News
Busy ferries
Over 20,000 private vehicles are expected to take the sea crossing from Málaga to Melilla this month . The Coronavirus crisis and a diplomatic spat with Morocco means that the route has been closed for the last two summers . The Port Authority in Málaga is providing extra facilities for people and vehicles queuing to board a ferry .
Power savers
The María Zambrano park in Vélez-Málaga is included in € 360,000 project to replace public lighting with LED lamps in areas of Vélez and Torre del Mar . It is hoped the move will save € 100,000 on municipal electricity bills , as well as reducing the environmental impact . The coastal N-340 through Benjarafe and Lagos will also receive new illumination in the plan .
Minors caught
Police in Málaga have been carrying out age checks on young people using the city ’ s amusement arcades . The legal age for playing the machines is 18 but some establishments reportedly failed to check this , while some minors showed false identification to gain entry . A number people have been detained while there have been calls for the closure of some establishments .
Maro make-over
Calles San José and San Joaquín in Maro are to be upgraded . The € 245,000 project will be co-financed by Nerja Town Hall and the provincial government . The work is subject to an archaeological survey because the streets are within the boundaries of the Asset of Cultural Interest restrictions which are in place in the village .
Torrox Plaza
The Plaza de la Constitución in Torrox is to be remodelled to make it more open and partly pedestrianised . The investment of € 315,700 will be 75 % subsidised by Málaga ’ s provincial government . The 3,500 square metre area has been given shade in recent years by coloured umbrellas which are now a tourist attraction .
New roads strategy aims to halve deaths
Spain is to introduce a new driving licence for those of 16 years and over . From next year , the B1 document will permit the holder to drive electric vehicles with a top speed of 90 kph and a maximum weight of 400 kilos , a feature already in place in other European countries .
The move is part of a major new road safety strategy aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on the country ’ s roads by half before 2030 . Interior Minister Fernande Grande Marlaska last month presented a new “ compendium of guidelines ” structured around nine strategic areas . He added that the United Nations has described road safety as “ one of the biggest public health problems which need to be tackled via Sustainable Development Objectives .”
He added that the application of new technologies is an important part reducing the consequences of a traffic accident . The new strategy will also include road safety education , while personal mobility vehicles , including electric scooters , will become regulated and users will be obliged to take out third-party insurance . In addition , medical checks to ensure that drivers are fit to be on the country ’ s roads are to be tightened , including an update of the protocol of psychophysical aptitude tests .
Meanwhile , all new vehicles sold in Spain from this month must have an “ alcolock ” system fitted . The driver must blow into a breathalyser before starting the engine , but if the drinkdrive limit is exceeded , the vehicle becomes immobilised . Recognition devices are built-in to the system to ensure that the individual taking the test is the person about to drive the car .
Swimmer dies in Nerja
The death of a young man in early June while swimming off the coast of the Maro – Cerro Gordo natural park near Maro has prompted Nerja Town Hall to issue a reminder that diving into the sea from the rocky coastline is prohibited . The 19-yearold is reported to have jumped from the wellknown spot , known as Pico del Tarzán , at the far eastern end of Burriana beach and was stunned by the shock of hitting the water .
In January last year , councillors approved an amendment to the local by-laws which made it an offence to jump off the cliffs in a restricted shallow area . The text made it clear that the nature of the underwater terrain poses a danger to the public , with offenders liable to fined up to € 1,500 .
However , as many local people have pointed out since last month ’ s tragedy ,
there has been no sign in the area of the rocks alerting people to the potential danger , although the Town Hall has indicated such a warning is to be erected .
Jellyfish arrive
The first jellyfish of the season were reported last month on beaches in Málaga and Rincón de la Victoria . Experts say that more than usual of the creatures are likely to be washed up this summer . The advice to anyone who is stung is to wash the skin with salt water , not fresh water , and to avoid scratching .
14