News
Prettiest villages
Rubbish scandal reaches court
Nerja ’ s mayor José Alberto Armijo appeared in court last month as a Málaga court opened its enquiry into the scandal surrounding the uncontrolled dumping of rubbish at Rio de la Miel within the Sierra Almijara natural park . that he authorised the dumping of rubbish in the old quarry in 1998 so it could be used in restoring the area . He told the media that his innocence in the matter would be demonstrated , adding , “ I said it in 2017 and I repeat it now in 2022 .”
The village of Genalguacil ( pictured ), 30 kilometres north-west of Estepona , has been placed fourth on a list of Spain ’ s 20 prettiest village by The Times of London . Pampaneira in Granada province is also listed . To be considered , villages must have fewer than 15,000 residents and stand out because of their history , architecture , gastronomy , culture and art .
Video captures
Two people have appeared in a Málaga Criminal Court after uploading videos to the internet showing them breaking traffic laws . One showed a vehicle being driven at 141 kph in a 50 kph zone , while a young woman was identified as appearing as the driver in three videos , one when she was 16 years old , without ever having obtained a driving licence . The cases were carried out by local officers from the Investigation and Protection Group .
New homes
Construction of 11 new low-cost homes began in Nerja ’ s calle Zubarán last month . The ten-month project represents an investment of more than € 1.45 million , 85 % of which comes from the town hall with the remainder from the regional government . The two-storey homes , part of the Municipal Housing Plan for Youth , included two or three bedrooms and basement parking .
Animal thefts
National Police in Málaga have arrested three people suspected of the theft of 242 goats and 159 sheep in a night-time raid in January . A fourth person , a vet , is believed to have changed the animals ’ ear tags to conceal their true ownership . All face charges of theft , false documents and covering-up their actions .
For around 18 years , over 802,000 cubic metres of construction rubble and general waste were dumped at the disused quarry site and over five years ago , Seprona , the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil , opened an investigation into its management .
The prosecutor is asking for two years in prison for Mayor Armijo plus a fine and an 18-month ban from public office . In Málaga ’ s Criminal Court No 2 on October 17 , he questioned the origin of the dump at the end of the 1990s , when Sr Armijo was the Partido Popular mayor of Nerja .
Sr Armijo said he “ always obeyed the recommendations ,” adding he was convinced there was no criminal charge to be answered . He explained
Smoke-free areas call in Málaga
The Spanish Association Against Cancer ( AECC ) has urged municipalities in Málaga to follow the example set by Sevilla and declare smoke-free areas . The move follows the decision by Sevilla ’ s city council to discourage smoking in 34 hectares of the central area , including Parque de María Luisa and the Plaza de España .
On World No Tobacco Day in May , the AECC called for Málaga ’ s calle Larios to become smoke-free , along with beaches , terraces , parks and bus shelters . In repeating the request to all town halls last month , the organisation made it clear that the object is to raise public awareness to the harmful health effects caused by smoking .
Sevilla ’ s decision to create smoke-free
The mayor said that correct procedures were followed after the restoration was not carried out , and that there had been no serious risks or dangers against the environment , or pollution , which he said had been recognised by Seprona . He added than neither he nor Environment Councillor Nieves Atencia were aware of reports of such danger issued by the regional government .
The case was continuing as Soltalk went to press . As well as the mayor of Nerja and the town planning councillor , six business people from the local construction sector in the area are also on trial . More than twenty witnesses were expected to testify , including the town ’ s former socialist mayor , Rosa Arrabal .
areas was support by councillors of all parties , but it has yet to be approved by the Government ’ s Historical Heritage Commission because the jurisdiction to prohibit smoking is exclusive to the State .
New loan
Vélez-Málaga Town Hall has negotiated an € 8 million loan from Unicaja to enable the competition of a number of projects . These include € 1.2 million for the urban development of the Camino de Torrox and € 1.5 million for work at Torre del Mar ’ s theatre .
Other projects include the acquisition of buildings for administrative use , neighbourhood improvements , and upgrades to public roads and infrastructure .
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