Soltalk February 2018 | Page 11

News

Nerja scores high in TripAdvisor ratings

Nerja has become the only Spanish resort amongst the Top Ten trending destinations world-wide in a new review by on-line travel website TripAdvisor . It also ranks fourth amongst the most popular European destinations .
Each year , TripAdvisor selects the top 44 destinations around the world based on the levels of positive reviews the destination receives by travellers who visit their site . It says that the review ratings are collected using an algorithm which measures levels of interest shown in accommodation , restaurants and activities , collated from searches and bookings .
TripAdvisor says of Nerja that it “ boasts nearly ten miles of powdery beaches featuring activities like water skiing , scuba diving and sailing . Although tourist-oriented , it hasn ’ t been overtaken by high-rises , and its huge promenade delivers panoramic Mediterranean views .”
The company which supplies water to most of Nerja , Aguas de Narixa , says it has completed improvements to enable it to be connected to homes in the town which presently get water from elsewhere . Around 4,000 properties in the north of the municipality are supplied from a private well which both Nerja Town Hall and Aguas de Narixa regard as unauthorised .
The water company , which is 50 per cent owned by Aqualia , has confirmed that upgrades to the water deposit in the San Juan de Capistrano area will allow it to supply water to these properties , “ with adequate flow and pressure .” The town hall adds that the existing supply from Fuente del Badén is authorised only for supplying irrigation needs , not domestic drinking water , and that Aguas de Narixa is the only authorised water supplier in the municipality .
The worldwide list is topped by the island of Ishigaki in Japan , followed by the town of Kapaa in Hawaii and the safari capital of Africa , Nairobi . In Europe , Nerja is beaten only by Gdansk , Riga and Rovinj in Croatia , with Cádiz appearing in eighth place .
Nerja Town Hall says that the recognition being shown to the town reflects the work done to make the municipality a better place . “ Each council , in each of their respective areas , appreciates this mention by Tripadvisor and by all the people who seek , think and choose Nerja for their vacations ,” it adds .

Nerja water row continues

However , residents of the affected properties , who do not have a water meter and play a flat rate for their supply , are continuing their longrunning argument against being connected to the municipal supply . Last year , their association accused the town hall and Aguas de Narixa of “ coercion and threats ” in efforts to close the Fuente del Badén supply to private homes .
Infrastructure councillor José María Rivas of the PSOE said last month that the confrontation is a result of the Nerja ’ s previous Partido Popular administration which ignored a demand in 2011 from the regional government . This , he continued , instructed the town to regularise the supplies through Aguas de Narixa .
Tram crash
One person was injured last month when a car was in collision with a metro tram in Málaga . Reports suggested the car driver skipped a red light and ran into the side of the tram resulting light injuries to a 52-year-old man in the car and extensive damage to both vehicles . The metro system operated a restricted service until the line was cleared .
Port upgraded
Work to improve the integration of the port at Caleta de Vélez with the town has been completed . The € 856,000 project at the home of Andalucía ’ s largest fishing fleet was aimed at improving sports and leisure use of the marina with upgraded pedestrian areas , a cycle land and street furniture . It has been funded by the regional government .
Fake goods
Local police in Granada have confiscated more than 1,000 fake items on sale in a two-storey shop in the north of the city . A raid on January 10 resulted in the detention of the outlet ’ s owner for offences against industrial property rights . Footwear , sportswear , perfumes and colognes bearing false trade marks were amongst goods seized
Bars barred
Málaga will not allow any more bars or cafés to open in the city centre , for the time being at least . Councillors agreed last month that a moratorium should operate in an effort to create a better balance between the hostelry sector and residential or traditional commercial use . A study of the same problem is to be made in other districts .
Double murder
Three teenagers of gypsy ethnicity have been detained on suspicion of the murder of two 87-year-olds in Bilbao . Police said the couple who were found last month had been subjected to considerable violence , including blows to the head and knife wounds , and their home had been ransacked . The suspects aged 14 and 16 are being held in custody in a minors ’ centre .
Border death
A man bringing goods into Melilla from Morocco died last month when a crush developed at the border . A second man required cardio pulmonary resuscitation and two more were rescued unharmed after they all became trapped . The previous week , two women died in a similar crush at the Ceuta border .
Operator blamed
The head of Tráfico says the AP-6 toll motorway which ground to a halt in snow last month , should have been closed by concession holder Iberpista . Gregorio Serrano rated the operator ’ s performance as “ totally incorrect and misconceived .” Thousands of drivers were trapped on the road on the night of January 6 for up to 18 hours until rescued by army and police units .
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