ISSUE NO. 1670
6 - 12 July 2017
COSTA DE ALMERÍA
YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Classics live forever Photo credit Facebook
CLASSIC: Crowds gather at the Mojacar Classic Car Rally. ALMERIA CITY: Has reduced its debt to a slightly more manageable €90 million.
Provincial debt nears €500 million
Deep in the red By Matthew Elliot Councils across Almeria are badly in debt, owing banks almost half a billion euros. Figures just released from the Spanish Ministry of Finance show that the province collectively owes €460 million, posing a serious obstacle to future investment. Among the most debt-ridden municipalities is Albox. Despite its small size, the town
ranks third on the list of the province’s worst offenders. The council owes just shy of €21 million to various banks. El Ejido is deepest into the red, owing a staggering €182 million, more than double the capital, Almeria City, which has reduced its debt to a slightly more manageable €90 million. Despite having nine times the population of Albox, Roquetas de Mar fares rela-
tively well, owing only €13 million. Bank statements across the Almanzora Valley make for woeful reading, with Macael owing €13 million and Huercal-Overa’s debt rising to €10 million. Nijar’s council owes a hefty €16 million while Mojacar is also seriously in hock to financial institutions. In terms of relative population Turre comes bottom of the table. Though the council’s
overall debt is small, it actually amounts to €2,460 per resident, more than anywhere else in Almeria. For comparison Albox residents owe €1,848, those in Pulpi owe €526, and Roquetas homeowners owe just €146. The silver lining is that the overall debt of Almeria’s 103 municipalities is now €12 million lower than it was in 2015. Just 23 councils don’t owe the banks a penny.
MOJACAR celebrated its first Classic Car Rally with an estimated 140 vintage vehicles arriving from all over Almeria, and even far flung parts of Spain. Organised with the help of Mojacar Council’s tourism board and the local Autor shop, the rally was a huge success with dozens more cars than expected. Revving their engines just in front of the Mojacar Sports Centre, the classic contingent put on a show for the pueblo, touring the streets with an eclectic variety of models. The oldest was almost a century old, being registered in 1920. All cars were at least 25 years old. Among the stars of the show were a Seat 600, Bentley, Chevrolet and BMW E30. Maria Jesus was named the top young driver with her Seat 1430. Manoli Garcia and Indalecio Garcia won veteran driver awards for their Seats 127 and Seat 600 respectively. Juan Gomez with his Bentley S1 and Antonio Jose with a Seat 600 Abarth won the best restored car awards.