psychiatric order
A Málaga court has ordered two men to be held in a psychiatric unit for 30 months after they were found guilty of an assault . In August 2016 , they forcibly dragged a German woman into a doorway where she was beaten , suffering facial wounds and bruising , before they committed a serious sexual assault . The attackers were also ordered to pay their victim € 30,000 compensation .
Torre brawl
A 47-year-old Moroccan man was detained by police who confiscated knifes following a brawl at an apartment block in Torre del Mar . One person received a serious hand injury during the incident . The reason for the fight between neighbours remains unclear , although the aggressor is believed to be the former partner of a woman who lives in the building .
Sports abuse
National Police in Málaga are reported to have now identified 26 alleged victims of a 26-year-old football trainer accused of abusing children . Experts have been analysing the contents of his computer since his detention in May . The investigation began last October when a man complained that his young son was being subjected to extortion on a social networking site .
Thieves caught
Two Romanian men in their 30s have been detained by National Police at Málaga ’ s airport . The alarm was raised by a woman who found them trying to steal from her while she was asking for assistance in finding the courtesy bus to take her to her hotel . She told police that the suspects continued their attempt to snatch her wallet , containing € 500 and £ 100 , even after they were spotted .
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