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NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
Protests and lawsuits launched to fight back against Palma’s sewage disgrace By Gillian Keller
GREEN groups have launched an urgent campaign to sort out Palma’s growing sewage problem. Activists are set to demonstrate and have issued a lawsuit demanding that the authorities explain exactly why a red flag is flying over its beaches. It comes after 13 beaches in Palma were forced to issue 22 red flag closures since August, the Olive Press can reveal. Alarmingly, Can Pere Antoni and Ciutat Jardí – Palma’s most popular beaches – have been closed 38 times since May this year, 19 times since the beginning of August.
Waste
Meanwhile, Palma's beaches have suffered nearly 350 sewage waste overflows in the last eight years. “Every time it rains, the city’s water and waste system overflows into the sea because the 40-year-old treatment plant in Coll d'en Rabassa cannot take the extra water,” local
Sort out this mess activist Aina Pastor Barcelo, 32, told the Olive Press. She and a friend have now filed a lawsuit against the Balearic government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment, Palma town hall and Emaya, the regional water board. The lawsuit insists that the authorities are not following EU law and posting the reason why a beach is flying a red flag. “The flag is just a stick with a red flag stuck in the sand – sometimes hardly visible to people on the beaches,” said Barceló. “It does not say why you shouldn’t swim, most people assume it’s due to strong waves or jellyfish and risk it. “However, if you know it’s from a sewage spill you would definitely stay out of the water.” Her group’s lawsuit is being backed by the local PP party. "It is not a debate that we have had more sewage discharges than ever and more beaches closed than ever before," said spokeswoman
Margalida Prohens. “This government does not know how to manage or invest in its services.” This week, the Palma authorities defended themselves and pointed out the issue should have been addressed 15 years ago, and now the problem is ‘so big it is hard to know where to begin’. According to Emaya sewage spills will continue until a storm tank is built at the 40-year-old treatment plant. He added that there were
no ‘quick fixes or patches’ to temporary stop the spills. A large protest is planned for 5pm on September 21 in Ciutat Jardí, with citizens and local associations leading the fight for accountability. Aina Pastor is confident of success. “Normally with low season coming people stop using beaches and the authorities do nothing... But this year we have elections coming up. “It’s a powerful tool and I hope they finally take note. “If the local government can't figure it out, then Spain or the EU needs to get involved and sort it out,” she added.
The Coll d’en Rabassa plant collects and treats water from the city 4 and many www.th neighbouring towns including Bunyola, eolivep ress.es Marratxi and Esporles, while Playa de Palma's water and waste is treated by the small plant in Sant Jordi.
Brace for Brexit
SPANISH mayors and local experts are fearing a British exodus in the case of a no-deal Brexit. It comes as the October deadline for an agreement edges closer while London and Brussels continue to be bogged down in stagnant negotiations. While EU negotiator Michel Barnier insists an agreement can still be made ‘within six to eight weeks’, expats continue to be nervous. “Nobody knows for sure what is going to happen,” said the mayor of Alcaucin, near Malaga, Mario Blanke. “The uncertainty is total and it is obvious that many residents would be forced to return to the UK.” Blanke, whose town has the highest concentration of registered Brits in Malaga province, added that the guarantee of basic needs like health and pensions could be snatched away overnight. It comes after the UK government warned that Brits abroad may lose access to British bank accounts for their pensions or be fined when transferring funds. An agreement that sees Brits currently covered by a health agreement between the NHS and the EU, could come to an end. Immigration lawyer Ricardo Bocanegra added
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that a no-deal scenario would be a ‘drastic change’ for British expats. The Marbella lawyer said they would be treated ‘like any other resident from a third-world country,’ he said. “That means your passport is stamped at the airport and you are allowed to stay 90 days per visit, otherwise you are in the country illegally.”
Russian
It means the hundreds of thousands, who are not officially residents in Spain will have to become residents quickly. For residents with property, the only way to enjoy their homes is, inevitably, by applying for a resident permit, in the ‘same way a Russian or Senegalese citizen has to do’. “We are talking about a process that requires a lot of bureaucracy,” added Decembe Bocanegra. have r 6th -“You Decembe r 19th 2017 to prove ownership of a house, show a criminal record certificate and have private insurance.” HeDecembe added r that after be6th - Decembe r 19th 2017 coming residents, they From Page 1 He even got himself afor financial advice slot on would also be liable tax known radio station, through which he snared unsu on their pensions. ing victims.
