ISSUE NO. 1629
22 - 28 September 2016
AXARQUÍA - COSTA TROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Visitor vandalism
War of words in payments row Heroic driver THE local councils of Nerja and Frigiliana have announced that they are working to regulate access to the famed Rio
Chillar, the state of which has been progressively deteriorating in recent years. See page 2
A QUICK-WITTED coach driver saved the day as a kamikaze car driver almost took out her vehicle and its 55 occupants as they made their way towards Malaga from Almeria. The group was on its way to walk the famous Caminito del Rey, known as the world’s most dangerous walkway prior to its refurbishment. See page 5
Superb summer ALMUÑECAR and La Herradura enjoyed a successful end to the peak summer season, as continued good weather saw hotels and rental properties full
to bursting point. The Almuñecar tourist office, located in the Palacete de la Najarra, received a number of groups of visiting tourists. See page 6
Motoring mayhem A 33-YEAR-OLD-MAN in Nerja has been arrested by the Guardia Civil after allegedly trying to run over the mother of his former partner on two occasions and whilst he missed her, he caused damage to a number of parked cars before fleeing the scene after local residents See page 7 alerted the authorities. By Matt Ford Controversy has erupted in Torrox after it was claimed payments totalling €45,000 were made to members of the Local Police by the Popular Party-led council. The payments, made during July and August, have been publicised by ex-mayor and socialist PSOE party spokesman Francisco Muñoz who slammed “overspending and mischief” by the ruling group. But he has been accused of lying by one councillor who said the money corresponded to overtime payments during
the holiday period. The comments by Muñoz highlight unease over an alleged increase in municipal expenses via bonus payments after it was claimed some officers received sums of around €2,000 and one union official nearly €2,700. Muñoz said the ruling party used public money to “reward workers arbitrarily” and “buy the silence of the unions at the expense of citizens’ pockets.” The money, he said, should be used to “reduce local unemployment,” and not go to “officials who already earn a good salary.”
But security councillor Paolo Moreno defended his party’s actions saying the town was “safer than four years ago” and insisted the payments had helped strengthen security measures “bloated by the previous regime.” He criticised the town hall’s former administration for sacking 10 officers and reducing “the workforce almost 30 per cent.” Muñoz, he said, had lied to residents about the police bonus payments, which “simply correspond to overtime worked by officers during the holiday period in order to ensu-
re optimal coverage.” Moreno said the town’s population tripled every summer and “we cannot cope with the lack of officers.” The town hall declined to comment when contacted by EWN, but the dispute and controversy seem set to drag on.
Jewel under threat ANDALUCIA could become the first region in Europe to have a National Park listed as ‘in danger,’ as fears grow over the status of the Doñana wetlands.
The enormous reserve covers portions of Huelva and Sevilla provinces, and houses around 2,000 wildlife. See page 12