#Orihuela Deputy Mayor

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Orihuela Deputy Mayor, López-Bas, nominated for Congress has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2019/03/21/orihuela-deputy-mayor-lopez-bas-nominated-for-congress/

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Orihuela Deputy Mayor, López-Bas, nominated for Congress

Orihuela’s Deputy Mayor, and leader of Ciudadanos, Juan Ignacio López-Bas, will be his party’s number two on the Alicante list to the Spanish Parliament, the Congress of Deputies, in the General Elections to be held on 28 April. López-Bas reinforces the Citizens list which is headed by the current deputy Marta Martin. The number three will be Pepe Cano, a current deputy, who drops from number two. López Bas (Orihuela, 1969) joined the Orihuela council in 2011 as a member of the CLR-Claro party. In the municipal elections of 2015, he had moved across to Ciudadanos , the party that now nominates him in the second place for the Congress of Deputies. Having obtained a Law degree from the University of Murcia, he was practicing lawyer with his own office since 1994. Currently, however, López-Bas makes up one-third the Ciudadanos team in Orihuela, along with the other two councillors Luisa Boné and Mar Ezcurra. Alicante’s list to the Congress will combine more political experience with the ex-councillor of Alicante and former member of the PP, Adrián Santos, who is number four. Santos is currently part of the local Cs management in the capital. At the last General Election, Ciudadanos won two seats in the province, Marta Martín and Pepe Cano, the same as the PSOE, while the coalition between Podemos and Compromis achieved three seats. The PP, meanwhile, managed five deputies.

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Ciudadanos say that “It's time for a centre government” has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2019/05/14/ciudadanos-say-that-its-time-for-a-centre-government/

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Ciudadanos say that “It's time for a centre government”

José Aix, the mayoral candidate for Ciudadanos in Orihuela, got his electoral campaign underway at the Party Headquarters last week using the campaign image and slogan ¡Vamos Orihuela, "It's time for a centre government, a moderate government, a government headed by Ciudadanos.” Aix said that "for two years our councillors have managed Culture, Youth, Beaches and Infrastructure, demonstrating our abilities to govern, and we have been influential in making the local administration work, proving that we know what the people want, and today, we present our electoral candidates, where the experience of Luisa Boné and Mar Ezcurra will be combined with many other candidates who all  have an active presence in many different sectors of the Orihuela society, that will allow us to better run the Orihuela government and ensure that the manifesto that we have prepared for the next four years will provide a far better future for the whole municipality. " Juan Ignacio López-Bas, the Ciudadanos member of the National Congress of Deputies, and still the deputy mayor of Orihuela, attended the launch in support of José Aix and his team. He said that by voting for Ciudadanos Orihuela the people will be supporting the very best team with the very best vision for the future. "We have been able to do so many things in just two years with only three councillors. With José Aix as mayor of Orihuela, and with more Ciudadanos councillors, the municipality can have a far better future in which many more policies can be carried out across the entire constituency," he said.

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Ciudadanos sees share of vote increase in Orihuela has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2019/05/04/ciudadanos-sees-share-of-vote-increase-in-orihuela/

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Ciudadanos sees share of vote increase in Orihuela

Ciudadanos Orihuela is the municipal party that has seen its share of votes increase by the largest amount in the national elections, obtaining a total of 6.335 votes within the municipality, an increase of 6.57 points. [caption id="attachment_30728" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Ciudadanos sees share of vote increase in Orihuela[/caption] While the Popular Party lost 7,408 votes in Orihuela, Ciudadanos gained an additional 2,294 votes surpassing the number achieved by the PSOE with an increase of 2,053. "These are results that demonstrate that the people of Orihuela trust us, that they support the work that we have done in recent years and they show that we are the only political formation that is completely united, serious and committed to the future of our municipality, our community and our country," said José Aix, provincial coordinator of C's and the party candidate for mayor of Orihuela. Ciudadanos has managed to increase the number of votes in all the electoral stations of the municipality and even win traditionally "popular" fiefs such as the hamlet of La Aparecida. "We must also highlight the magnificent results achieved in areas such as San Antón and El Palmeral, where Ciudadanos actually managed to achieve first place," said Aix, who also celebrated "the party success in the main polling stations in the centre of the city.” Coupled with local success the former leader and deputy mayor in Orihuela, Juan Ignacio López Bas, has been elected to a seat in the Congress of Deputies, the Spain Parliament. López Bas was number two on the list of candidates in the Alicante district. On Thursday night the party carried out the formal launch of its electoral team and candidates in the Plaza de Santiago, Orihuela. Leader José Aix said “We have presented a team of people committed to Orihuela that will make this election a winning project".