NEW S
NEW S
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A HOTEL is to be knocked down for not having enough class! Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista de Rey must be demolished within three months, a court has ruled, A HOTEL sisSuperior to be knocked Andalucia’ Court down for not having of Justice ruled that enough the hoclass! tel falls short of its four-star Benalmadena’s than permitted. requiremen t. Hotel Vista de Rey must be demolished Although the town hall and within threeismonths, a court developer maintain this exA HOTEL to begknocked Probin has ruled, cess was later corrected, the down for not having enough It began Andalucia’ probing s Superior the three Court judge ruled that the rectificaclass! star of Justice hotelruled and that apartment theVista tion would have taken place hoBenalmade na’s Hotel block tel in falls 2011 short after of it was its four-star deafter the granting of the lide Rey must be demolished than permitted. nounced requiremen over planning t.months, cence, so does not count. within three a rules Although the town which and set aside the plotcourt for a The building has 61hall aparthas ruled, developer this four starProbin exhotel only.g Court ments andmaintain 46 parking Andalucia’ spacs Superior cess was later corrected, According the to the that PGOU town es. of ruled hoIt Justice began probing thethethree judgeoriginal ruled that the rectificaplan an apartment block was The building tel was shortand of itsapartment four-star starfalls hotel tion would have taken not place permitted it also than granted permitted. planning permisrequiremen t. and block in 2011 it wasover deafter by thethen granting breached theand lirulesafter by being Although sion themayor town of hall Enrique nounced over planning rules cence, so does not count. 700 square meters bigger DOOMED: Costa hotel developer Bolin in 2001. maintain this exwhich set aside theg Probin plot for a The building has 61 apartcess was later corrected, the four star hotel only.the three mentsruled and 46 It began spacprobing judge thatparking the rectificaAccording the PGOU town es. would have taken star hoteltoand apartment tion place plan an apartment block was The original building block in 2011 after it was deafter the granting of thewas linot permitted and it rules also grantedso does planning nounced permisover planning cence, not count. breached over sion building by then mayor which Enrique set rules aside by thebeing plot for a The has 61 apartDOOMED 700 POLICE square : officers Costa meters have hotel bigger formed Bolin a human in 2001. wall deter drug smugglers four star hotel only. using mentsfrom the beach and 46 parking spacalong a beach in La Linea to ensure that the as a drop off zone. According to the PGOU town es. constructio n of a beach wall went ahead. A combined police plan presence an apartment of Guardia block Civil, was The original building was The wall, between the church of Nuestra local and national officersplanning not permitted were present and it as permisSenora del Carmen andalso the perimeter wall fears grew that granted drugbysmugglers breached would rules try by being over sion then mayor Enrique of the fishing port La Atunara, hopes to andhotel disrupt the work. DOOMED 700 square metersofbigger : Costa Bolin in 2001.
M
MATHSTONE
By Laurence Dollimore
‘He deserves i Not en ough ‘He deserves i Not ‘He deserves it N ot st ar en s ou gh BETTER IDEAS FOR en ou gh star sINVESTORS EXPATRIATE stars
Hot Costa del Sol water fight decision Since being built in the 1970s Hot Costa before the del it isSol populat ion has more 4 than doubled in the area. eolivep www.th ress.es hotel has demo lished three water months to DID fightYOU decisi on ? Hot Costa del KNOW Sol before it isthree hotel has water demolished month s to
The plant treats between 60,000 hotel and has75,000 threecubic metres of4water daily,www.th but without a flow eolivep ress.es month s meter to the exact capacity is unknow n. SOME 14 fire bosses have been arrested for allegedly embezzling €7 million in public funds. The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of Bomberos Cadiz took out mass SOMEearly 14 retirement fire bosses insurhave ance been policies. arrested for allegedly But embezzling when their €7 million employees in retired public funds. early, chiefs siphoned off Thethe Policia moneyNacional from thefound payouts. that the Consortium of SOME 14 fire Authorities Bomberos alsobosses Cadiz found took have disout been arrested crepancies mass early in for retirement the allegedly consorinsurembezzling €7 million in tium’s ance policies. training courses. public funds. Large But when sums their were employees paid to a The Policia Nacional found company retired early, to provide chiefs siphoned training that of courses, off thethe but Consortium money nofrom evidence the payhas Bomberos Cadiz took out been outs. found that these courses mass early took Authorities place. retirement also foundinsurdisance policies. Meanwhile crepancies , in irregularitie the consor-s But their employees were tium’swhen also training found in grants courses. and retired early, chiefs siphoned subsidies, Large sums which were cops paid believe to a off the money from paywere company usedtotoprovide pay forthe private training outs. trips. courses, but no evidence has Authorities alsothese disThe been irregularitie found that s found date courses back crepancies thebelieve consorto took 2008 place. andincops at tium’s training courses. least Meanwhile €7 million , has irregularitie been sto-s Large sums paid to a len were byalso those found atwere the in grants top. and company to provide subsidies, which copstraining believe courses, buttono evidence has were used pay for private been trips.found that these courses took The place. irregularities date back Meanwhile , cops irregularitie to 2008 and believe ats were alsogrowers FRUIT found has iningrants and the Axarleast €7 million been stosubsidies, quia which are facing a 60% reduclen by those at thecops top.believe were used tion in to use water pay from for private the La trips. Vinuela reservoir with no soThe irregularitie lution in sight. s date back to 2008 The and has Junta copsdecided believe at to least limit €7 its million use as the hasreservoir been sto-is len by those already FRUIT at thein at growers 22.7% top. capacity the Axarand could quia are drop facing evena lower 60% reducif the dry tion weather in waterkeeps use from up. the La Vinuela reservoir with no solution in sight. The Junta has decided to FRUIT the Axarlimit its growers use as theinreservoir is quia areatfacing 60% reducalready 22.7%a capacity and tion watereven use lower from the La couldindrop if the Vinuela reservoir dry weather keepswith up. no solution in sight. The Junta has decided to limit its use as the reservoir is already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.
