Andalucía expects to reach 2020 tourism target this year

64 Pages·2017·8.36 MB·English

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THE NEWSPAPER FOR José González
SOUTHERN SPAIN
installed in the
Official market leader Malaga hotseat
Audited by PGD/OJD
in English January 19th to 25th 2018
www.surinenglish.com
The former Granada
boss replaces Míchel
News 2 What To Do 42 with the side joint
CLiofmesmtyelen t 2246 MSpyo Hrto me 4571 bottom and seven
Food & Drink 35 Classified 55 points off safety
Health & Beauty 36 Pastimes 62 P52&53
Husband in
Muldoon case
arrested
for fraud
As Rebecca Muldoon’s
family raises funds to
repatriate her body, her
husband faces extradition
A body found on a Marbella beach on
Sunday has been provisionally iden-
tified as Rebecca Muldoon, the Brit-
ish woman who went missing on 2
January. Following the discovery of
the body, her husband was detained,
wanted by the UK authorities for an
unrelated financial fraud worth
900,000 euros. P3
THE COSTA’S FOUR SEASONS IN FASHION
Tax authorities discover
87,000 undeclared
properties in Malaga
province since inspections
DDeessiiggnnss rreepprreesseennttiinngg tthhee ffoouurr sseeaassoonnss hheellppeedd pprroommoottee yyeeaarr--rroouunndd ttoouurriissmm ffoorr tthhee CCoossttaa iinn MMaaddrriidd tthhiiss wweeeekk.. :::: SSAALLVVAADDOORR SSAALLAASS started in 2014
P2&3
Four new boutique
Andalucía expects to reach
hotels planned for
Marbella Old Town in 15-
million-euro venture from
2020 tourism target this year
foreign investors
P8
Puigdemont one step
closer to being reinstated
as Catalan president after
Optimistic
Tourist destinations have been out expected to be reached this year.
regional MPs vote in new
to attract visitors from other parts Accompanied by the regional
forecasts were
separatist speaker
of Spain this week at the interna- tourism minister, Javier Fernández, P22
delivered at the tional tourism fair, Fitur, held in Díaz warned that the industry
Madrid. The president of the Junta should still be cautious of competi-
opening of the de Andalucía, Susana Díaz, who tion from rival Mediterranean des- When a typo could cost
opened the region’s section at the tinations. The president also an- you 160 euros. A study
Fitur tourism fair
fair on Wednesday, announced that nounced measures to control tour- reveals just how much
the industry is growing faster than ist capacity so that the “tourism-
airlines can charge to
expected, to the extent that the 30 phobia” seen in other areas would
million visitor target set for 2020 is Fernández and Díaz. :: S. S. not affect southern Spain. P6 correct a misspelt name P18
Royal Navy
warship visits
Malaga before
Med mission
British destroyer and Nato
flagship HMS Duncan
opened its decks to
visitors this week
HMS Duncan in Malaga Port. :: FRAN ACEVEDO P16
222222222222222 NEWS January 19th to 25th 2018
SUR IN ENGLISH
Over 87,000 undeclared new and altered
properties found by taxman in the province
THE REGULARISATION
W hat is it? The plan was an ini-
tiative by central government to
FRANCISCO
pursue cases of tax fraud in the
JIMÉNEZ
form of new buildings or altera-
 [email protected] tions to existing ones (exten-
sions, reforms or changes of use)
The owners of new
on urban and rural land, which
buildings who have failed had not been declared. The overall
aim is to guarantee that the offi-
to declare their properties
cial description of the properties
for tax purposes will pay
is factual, whether or not they
an average of 150 euros were ever granted a works licence
and occupancy certificate.
more in IBI and a further
600 in back payments H ow was it carried out? The
authorities compared orthopho-
tos already in their possession
MALAGA. The inspections of vil- with recent aerial images taken
las, apartment blocks and land in the by planes, drones or satellites, to
countryside which the tax author- detect any changes. Offenders re-
ity has been carrying out since the ceived official notification, and
end of 2014 have revealed 87,143 were given 15 days to appeal.
cases of fraud in Malaga province, Everybody who has to regularise
in the form of new constructions, their property has to pay 60
reforms or changes of use of build- euros to cover the costs of the in-
ings which have never been declared spections.
for tax purposes.