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Ciudadanos spokesperson Inés Arrimadas at Alicante rally has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2019/04/22/ciudadanos-spokesperson-ines-arrimadas-at-alicante-rally/

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Ciudadanos spokesperson Inés Arrimadas at Alicante rally

The meeting of Ciudadanos in Alicante this Easter Saturday, ahead of the National and Municipal elections, has not disappointed, with an attendance of about 1,000 people from all over the province, of which more than 100 were from Orihuela. National Party spokesperson, Inés Arrimadas, was the main guest along with Marta Martín, Marcos de Quinto and Toni Cantó. [caption id="attachment_30347" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Ciudadanos spokesperson Inés Arrimadas at Alicante rally[/caption] The number 2 on the National list was presented to the Congress, Juan Ignacio López-Bas, currently the deputy mayor of Orihuela, as well as José Aix, mayoral candidate for the next local elections, both from the Ciudadanos party in the province of Alicante . Water, investments and rejection of the imposition of Valencian in schools were the main points covered at the Ciudadanos meeting at which Inés Arrimadas said that she expects good results in these upcoming general elections to be held on April 28, as well as the European and local elections on May 26.

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Orihuela, a city where political egos are placed before the interests of the people has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2019/03/06/orihuela-a-city-where-political-egos-are-placed-before-the-interests-of-the-people/

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Orihuela, a city where political egos are placed before the interests of the people

The Partido Popular ‘bottles it’ as Aparicio is moved upstairs Despite the investigation of fraud currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health into the affairs of Orihuela mayor Emilio Bascuñana, who is alleged to have drawn a salary from the department for over 4 years, despite not going to work, the Partido Popular have now confirmed that he will head the Orihuela party list going into the municipal elections in May. The announcement was made during a visit to the city on Monday by Teodoro Garcia Egea, number two of the national PP, as he strolled through the Palace of the Marquis of Arneva, the Plaza Nueva, prior to the pair taking lunch at the Casino, along with local PP President Damasio Aparicio, the provincial president José Císcar and the president of the Diputación, César Sánchez. The party was out in force in Orihuela where, following a deep split that has divided the local group for over two years, the objective was to show a united front with the two antagonists Bascuñana and Aparicio walking side by side. Only last week Aparicio announced that he too would run for the leadership with the support of the local electoral committee, but in direct contravention of the national party’s wishes, so his subsequent withdrawal, just hours before the announcement that he will instead be selected to run as a Provincial deputy seems just a little too convenient to swallow, rather than the coincidence that they all claim it to be. But Garcia Egea insisted that the party in Orihuela is "united", that there is no internal war and that he supports Bascuñana, despite the ongoing investigation by Health that could result in him being subjected to a future judicial investigation. However, after Aparicio’s recent announcement that he would run for mayor, considered by many party activists to be a direct challenge to the party's president, Pablo Casado, should he now be elevated to the Provincial Government, the question is “after doing a complete U turn and seemingly abandoning his local principles, just how far can he still advance up the greasy pole of political life? On reflection perhaps the headline should be “The Partido Popular, a party where egos are placed before the interests of the people.”