September 13th - September 26th 2018
fight decision before it is demolished
However, a comprehensive Olive Press investigati Decembe 6th - December 19th 2017 posed hisrscams
that involved stamps, coins and go We also revealed how he and his close pal Barry N From Page 1 wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, anonym through He eventhe gotfood himself column. a financial advice slot on He known eventually radio station, fled the through country which following he snaredour unsu e but ing victims. we soon tracked him down to the UK, where h changed However,his name by deed a comprehen sivepoll Olive and was investigatio Press selling coin antiques posed hison eBaythat scams from a small stamps, involved Berkshire coins cottage. From and1 go Page He We was alsoquickly revealed found howguilty he and under his close English pallaw Barry of co N He even got himself advice slot people wined on a and and given dined a suspended up toaa financial dozen prison criminals, anonym known station, which he snared unsu sentence throughradio only the duecolumn. food to through health reasons. ing victims. “And He eventually because he fledpromised the country to never following our ex However, comprehen sive Olive investigatio go butback we soon toahis online him tracked cons,” down oneto ofPress the UK, the where h posed his scams that stamps, coins British changed andcoin go victim his explained. name byinvolved deed poll and was selling We also revealed hownot he and his close pal But Barry N antiques this is apparently on eBay from a small the case Berkshire with cottage. wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, two anonym He was victims quickly claiming found guilty he is still under using English law of co through the given food column. eBay peopletoand sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps a suspended prison He eventually fled country following from sentence our ex his only unpaid due flat to the in Brighton, health reasons. usbut webecause soon tracked him down tonever the UK, where h ing “And the names ‘gqtrading’ he promised andto ‘gqtradchanged hishis name by cons,” deed poll was selling coin ing2’. go back to online oneand of the antiques on eBay from small Berkshire “We British arevictim pretty sure explained. heahas broken his cottage. He quickly found guilty under English law of con bail Butwas conditions this is apparently and will not have the to case finally with people and given asaid suspended go twoback victims to prison,” claiming heone is victim. stillprison using sentence only due man to coins health reasons. “The eBay nerve to sell of‘dodgy’ this is unbelievab and stamps le.” “And because heflat promised to never His fromlandlord his unpaid last night in insisted Brighton, heusshould have k go back to his online cons,” one of the something ing the names was‘gqtrading’ up from theand start. ‘gqtradBritish “When ing2’. victim we metexplained. to sign the contracts I thought he was But this is apparently not the case with slippery, “We are pretty I went sure to pay hefor mybroken has coffee his only for the bari two victims claiming hehave ispaying still using tell bailme conditions he had left andwithout will to finally his bill.” eBay to to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps He go back continued: prison,” “He said paid for one the victim. first couple of month from his stopped. unpaid inis Brighton, usthen “The just nerve of this flat He told man us his account unbelievab le.” had been fr ing ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtraddue His the to landlord anames money last laundering night insisted investigatio he should n, which haveiskn p ing2’. ably something true. “He wasthen up from told us the to stop start. contacting him an “We are pretty sure hethe has broken his cused “When uswe ofmet harrassmen to sign t. contracts I thought he was bail conditions and will to finally “Now slippery, he Iiswent claiming to pay he ismy forhave seriously coffee ill and only for can’t the baris wo go to had prison,” said onepaying victim.his bill.” make tellback mepayments. he left without “The nerve of this man unbelievab le.” of month “We’ll He continued: see him in court.” “He paidisfor the first couple His last night insisted he should thenlandlord have just stopped. He told us his account had beenkn fr something was up from the start. due to a money laundering investigatio n, whichPage Opinion is p “When we“He metthen to sign the I thought him ably true. he was told uscontracts to stop contacting an slippery, I went to pay for cused us of harrassmen t. my coffee only for the baris tell mehe heishad left without hisillbill.” “Now claiming he is paying seriously and can’t wo He continued: “He paid for the first couple of month make payments. then He told us his account had been fr “We’lljust seestopped. him in court.” due to a money laundering investigation, which is p ably true. “He then told us to stop contacting him and Opinion Page cused us of harrassment. “Now he is claiming he is seriously ill and can’t wor make payments. “We’ll see him in court.”
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POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the construction of a beach wall went ahead. The wall, between the church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the construction of a beach wall went ahead. The wall, between the church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to
deter drug smugglers from using the beach • FEE-BASED, NON-CONTRACTUAL INVESTING as a drop off zone.
SMUGGLERS’ WALL
A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, local and national officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try and disrupt the work. deter drug smugglers from using the beach as a drop off zone. A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, local and national officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try and disrupt the work.
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