The idea behind the ‘Plan de Regu- C onsequences. T he properties’
larización Catastral’ was to identify rateable values will be increased
buildings for which the proper and this will affect other taxes
amount of tax was not being paid, which are determined by this
and it has involved orthophotos, aer- variable. These include municipal
ial images and personal visits to al- taxes (IBI and ‘plusvalía’ in-
most every part of the province. creased land value), regional
With only Benahavís and Campil- taxes (inheritance and transfers)
los still remaining to be inspected, and state taxes (income and
of the 1.42 million properties checked wealth). The authorities can also
in four phases of the plan, 87,143 Improvement works being carried out on an apartment block. :: SUR ARCHIVE demand back payments for the
(6.1 per cent of the total) were found past four years, but that is the
to have escaped the eyes of the tax maximum.
authorities because neither their THE INSPECTIONS IN MALAGA PROVINCE Source: General Department of Rateable Values
(*) Not including Benahavís and Campillos, where the plan is continuing
owners nor the local town halls had O ther repercussions. I n addi-
registered them, independently of Municipality Buildings Regularised New builds Extensions Reforms Swimming pools tion to its tax aspects, the rateable
whether or not they had been Alhaurín de la Torre 25,439 1,168 40% 45% 0 15% value of a property is also taken
granted a building licence and occu- Alhaurín el Grande 26,557 1,363 47.14% 42.86% 0 10% into account by the public admini-
pancy certificate. Álora 19,243 2,144 48.49% 46.96% 0 4.55% strations when someone applies
The most common irregularities Antequera 44,471 3,931 32.87% 26.02% 33.76% 7.35% for social assistance, such as eligi-
discovered during these past three Benalmádena 77,764 1,509 11.39% 51.24% 9.46% 27.91% bility for subsidised housing, edu-
years were plots of land upon which Cártama 26,182 1,865 43.06% 31.95% 0 25% cational grants, the right to use
houses had been built, toolsheds Coín 31,184 1,967 43% 41% 0 16% social canteens, a place in a care
which had turned into villas, ter- Estepona 81,781 2,884 19.32% 42.06% 30.18% 8.45% home or even legal aid.
races that had been enclosed to cre- Fuengirola 79,229 814 50% 50% 0 0
ate another room or extensions to Malaga 408,886 13,050 10.66% 51.58% 34.25% 3.51%
create a garden, parking space or Marbella 174,514 1,039 15.14% 45.22% 25.67% 13.98% value, a variable which is used to de-
swimming pool. Mijas 94,882 4,357 43.14% 39.22% 0 17.65% termine how much has to be paid in
These discoveries have important Torremolinos 71,091 1,524 4.38% 72.11% 16.74 6.77% state taxes (income and wealth), re-
financial consequences: the larger Vélez 84,620 2,616 69.90% 20.43% 0 9.67% gional taxes (inheritance and trans-
the property, the higher its rateable TOTAL IN PROVINCE * 1,425,841 87,143 34% 38% 21% 6% fers) and council taxes (IBI rates and
January 19th to 25th 2018 NEWS 3
SUR IN ENGLISH
Body found in search for missing
administrations can issue sanctions
for works which were carried out
illegally. However, this can only be
British woman as husband
applied for the past six years.
It should also be noted that un-
der a law called the ‘Ley del Catas-
faces extradition for fraud
tro Inmobiliario’ property owners
are obliged to declare new construc-
tions and modifications (including
change of ownership) correctly,
and fines of between 60 and 6,000
The rateable value DNA tests are expected
euros can be imposed if they fail
also affects ‘plusvalía’ to do so, depending on the sever- to confirm the identity
ity of the offence.
tax, income tax and of Rebecca Muldoon,
even access to Different offences who disappeared from
The inspections revealed different her home on 2 January
public subsidies
types of offence, but the most com-
mon overall were extensions and
Her husband has been
modifications (adding another sto-
arrested in connection
‘plusvalía’ increased land-value tax). rey to a house, for example, or en-
Once these owners have regular- larging the garden). These amount with a 900,000-euro
ised their buildings, they will have to about 38 per cent of the total
fraud and a drug-related
to pay an average of 150 euros more (33,114 cases).