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Waste Consortium - Three years without a solution has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/09/18/waste-consortium-three-years-without-solution/

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Waste Consortium - Three years without a solution

Despite its members pocketing over 180,000 euros in bonuses during the 3 years since it was first established, the Vega Baja Waste Consortium has not achieved a single thing. Dozens of refuse trucks can still be seen during every daybreak crossing the region, as they trundle around Alicante and Murcia seeking landfill sites to deposit their waste. The Consortium has been unable to address the shame of a region that has no facilities to process the 220,000 tons of waste produced each year. Since 2016, the Vega Baja Sostenible Consortium, chaired by the Deputy and Mayor of Rafal, Manuel Pineda, has managed a global budget of 1,216,290 euros but has not yet been able to establish any of the infrastructure that is needed. Meanwhile, the political representatives who are members of the organisation have divided up more than 180,000 euros amongst themselves as ‘efficiency’ bonuses. At the start of his tenure of office Pineda promised that he would have a waste plant in place within six months, but still, three years into his term it has not yet been fulfilled. The Consortium has been shuffling from location to location, shuffling across land in Almoradí, Guardamar and Orihuela until it was announced with great fanfare that they had chosen a site in Dolores, with the approval of the City Council. That happened 12 months ago but no further progress has yet been made. The members of the Consortium seem also to be keeping their heads down, and avoiding all of the difficult questions, with regard to their controversial decision to build a waste treatment plant between San Miguel de Salinas and Torrevieja, very close to the Natural Park of Las Lagunas, which would have the capacity to treat half of the waste of the Vega Baja. Local activists are demanding that the project be stopped, along with supporters representing Ecologists in Action and the Salt Production company that exploits the salt flats in Torrevieja. The situation is similar to the events that occurred in Cox, Granja and Albatera four years ago, when residents took to the streets to put a stop to the project awarded to the company Cespa-Ortiz UTE, which, at the time, was being investigated in the Brugal case for the alleged fixation of the contract. As anticipated, the UTE defended its multi million euro interests with a judicial battle that still is not resolved and, according to Pineda, it is this that has them handcuffed and unable to get new project underway.  

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Twelve municipalities to take part in Vega Baja Tourism Fair has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/09/15/twelve-municipalities-take-part-vega-baja-tourism-fair/

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Twelve municipalities to take part in Vega Baja Tourism Fair

The next Vega Baja Tourism Fair will be held this coming weekend in Pilar de la Horadada from 21 to 23 September and will showcase a large number of sideshows and exhibitions showing the culture, traditions and history of the region. The third edition of the Fair will bring together a dozen municipalities from across the Vega Baja this year for which there will be an extensive program of activities. The municipalities taking part will include Pilar de la Horadada, who are organising the event, along with Almoradí, Benejúzar, Callosa de Segura, Catral, Cox, Dolores, Guardamar del Segura, Los Montesinos, Orihuela, Rojales and Torrevieja. Visitors to the fair can participate in a number of competitions and draws which will be held every day and provide some really wonderful prizes  donated by companies and establishments from across the region, such as hotel accommodation, meals and food tasting in restaurants,as well as many other leisure, sports and festive activities. At the press conference announcing the event the first deputy mayor and councilor for Tourism of Pilar de la Horadada, Pilar María Samper, was joined by the mayor of Guardamar del Segura and the councillor for Tourism, José Luis Sáez . The III edition will open next Friday at 6 pm, when the broad program of activities will get underway. At 7.30 pm the formal opening ceremony will take place with the attendance of the mayors and councillors of the participating municipalities, together with leaders and representatives of associations from across the Vega Baja. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy an ensemble of saxophonists from the Municipal School of Music Los Montesinos. Over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, the activities will continue. From 10 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm there will be activities for all attendees, both on the main stage and from a large number of different exhibitors, theatrical performances, children's activities, musical performances and food tastings. CDT Torrevieja will also be present, representing the tourism sector of the Vega Baja, and will offer a Master Class in the mixing and tasting of Cocktails. The food tastings, one of the main attraction of the fair, will be held every day, and will include many of the signature foods and dishes from across the region, the fruits of Cox, sweets of Rojales and mille-feuille (a type of custard slice) de Pilar de la Horadada, charcuterie boards from Benejúzar, consommé de Dolores and rice from Orihuela. Visitors will also be able to enjoy festive events such as a parade of Moors and Christians with students from Callosa de Segura and a much smaller version of the Dolores Cattle Fair On the final day of the fair there will be many programmed activities that will fill the Camilo José Cela Avenue, from the dancers of the Chirigota Los Sangochaos de Torrevieja, a folklore exhibition by the folkloric group Ntra. Sra. Del Pilar de Benejúzar, the Drumming Band of San Juan Evangelista, and an offering to the patron saint of the municipality, Our Lady the Virgin of the Pilar, from the parish Church. The Fair will finally be closed at 7.30 pm on Sunday evening by the mayor and the Councillor for Tourism of Pilar de la Horadada.  

