Local News
Rosa resigns
Nerja ’ s former socialist mayor Rosa Arrabal has resigned after almost 12 years as a councillor . She headed the PSOE in the town ’ s coalition council between 2011 and 2015 . A lawyer by profession , she cited “ personal reasons ” for her departure .
Athletics award
Nerja ’ s Athletics Club has won the “ La Caixa Foundation Award for Sports ” from the Association of Sports Journalists of Málaga . The club , founded in 1983 , has more than 850 members and has been ranked as the best such club in Andalucía since 2007 by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation . More recently , it has become an organiser and host for important sports events .
Rural roads
The provincial government has announced plans to invest over € 5 million on 20 rural roads in the Axarquía . Rural communities where local routes have not previously benefitted from such initiatives will take priority , with budgets available of up to € 125,000 per municipality . The projects will be 75 % financed by European funds , 17.5 % by the regional government and the remainder from the General State Administration .
Health tribute
A new traffic roundabout in Nerja at the site of the town ’ s future health centre is to be dedicated to health workers who “ fulfilled their responsibilities beyond duty ” during the pandemic . Councillors approved the proposal last month . Mayor José Alberto Armijo said that the health professionals , “ all deserve our thanks ,” and that it was “ appropriate ” to dedicate to them the roundabout which will give access to the new Health Centre .
Torrecilla upgrade
The Paseo Marítimo at Nerja ’ s Torrecilla beach is to get a € 189,000 facelift . The work to construct new public toilets , rescue and first aid services has been awarded to Transportes Antelo , the only business to submit a bid . The project is being financed by the regional tourism ministry as part of its plans for environmental recovery and sustainable use of beaches .
See Jottings on page 24
Chillar controls demanded
Nerja is continuing to ask the regional government for better administration of countryside around the Chillar river ( pictured ). Last month , an injured walker had to be stretchered for several kilometres after suffering a knee injury .
Workers from the provincial fire service were called to rescue the man , and their action followed at least two incidents earlier this year in which people were injured on the popular walking route . It was reopened to the public earlier this year following its closure during the pandemic but there are no measures in place to control numbers which has led to complaints of overcrowding .
Nerja wants measures introduced in the area which lies within the Sierras Tejeda , Almijara and Alhama natural park . The town ’ s Council has been demanding action for years to control access by people and vehicles , saying that it is “ concerned ” about the risks which this presently entails , and which results in an average of 12 rescues between April and October every year .
Meanwhile , a ten-day project to clear the course of the Chillar was carried out last month . Vegetable waste and non-biodegradable elements , such as garbage and plastics , were removed from around 3.6 kilometres of the river bed . Environment councillor , Javier Rodríguez , said the work would help avoid flooding and other damage following heavy rainfall .
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Drugs detention
A 41-year-old resident of Torre del Mar was arrested in the Granada town of Loja on September 21 after a Guardia Civil patrol stopped a suspicious vehicle . Officers seized 27.3 kilos of hashish , 103 grams of high-quality rock cocaine and 11.5 grams of a designer drug known as “ pink cocaine .” The suspect now faces a charge of a crime against public health .
School upgrades
Nerja has invested over € 63,000 in more than one hundred projects to upgrade its nursery and primary schools . Councillor Gema Laguna said the work had been carried out based on the needs of each centre , and that it leaves schools in “ adequate conditions ” at the start of the new academic year . Tasks undertaken included electrical and plumbing updates , painting and general repairs , plus gardening , cleaning and disinfection .
Kidnap arrests
National Police last month detained three suspects believed to have handcuffed a man and bundled him into the boot of a car in Vélez- Málaga . Three hooded men , two brandishing firearms , stole € 2,500 in cash and a phone from the victim before he was released in a field near Cájiz . The gang is being held and are facing charges including illegal detention , robbery with violence , injuries and falsely reporting their vehicle had been stolen in order to create an alibi .
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