in IBI, and possibly another 600 There were also 29,628 cases (34 offence
euros in back payments for the past per cent of the total) of new con-
four years, as that is the maximum structions of houses or storerooms, :: J. CANO / M. PÉREZ
period for which they can be charged. 21 per cent (18,300) undeclared re- MARBELLA. A body found last
forms or changes of use, such as Sunday morning, 14 January, on El
A boost for the public coffers enclosing terraces or modernising Oasis beach in Marbella is believed
For many people this will be a large an old house, and 21 per cent to be Rebecca Muldoon, the 35-
sum to find all at once, but it is ex- (5,228) were swimming pools year-old British woman missing
cellent news for town halls, who which had never been declared. since the beginning of the year.
will now receive extra income At the moment, the tax author- Police sources confirmed that The body was found on El Oasis beach on Sunday morning. :: J-L
without having to do anything for ity has only released the results of the body belongs to a woman aged
it. In terms of IBI alone, for exam- the first two phases of the plan, between 35 and 40 and that the After the neighbour alerted the endangering public health after
ple, the municipal coffers in Malaga which was applied to 42 munici- physical features and clothing co- police to the fact that the children more than 400 electronic ciga-
province, could be boosted by about palities (the whole of the western incide with those of the missing were at home alone, Rebecca’s fam- rettes containing cannabis oil
65 million euros. Costa del Sol, Malaga city and the mother-of-two. ily were notified and travelled to were seized from an office he
Obviously, the financial impact Guadalhorce and Antequera re- According to the inquiry, no third Marbella to take care of them. rented in Marbella.
will not be the same for all the gions). In Malaga city, 13,050 prop- party is thought to have been in- Local Police, fire and Protección These were discovered after in-
property owners, because the in- erties have been regularised (half volved in her death and the initial Civil officers were involved in last vestigations into the crime com-
crease in IBI will depend on how of them had been extended or re- results of the autopsy point to sui- week’s search operation which mitted in the UK pointed towards
much the rateable value varies formed), followed by Mijas with cide. Investigators are awaiting the found no clues to the woman’s other possible illicit activities.
(building a house is not the same 4,357 (43 per cent were new con- results of DNA tests to confirm the whereabouts. Some 425 e-cigarettes of three
as putting a swimming pool in, for structions), 3,931 in Antequera identity of the body. Meanwhile varieties and with a high concen-
example). and 2,616 in Vélez. In the Axarquía Muldoon’s family is collecting Second arrest tration of tetrahydrocannabinol
There is one fixed charge which region it is noticeable that three funds for an eventual repatriation. In a further development, the Na- (84 per cent) were discovered in
everyone will have to pay: 60 euros, out of every four cases involved Muldoon was reported missing tional Police arrested Paul Mul- the offices. They were manufac-
to cover costs such as the aerial pho- new constructions, most on rural on 2 January when a neighbour told doon, 33, for a second time in re- tured in California and imported
tos taken by drones or satellites, or land. police that the woman’s children, sponse to a European arrest war- to Spain supposedly without hav-
the physical inspections. Although it is a smaller munici- eight and eleven, were alone at rant which came into force on ing undergone any health inspec-
Although the authorities insist pality, it is striking that in Álora their home in the Vigil de Quiñones Monday. This detention is in rela- tion. Investigations suggest that
the aim of this plan was not to 2,144 properties are having to be area of Marbella. tion to a finance-related offence they were about to be sold in smok-
make money, it is a fact that 5.2 regularised. Benalmádena and Cár- Rebecca’s disappearance came af- committed in the UK, and is not ers’ clubs and exported to the UK.
million euros have been charged tama are also noteworthy because ter she had reported her partner, Paul connected to the disappearance of Paul Muldoon appeared before
so far in Malaga province. It should one in every four cases involved a Muldoon, for domestic violence but his wife. a judge on Wednesday in Marbella
also be pointed out that although new swimming pool, and in Tor- then failed to attend court to con- Paul Muldoon stands accused in relation to the public health of-
nobody regularising a property un- remolinos extensions and mod- firm her allegations. Her husband of fraud concerning financial prod- fence and is awaiting extradition
der these circumstances will be ernisations accounted for 72 per was in custody over the allegation ucts worth 900,000 euros. He is procedures for the charges he faces
fined, town halls and the regional cent of this type of tax fraud. at the time of her disappearance. also facing charges in Spain for in the UK.