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Orihuela Mayor takes legal action against La Zenia Residents Association has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/04/07/orihuela-mayor-takes-legal-action-la-zenia-residents-association/

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Orihuela Mayor takes legal action against La Zenia Residents Association

It is reported in the Spanish press that the Orihuela Council is to take legal action against la asociación de vecinos y comerciantes de Orihuela Costa (the Association of Residents and Traders of the Orihuela Costa, La Zenia), for alleged insults and slander against the mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, after accusing him, on their Facebook page, of being morally responsible for the death, last week, of the young British boy Kai Fawcett Bradshaw. The association, however, qualified it’s statement, which has since been deleted, with a "perhaps" accusation that the mayor "is morally responsible" after noting that he had recently installed a number of defibrillators in Orihuela City "and they always forget the Coast, "the entry said. The entry appeared on Wednesday, before it was known that 9 year old had died in Alicante General Hospital. In the same entry it was also stated that "he could not be resuscitated, for the lack of a defibrillator, or the correct emergency equipment.” The government team was also criticized in the post for the lack of completion of the Emergency Centre, work on which has been stopped for 9 years, stating that" the Coast has a large population of permanent residents but there are many shortfalls and little political will to rectify them.” The entry in Facebook was erased a few hours after first being published following calls by several councillors to the President of "La Zenia Residents Movement", Felix Arenas. The deputy spokesman of the government, Rafael Almagro, was the most critical in denouncing the publication, even announcing on his personal Facebook page details of the legal action that the Council had already started against the La Zenia association, pointing in harsh terms at the individual who had written the post saying that "to take advantage of such a lamentable event is wrong and immoral.” The Association President, Felix Arenas, who is also a friend of the family of the deceased child, said of the council action "it will give us an opportunity, to provide documents and witnesses showing exactly what happened last Tuesday because by stating the truth we are not being dishonest.” He added that the family of Kai, and many residents of Orihuela Costa also want the matter to be heard in court, "so that there can be a judicial investigation, and those responsible can be named". Arenas said he was "fed up with the lies of Almagro, and accused the government team of "lying to residents of the Coast."  

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Shila remembered on 14th anniversary of her murder has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/04/03/shila-remembered-14th-anniversary-murder/

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Shila remembered on 14th anniversary of her murder

Although they have moved back to Norway the parents of Shila Bigdely, who was murdered 14 years ago last Sunday, will be delighted to know that the memory of their daughter still lives on in Playa Flamenca. In an event that rocked the Orihuela Costa 14 year old Shila was sexually assaulted and murdered by Tobias, a school classmate in April 2004. He too was just 14 years of age. The youth was sentenced to just four years in a detention centre. He is now said to be living a pleasant life on Majorca: driving, drinking in the local bars, dancing in the local discos, sharing meals with his girlfriend. Until recently, the park, which was built in Shila’s memory, was marked with a 5 foot high marble monument bearing her photograph which, according to the deputy mayor, Juan Ignacio López-Bas, was more appropriate to placement in a cemetery rather than a children’s play park, and whilst many people would no doubt agree, the manner in which he went about replacing the memorial was controversial to say the least. There was no communication with either of the parents and neither were local residents consulted about any form of change or replacement. The councillor simply effected the change explaining that it did not comply with the security measures required in children's playgrounds, as it had elements that were unsafe. The councillor’s decision divided the residents with some in favour whilst many others considered it insulting to Shila’s memory that a cross reminding people of the young Norwegian girl was removed. However the Department of Infrastructure confirmed that a smaller memorial plate would be placed at the foot of the olive tree which now commemorates the tragic event. And on the 2nd April, exactly 14 years to the day of the murder, the plaque was duly affixed in the small garden at the base of the tree. Initially Lopez Bas said that he was unable to make contact with the parents but in a statement at the weekend he confirmed that he has now been in touch with Shila’s father by email in which he explained the decision and the reasons for his actions. "The City Council has fulfilled its responsibilities, it has responded to the request of residents in Playa Flamenca and has respectfully preserved the memory of young Shila," said the councillor. The Orihuela mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, also remembered the girl through social networks: "Today marks the 14th anniversary of the death of the girl Shila Bigdely, who was murdered when she was only 14 years old. In Orihuela Costa we will always remember her and honour her memory in the park that bears her name with this new plaque. Rest in Peace".

