This page provides the Mojacar Local News in English brought to you by Levante Lifestyle Magazine

Celebrating World Cup glory !
There were euphoric celebrations across the region when a cracking goal from Andrés Iniesta secured Spain’s first ever football World Cup victory.

Fire in Mojácar
A fire in the hills close to the Hotel Indalo in Mojácar Playa led to the evacuation of around 100 people as a precautionary measure. The fire started at about 9.30 on the night of Saturday 12th June, damaging three hectares of undergrowth before the emergency services had the blaze completely extinguished at 4pm the following day. Speaking to Cadena Ser Levante, head of the Levante fire brigade Francisco Flores said strong gusts of wind which kept changing direction and intensity had “enormously complicated the efforts to control the flames.”

Promoting tourism in Los Vélez
Tourism projects in Los Vélez region are to receive a boost with a 350,000 euros subsidy from the provincial Government. The Diputación de Almería funding goes to the Los Vélez Tourism Stimulation Plan, which includes projects such as the Chirivel Domestic Fauna Park, improvements to the Sierra de María Municipal Hotel and works on the Vélez-Blanco public fountains, palace and hospital.

Historic tower restoration plans
The oldest structure in Carboneras is to undergo an 118,000-euro restoration. The Junta de Andalucía’s Culture Department will fund the project to restore the 15th century “Torre del Rayo” watchtower, which overlooks the Galera beach. The project will take six months to complete.

More demolition threats
Huércal-Overa court declared nine British-owned properties in the Hortichuela area of Albox illegal and issued demolition orders. Former Albox Urban Planning councillor, Juan Luis González Wandosell, was accused of signing the authorizations for the properties although aware it would not be possible to obtain a licence of first occupation for any of them. The Public Prosecutor’s Office called for a 10-year prohibition on the former councillor holding public office on charges of corruption and omission of duty to pursue crimes. The Public Prosecutor also charged the builder and two architects with land planning offences, calling for two-year prison sentences and for them to pay the 229,615 euros cost of the demolitions.
According to the Public Prosecutor, the promoter began building 13 properties in La Hortichuela on non-urban land in 2004, even though there could be no authorization of the two architects’ projects. The architects were accused of being aware of the irregularity and that the works would be carried out without a municipal licence.
A further six properties in Albox, this time in El Saliento Alto, also came under the legal spotlight this month on the grounds they were built on non-urban land and without any of the necessary licences, including the technical project. The Public Prosecutor called for a one-year prison sentence for the developer plus a fine of 12 euros a day for 16 months and a ban on exercising a profession or holding an office related to construction for two years and costs. The Public Prosecutor is also reportedly seeking the demolition of the properties, the compensation to be paid by the accused.

Mojácar market on the move again
The Mojácar Pueblo Wednesday market has gone back to its old location in Plaza Rey Alabez. The market was moved to the village centre more than a year ago while the new car park on the site of the old municipal football ground was under construction. Despite complaints from the local Socialist Party the market should stay in the village centre to benefit local businesses, Mayor Rosa Maria Cano argued it was easier for residents to access the market in its old location. The Mayor also justified the decision on the grounds it was easier to unload and load goods at Plaza Rey Alabez, easier, and therefore quicker and cheaper, to clean up after the market at this location, easier for the Local Police to patrol, that it avoided the traffic problems it had caused while held in the old part of the village and that there was space for a greater number of stalls.

Summer bus service up and running
The summer bus service running between Pulpí town and San Juan de los Terreros on the coast is up and running. Tuesday to Friday the Town Hall-subsidised service departs from Pulpí at 4pm, stopping at the Pozo Higuera bus stop, Pulpí church, Los Álamos, Los Antones, the El Convoy square, the service station, La Fuente, Bar Botas and Los Jurados in Jaravía, and finally the medical centre car-park in Terreros, returning at 8.30pm. On Saturdays and Sundays there are three buses a day, leaving Pulpí town at 10am, 12 midday and 4pm, and departing from Terreros at 11am, 2pm and 20.25pm. The service will operate until Sunday 5th September.

Fire forces evacuations
A fire in a carpentry workshop in Los Gallardos on the afternoon of Friday 2nd July resulted in the evacuation of 15 people from five nearby properties as a safety precaution. The blaze destroyed around 400 metres of a warehouse which served as a storage area for wood.
The emergency services had been alerted to the fire after a passing motorist on the Autovía del Mediterráneo noticed clouds of black smoke and phoned 112.

The earth moves
The earth has been moving in Almería. More than 30 tremors rippled through the Poniente and coastal regions on 5th July following an earthquake at Alborán Island measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale. There were further tremors along the coast the next day after a second earth movement measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale in the Gulf of Almería, about 20 nautical miles south of the Cabo de Gata.
On the same day the Almanzora Valley registered a tremor measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale at 6.09pm. The epicentre was put at a point close to the Albox Industrial Estate.

Tortoises released into wild
Around 100 tortoises were released into the wild in Sierra Cabrera in Turre as part of the Junta de Andalucía’s Environment Department regeneration efforts in an area devastated by two wildfires last summer. Provincial Environment delegate Clemente García told press 80-100,000 natives species of trees would be planted in the same area in October.
According to the delegate the area’s environment is recovering quicker than his department had anticipated, in part due to weather conditions the last autumn and winter.

Tunnel excavation underway
Development Minister José Blanco officially launched works on excavating the Sorbas tunnel for the Almería-Murcia high-speed rail link. At 7.5 kilometres, the tunnel will be the longest in Andalucía.

Seven-year old killed in multiple pile up
A seven-year old girl died and five others were injured in a multiple pile-up on the A-7 motorway in Huércal-Overa. The accident at about 10pm on Saturday 10th July was caused by a vehicle going the wrong way and crashing head-on into another car which then collided with two other vehicles. The 35-year old driver of the vehicle which had been going in the wrong direction, who the emergency services had to cut free from the car, tested positive for alcohol.

 

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