4 NEWS January 19th to 25th 2018
SUR IN ENGLISH
Mijas mayor facing tough council Millions being spent to stop
flooding in Las Lagunas roads
sessions on budget and IBI collection
:: IVÁN GELIBTER from the rest of the sewage sys-
MIJAS. The town hall in Mijas tem and installing new drains.
The ruling Ciudadanos
plans to double the amount it Often the work has been carried
and PSOE parties have spends in 2018 on flood preven- out at the same time as improve-
tion measures for the streets of ments to street paving, lighting
agreed planned
Las Lagunas. This comes on top and cabling for other services.
expenditure for 2018 at
of a renewed effort in the last fi- In the case of the Las Islas Mari-
last but it still needs nancial year to put an end to re- anas roundabout, near the Par-
peated flooding in this low-lying que Miramar centre and the wa-
voting on
area of the municipality. ter park, the new drainage sys-
According to data obtained by tem is expected to be finished by
:: IVÁN GELIBTER SUR, the council spent 2.1 mil- early March.
MIJAS. Mayor of Mijas, Juan Carlos lion euros on projects in the area For 2018, the budget allocated
Maldonado, of the Ciudadanos party, in 2017, including work at the to flood prevention is some 3.5
has started the year with two key fi- busy Las Islas Marianas round- million euros, including planned
nancial decisions pending approval about and Calle Río Darro. The work in Camino del Abero, Calle
by councillors and still has some ne- main investment has been made San Juan, Avenida Los Lirios, Calle
gotiating to do to ensure his plans in separating rainwater drains San Valentín and Calle Robles.
win a majority vote in the chamber.
Despite delays in reaching agree-
ment, centrist Ciudadanos and the
Fuengirola aims to
socialist PSOE, the two parties that File photo of a meeting in the council chamber in Mijas Pueblo. :: I. G. pality since last July.
run the council in coalition, recently Saying that the aim of the
get closer to
settled on a draft 2018 budget to take together only hold 12 of the 25 seats lion euros last year. This rise is despite changes is “to get closer” to resi-
to the council for a vote. on the council, one seat short of a a reduction in IBI tax rates for home- residents with dents, he announced that there
Meanwhile the ruling parties have majority, and need to negotiate. Op- owners. The increase is possible as are now eight districts instead of
shake-up in social
also agreed to propose handing over position parties refused this week there are more new homes paying five. The western side of the town
the in-house department that col- to discuss how they would vote, say- the tax now and an increase in new services structure now has four districts which are
lects the municipal services tax (IBI) ing the ruling group still hadn’t developments means more revenue served from the Puebla Lucía build-
to the centralised unit of the Dipu- shared their plans on both issues from building licences too. ing in Calle Paloma Blanca. For the
tación provincial authority. The move with them. In terms of the unpaid IBI, an in- eastern end of the town, the so-
comes amid long-standing criticism Votes on both the 2018 budget and ternal report recently said that the :: IVÁN GELIBTER cial services centre is in the Los
that the current arrangement is ill- the transfer of the IBI tax collection council urgently needed 41 more peo- FUNGIROLA. The councillor for Boliches district town hall.
prepared and is losing the council mil- could take place next week. ple in its tax collection department Social Services in Fuengirola, Fran- The department covers a wide
lions a year in unclaimed taxes. In its draft budget, the council or to hand over responsibility for the cisco José Martín, has been explain- range of services, including home
However Maldonado’s position is wants to increase its 2018 spending staff to the provincial authority to ing improvements made to social help, rent support, emergency
complicated as Ciudadanos and PSOE to 100 million euros from 98.3 mil- enable taxes to be collected faster. services coverage in the munici- needs, food banks and addiction.
112 REPORTS
109 people rescued from
two migrant vessels
MALAGA
:: A. PELÁEZ. Maritime rescue teams
brought 109 people to dry land on
Saturday in an operation to inter-
cept two migrant vessels which had
left the Moroccan city of Al-Hoceïma
bound for Spanish shores. On board
were 99 men and ten women. Nine
of the women were pregnant.