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Weekend of public demonstrations on Orihuela Costa has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/04/02/weekend-public-demonstrations-orihuela-costa/

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Weekend of public demonstrations on Orihuela Costa

Demonstrators flooded the the Orihuela Costa in public protests over the weekend, calling for the construction of a footbridge and pavement along the stretch of road cross the AP7 motorway linking Lomas de Cabo Roig with the Pharmacia, Medical Centre and other facilities and services in Cabo Roig itself. In the most ambitious show of strength yet, over 600 people representing many nationalities, walked along the route in what was largely a festive atmosphere. Led by members of the Association of Residents of Lomas de Cabo Roig (AVCRL), and the Federation of Associations of Orihuela Costa (FAOC), a large banner read in German, Spanish and English ‘For pavements on the AP7 Bridge’ and while many protesters chanted slogans such as "Bascuñana, the bridge is for today and not for tomorrow", "We are fed up with your excuses, we do not want to die ", many others held banners stating " We want a pavement now"," Cars and pedestrians, do not mix." Several of the protesters were in wheelchairs and electric buggies holding messages of their own saying “How do you expect me to get to the Medical Centre or the Pharmacia.” They accuse the mayor and his government of having a total lack of concern for the safety of pedestrians and drivers, especially those people who take their children in pushchairs or those who travel in wheelchairs or electric buggies. Before the march got underway, the President of the neighborhood association, Carlos González, a resident of Lomas de Cabo Roig and the spokesman of FAOC, Tomás Moreno, addressed the protesters in Spanish, English and German, to expand on the reasons for the march. They were supported by three councillors from Orihuela, who the organisers thanked for their participation, Sofía Álvarez who is currently the councillor for Tourism, Víctor Ruiz of the PSOE and Karlos Bernabé of Cambiemos. Also in attendance were CLARO leaders, Román Jiménez, Bob Houliston and Paul Piccio. On Sunday morning, although much smaller in number, an equally determined group of protesters gathered at the site of the Emergency centre in La Zenia calling for its completion as a matter of urgency. They too carried placards and slogans in Spanish, German and English  saying “Still no emergency centre”, “Emergency centre WHEN”? CLARO President Román Jiménez spoke to the protesters highlighting the importance of the proposed centre and criticising the Orihuela government for their nine years of delay in its construction. The third public demonstration was held on Monday evening at the site of the children’s play area in C/Nicholás de Bussi, Playa Flamenca, where local residents called the action in removing the memorial to murdered Norwegian teenager, Shila Bigdely, in 2004, as disrespectful. The memorial was removed a month ago by the deputy mayor, Juan Ignacio López-Bas, who ordered it to be replaced by an Olive tree. Residents say that there was no public consultation and they feel let down by the fact that they were not informed. So over a weekend where the rest of the world was celebrating Easter, on the Orihuela Costa residents were conveying their message to the municipal government that they will no longer be ignored. One protester said “The Orihuela government must now listen to the voice of the people on the coast. They can no longer ignore our wishes and they must start attending to our problems with greater urgency and effectiveness. There will be new municipal elections in 12 months’ time and they will pay the penalty if we see no improvement because now, the people of the Orihuela Costa are working together".  

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Plan for Municipal Sports facilities on the Orihuela Costa has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/02/08/plan-municipal-sports-facilities-orihuela-costa/

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Plan for Municipal Sports facilities on the Orihuela Costa