The vessels were located by the
Cóndor IV aircraft before the Al-
A deer illegally hunted in the Antequera area. :: SUR nitak and Concepción Arenal boat
brought the occupants to Malaga
Guardia Civil officer the train line in Fuente de Piedra. port for processing. Three had to be
caught red-handed Sources said the man was caught taken to hospital.
red handed as he was hunting deer
poaching deer
in the middle of closed season.
The accused is a high-ranking Off-duty officer spots
MALAGA Guardia Civil officer and works as part and stops assault
:: F. JIMÉNEZ. A Guardia Civil offi- of an autonomous organisation which
cer is facing a fine up to 600 euros and helps people to get their hunting or
having his hunting licence revoked fishing licences. MIJAS
after being caught hunting in a pro- He is one of several poachers found :: I. GELIBTER. An off-duty Guardia
hibited area. as a result of investigations carried Civil officer intervened in an alleged
The area, which is both fenced off out by the regional government incident of domestic violence ear-
and prohibits hunting of any kind to around the Fuente de Piedra nature lier this month, a released report
protect passengers, runs alongside reserve since November. has said.
The officer, in his own car, saw
“a man assaulting a woman in the
presence of two small children” in
his rear-view mirror and intervened.
The alleged assailant resisted the
officer, who had identified himself,
but was eventually arrested.
Investigations showed that he
was the partner of the woman and
father to the two children.
January 19th to 25th 2018 5
SUR IN ENGLISH
6 NEWS January 19th to 25th 2018
SUR IN ENGLISH
Andalucía expects to reach its 2020
Junta to regulate the
tourism capacity of
target of 30 million tourists this year Andalusian resorts to
prevent “phobia”
There is no “tourism-phobia” in
President Susana Díaz
Andalucía, said regional presi-
said on the first day of dent Susana Díaz at Fitur on
Wednesday, but the region has
the Fitur tourism fair in
to ensure that the anti-tourist
Madrid that 2017 has
feeling seen in Barcelona this
been the best year yet year does not reach southern
Spain.
To this end, Díaz announced
:: PILAR MARTÍNEZ that the regional authority
MADRID. The international tour- would be keeping an eye on
ism fair, Fitur, taking place this week tourism numbers in Andalusian
in Madrid, has seen more landmark resorts by means of capacity
figures for visitors to Spain an- controlling regulations.
nounced. Regional president Susana “Growth has to be sustain-
Díaz opened the Andalucía section, able,” said the president, adding
the largest at the exhibition, with however that it won’t be diffi-
good news. cult for Andalucía to prevent
As expected 2017 has been the re- overcrowding.
gion’s best year yet in terms of tour- Díaz also defended the recent
ism numbers. While the official fig- regulations to control private
ure for December has yet to be re- rented tourist accommodation
leased, it is likely that the region re- and called for inspection serv-
ceived more than 29.5 million visi- ices to crack down on illegal
tors last year, 5% up on the previous apartments.
year. The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Susana Díaz, at the opening of Fitur on Wednesday. :: S. SALAS
Looking ahead, Díaz announced
that Andalucía will reach its 30-mil- added that all eight Andalusian prov- 20.4 billion euros in the region in growth for Spain, but there is still a the British market, Andalucía’s main
lion tourist target set for 2020 two inces had seen a growth in tourists 2017, 4.5% up on the previous year. lot of work to do to achieve greater international client, bearing in mind
years early, in 2018. This requires no as well as an increase in visitors all The average spend per visitor per job stability and quality,” said the the uncertainty surrounding possi-
more than a 4.5% increase on 2017. year round, and not just in peak holi- day also went up by 1.5 euros to 66. president. ble consequences of Brexit.
“Last year on this first day of Fi- day season. The tourism industry contributed The good news did come, however, The other point to watch, said ex-
tur we predicted a 5% increase, Díaz also said that in 2017 tour- to increasing employment last year, with a word of caution. Díaz pointed perts, is the recovery of rival destina-
which proves that we are going in ism income had increased along with added Díaz. “The sector has created out that the industry would be keep- tions that had previously been avoided
the right direction,” said Díaz, who the visitor numbers. Tourists spent 4.6% more jobs, above the average ing a close eye on the behaviour of by tourists amid security concerns.
Costa del Sol uses fashion to
show the province’s diversity
:: P. MARTÍNEZ strengthen the promotion of the
MADRID. The Costa del Sol’s tour- Costa del Sol among the domestic
ism authority demonstrated the di- tourism market.
versity of the province of Malaga on The figures for 2017 were good, said
Wednesday in Madrid using fashion. Bendodo, adding that this year is ex-
Four local designers had been given pected to see the definitive recovery
the job of reproducing the four sea- of the Spanish market, after a major
sons on the catwalk of the Hotel In- slump during the crisis years.
tercontinental to show that the Costa
Marbella
del Sol is an attractive destination all
year round. Marbella’s promotion at Fitur aimed
Montesco, Rafael Urquízar, Jesús to tempt visitors to the town through
Segado and Javier Alcántara contrib- gastronomy. Chefs from two of the
uted their designs to the event at- province’s most prestigious restau-
tended by the president of the Costa rants, El Lago and Dani García, both
del Sol tourism authority, Elías Ben- with Michelin stars, used their dem-
dodo, as well as mayors of several onstrations to prove that Marbella
towns and other authorities. has access to the best produce and
Earlier on Wednesday Bendodo an- ambiance to create quality cuisine.
nounced that the authority’s budget The town’s promotion on Thursday
was going to be increased by 50% to focused on sporting events.
Chefs promote Marbella in Madrid on Wednesday. :: J-L
January 19th to 25th 2018 NEWS 7
SUR IN ENGLISH
Athletes gear up HERE AND THERE
for the annual half
Council settles dispute
marathon early
with local artists and
next month allows craft market
TORREMOLINOS
:: A.G. Torremolinos has put an
:: TONY BRYANT end to a month-long dispute with
TORREMOLINOS. Torremoli- local artisans, who accused the
nos is preparing for the town’s town hall of positioning street
popular half marathon, the 29th markets in squares with a lower
time it has been held. The race, footfall and favouring businesses Plaza Unión Europea. :: A. G.
The 14th-century Pimentel tower will be completely renovated. :: SUR which last year attracted almost from other towns. Several of them
three thousand athletes from had also previously complained most central squares. More than
Green light to restore all over Europe, is one of the that the institutional neglect f i f ty local craftspeople will sell lo-
longest running half marathons of local art had meant that they cal hand-made products on Fridays
in the province of Malaga. had had to find work in other and Saturdays from 10am to 6pm.
Torremolinos landmark
Organised by the sports de- towns. The president of Atenea, the cul-
partment of Torremolinos town The town hall has now an- tural association that represents
hall, the race will take place on nounced that it will allow the in- the artists, Andrea Zucas, said he
Sunday 4 February and those stallation of market stalls in Plaza was “very satisfied” with the
Once work is complete,
church, is divided into three sections, wishing to take part must U n ión Europea, one of the town’s agreement.
the Pimentel tower with two rooms that were once oc- register before Wednesday 31
cupied by the keepers who were re- January. Calls for further Calls for council to end
will be used to host
sponsible for monitoring the coast The event, which attracts
improvements to Parque Animal dog and
cultural events
against possible invasion. both serious athletes and fun
Hospital Marítimo cat shelter concession
The work includes the restoration runners, will start from the mu-
:: TONY BRYANT of the outside walls, interior rooms nicipal sports stadium at 10am.
TORREMOLINOS. Torremolinos and the installation of a lookout plat- The runners will follow a route TORREMOLINOS TORREMOLINOS
council has received a grant of 158,647 form. Once complete, the tower will through the town centre and on :: A. G. Patients and healthcare pro- :: A. G. Animal rights campaigners
euros from central government for be opened to the public and used to to La Carihuela and Montemar, fessionals have criticised the main- have repeated their calls for Torre-
the restoration of the town’s land- host cultural events. before heading to the finishing tenance work on the Hospital molinos council to cancel the con-
mark 14th-century Pimentel tower. The project also includes steps to line back at the sports stadium. Marítimo in Torremolinos, which tract that gives Parque Animal the
The project, with a total cost of smarten up the facades of several The presentation of winners’ was completed in December. right to use public land as an ani-
225,000 euros, is designed to stop rundown buildings close to the land- trophies will take place in the Many have called for more dras- mal shelter. Parque Animal’s presi-
the deterioration of the former mark tower. bullring, where food and refresh- tic measures, such as a complete re- dent, Carmen Marín, is in jail for
watchtower, a protected building The town hall will also start the ments will be available to all the furbishment of the facility, which animal cruelty and administrative
listed as being of special cultural in- necessary administrative procedures participating runners. As well has received many complaints about fraud. The council says it is study-
terest (BIC). to demand businesses take down as the trophies, there is a cash its ageing equipment and buildings ing its legal options although groups
The 18-metre-high monument, signs and hoardings that currently prize of up to 300 euros for the in disrepair. say it still “hasn’t lifted a finger”.
situated behind the San Miguel hide the base of the tower. winners in each category.
8 NEWS January 19th to 25th 2018
SUR IN ENGLISH
Foreign investors
THE HOTEL LOCATIONS
are planning to Maison Ardois
L ocation. Calle Ancha, 9.
open four new This old mansion belonged to
the Ardois family, linked to
the mining business. This pro-
ject is the most advanced.
hotels in the Old
B uilt area. 622.95 square
metres.
Town in Marbella
R ooms. Seven doubles and
four singles.
Cristo; a building within the castle
walls, and one which until a few years
ago housed the Conservatory in the El Castillo
Plaza Puente de Ronda have all cap-
MÓNICA
PÉREZ tured the attention of these inves- L ocation. Plaza de San
tors, who want outstanding locations Bernabé. Situated within the
 [email protected] for their new projects. castle walls.
“They wanted places which would
The hotels will be in
enable clients to discover the real B uilt area. 993 square me-
restored emblematic Marbella, the traditional, typical town tres.
which few people really know,” says
buildings and the Swiss
Miguel Cerván, the CEO Rhône Prop- R ooms. Nine doubles,
and British investors,
erty, the firm responsible for buying eight triples and two singles.
working with the Rhône and converting the properties. “The
investors who come to Marbella are
Property group, are
looking for something special. They
spending 15 million euros are aware that tourists’ tastes are
changing.”
These new hotels will enable cli-
MARBELLA. In 2018 Marbella is ents to discover the Marbella which Santo Cristo
starting a new year which will be is less publicised internationally but
more than satisfying for the tourism is no less important or attractive for L ocation. Plaza del Santo
sector. Although there are no defi- that. Between them, the four hotels Cristo, 2. An old family
nite forecasts regarding the number will only have 50 rooms and space home.
of visitors who are likely to come to for 105 guests.
the town this year, it is known that The two projects which are most B uilt area. 7 27 square me-
more hotel rooms will be available advanced at present are the one in tres.
for them. The focus now is on ensur- Calle Ancha, which could be ready
ing that there is sufficient high-qual- by early February, and the one in R ooms. Ten doubles and
ity accommodation for tourists who Plaza de Santo Cristo. All four ho- five singles.
are seeking exclusivity but also want tels will share some common fea-
something extra, such as a traditional, tures: boutique hotels with few
more unique type of experience. rooms, which provide the luxury
As a result of this, investors have facilities and levels of service which
set their sights on the oldest part of their clients expect.
Marbella, which is one of the town’s The project will also benefit the
greatest treasures. A group of Swiss historic town centre, because some Puente de Ronda
and British investors, working with of the buildings which have been
the Rhône Property group, are to empty for a long time, or had fallen L ocation. Plaza Puente de
open four hotels in the historic town into disrepair, are now being restored. Ronda, 1. It was the residence
centre, at a cost of around 15 mil- For example, the Hotel Santo Cristo of Dr Maíz Viñals, and then
lion euros. will reopen the doors of a large fam- the Conservatory from 1996
A few days ago the firm officially ily home in one of the loveliest areas to 2011.
presented one of these projects, the of the town centre. The Hotel El Cas-
boutique hotel ‘Maison Ardois’, which tillo is inside the castle walls, an area B uilt area. 1,286 square
will be in a restored 16th century classified as a site of cultural interest, metres.
mansion in Calle Ancha. However, and the most ambitious project, in
the group is also working on three the Plaza Puente de Ronda, used to R ooms planned: 1 6.
other hotels, which are at different be the home of Dr Maíz Viñals and
stages at present. An old four-storey later, between 1996 and 2011, the
family house in the Plaza del Santo Conservatory of Marbella.
January 19th to 25th 2018 9
SUR IN ENGLISH
10 NEWS January 19th to 25th 2018
SUR IN ENGLISH
230 pairs of shoes from Frigiliana HERE AND THERE
school go to Saharan nomads
Each year Victoria and
Joakim Ahlén, along with
their two children and
volunteers, travel to
Morocco to work on
different projects
The new pumps installed by Aguas de Narixa. :: E. CABEZAS
:: JENNIE RHODES Town water company area. People in Fuente del Badén,
FRIGILIANA. For the second year prepares controversial including some 4,000 homeown-
running the Ahlén family, through ers making up around 25 per cent
takeover of locals’ supply
their charity, Vilostrada Foundation, of Nerja’s population, currently get
have collected shoes to take to the water from a local water coopera-
nomadic people living in the Sahara. NERJA tive. However Nerja council says lo-
In collaboration with the Enrique :: E. C. A different kind of contro- cals only have permission to water
Ginés primary school in Frigiliana, versy over water is rattling on in farmland and not supply houses di-
which the Ahlén children attend, the Nerja, separate from the unfinished rectly. The Fuente del Badén com-
charity collected over 230 pairs of water treatment plant. Official town munity started legal action against
shoes which are travelling with them water supply company, Aguas de Aguas de Narixa last summer, ac-
to Morocco. Narixa, has been installing its own cusing the latter of “threats and co-
Victoria and the two children, Maj machinery to take over the supply ercion” for allegedly trying to get
and Lucas, left Frigiliana last Sunday to residents in the Fuente del Badén its customers to switch supplier.
and will be spending two months Pupils at Enrique Ginés primary school with donated shoes . :: J. A.
with the nomads, while Joakim will Second notary office
be joining them at a later date along They say that their task over the ing projects.
opens in Nerja
with 20 volunteers . “The nomads two-month period is to “produce a Any money donated to the foun-
outside of Zagora will receive the documentary and record the story dation will go towards items includ-
shoes in the next few weeks,” ex- of the nomad life while at the same ing crochet needles and ‘eco goat hair’ NERJA
plains Victoria. time starting enterprises that enable for handcrafts, which the family sells :: E. C. A new notary office opened
While they are there, along with life to continue in the Sahara.” in Europe on behalf of the artists. in Nerja on Monday, meaning
distributing the shoes, the Ahléns Along with the shoes, the charity They also buy school materials and that the town now has two such
explain that they will be “on site with is running an ongoing fundraising pay for teachers. For further infor- entities. The office, which is run
experts in education, documentary campaign through social media, in mation visit: www.vilostradafoun- by Milagros Mantilla de los Ríos
film making and enterprises.” order to raise money for their ongo- dation.org Vergara, is situated in Calle La
Cruz. The notary on Avenida de
Pescia, run by José Alberto Núñez
González, continues its services.
NERJA CAVE
Both notaries can draw up con- The accident scene. :: E. C.
DISCOVERERS tracts and wills and offer other
judicial services. Council worker killed
MEET ON 59TH
when van overturns
ANNIVERSARY Court order provisionally
suspends demolition
LA VIÑUELA
:: A. P. An employee of La Viñuela
Four of the five people who VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA town hall was killed on Monday af-
discovered the Nerja Caves met :: A. P. A court in Malaga agreed last ternoon after the van he was a pas-
up on 12 January to mark the Friday to provisionally suspend the senger in overturned. Manuel Ro-
59th anniversary of their his- demolition of the two houses due dríguez, 50, who was married with
toric find, along with the son of to be pulled down on Monday in the three children, was carrying out
the fifth man, José Luis Bar- Mano Hierro area of Almayate. Lo- quarterly readings of water meters
bero, who has since died. Every cal social services have been asked at houses located 1.5 kilometres from
year the men meet at the caves to provide a report on the families’ La Viñuela town when the accident
to mark the date. In January situation and risk of social exclu- happened. His colleague, Antonio,
1959 they were playing in the sion as three children also live in was driving the van at round 3pm
area when they started to fol- the houses. Vélez-Málaga town hall when the vehicle overturned. The
low bats that were flying in and announced plans to demolish the reason for the accident is still un-
out of an opening. They came properties, which they say were known and there were no other ve-
across the enormous cave and built on non-urbanisable land with- hicles involved. Antonio escaped
:: SUR ran home to tell their parents. out a licence, the week before last. with only minor injuries.