Officers from FAOC, the Federación de Asociaciones de Orihuela Costa-Alicante, along with delegates from schools, sports clubs and other associations, met with council representatives last Tuesday, to discuss the Municipal Sports Plan and in particular, the existing needs, development and progress, of sports facilities for residents of the Orihuela Costa. The meeting took place in the Playa Flamenca Town Hall. [caption id="attachment_17721" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] The launch of the plan on Monday[/caption] Although the councillor for sports was not at the meeting he did send along his deputy, Emilio Martínez. The two initiators of the plan also attended the meeting together with local councillors. The ultimate goal of the plan is to provide Orihuela Costa with the necessary sports facilities for all age groups, including, exercise machines for the elderly and the provision of a Municipal gymnasium. For this purpose, those in attendance were asked to provide information and suggestions on sports practices that are applicable to all age groups. They were asked also to relate their experiences and knowledge of the current demand for sports facilities on the coast. FAOC produced a document with their first summary of needs to be met in Orihuela Costa, which the association will be completing in the coming weeks. However, one important item not addressed was the reduction of charges at the CDM, Centro Deportivo Municipal, in Playa Flamenca, that had been requested by FAOC and associates, as it was not included in the agenda of the meeting. For the same reason, neither was the question about the funding for sports investment on the Orihuela Costa addressed so it is still not known what proportion of the municipal budget, said to be 132,000 euro, was allocated to the Coast. The council has taken a census of all existing facilities in Orihuela Costa, to which they have a commitment to improve and expand, which, they indicated, they are already doing. They also say that they are going to study the FAOC request to open the sports facilities in local schools, in order to enable their use by residents in after-school hours. FAOC said that they will consolidate and summarise the needs of all sports facilities that have been identified by their associations in their respective areas of action, and will submit them to the Department of Sports, so that the enhancement of the sports facilities on the coast can be improved to better suit the needs of Orihuela Costa residents. The Municipal Plan was presented by the mayor and the councillor for sport in Orihuela a day earlier at which he said that his intention is that it be agreed by all political groups in the municipality, because "this plan is for everyone and for all, it must meet the needs of all residents ".  

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Former Irish Taoiseach to lead St Patricks Day on Cabo Roig has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2018/02/01/former-irish-taoiseach-lead-st-patricks-day-cabo-roig/

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Former Irish Taoiseach to lead St Patricks Day on Cabo Roig

The Cabo ROIG ST PATRICK DAY PARADE committee are delighted to have secured the services of former Irish Taoiseach, Brian Cowan, as Grand Marshall at this year’s parade. Brian Cowen was first elected to the Dail in 1984. He served in a number of ministerial posts including labour, Energy, Transport, Health, Finance and as deputy leader from 2002 till 2008. He served as head of the Irish government from 2008 till 2011. This is a major coup for Cabo Roig and the Costa Blanca to have him as our Parade Marshall for this year’s parade. Joining him will be Frank Fahy, a former minister in the In the Irish Government, who was instrumental in securing the participation of the former leader of the Irish government. Frank represent the people of Galway from 1982 till 2011 and served as minister. He served in a number of junior posts in the Irish Government and also served as a senior minister at the department of Marine and Natural resources. lso in attendance will be Martin Quinn, former Mayor of Galway City, and Paudge Connolly who represented Cavan Monaghan constituency in Dail Eireann from 2002 to 2007. At the moment Paudge is a local County Councillor for the County of Monaghan. There will also be a number of other personalities attending the parade which we will let you know at a later date. The Parade this year falls on a Saturday and is sure to be the biggest yet. This year the parade will start at 2pm as there are a number of big Rugby matches on that evening. In the run up to the parade the organising committee will be hosting a number of events including race night which will be held in O’Riordans Irish bar in Cabo Roig,  a golf classic organised by the Trinity. Milos Irish bar are organising a Ladies day for which the dress code is sparkle and shine, starting at 6pm on the 13th March. There will be food served throughout the night, live music, a raffle and prizes together with a a stunning salsa extravaganza. Contact Mary for more information on 634 054 946. Mary will be also be organising a fun walk on Tuesday the 13th February, entry fee 10€ per person. It will start and finish at O’Riordans bar.   Other bars and restaurants are also organising events of which we will let you know at a later date. A very successful bowling day was organized by Smiling Jacks where over 50 people took part. Our thanks to Ger for the day. Also a very special thanks to Councillor Sofia Alvarez of the Orihuela town hall who is a great help to the committee and who is working very hard with all the councillors to make sure that this is the best parade on the Orihuela Costa. Local business, clubs, charities, groups and organisations are warmly invited to participate in the parade the organisers are keen to remind people that there are prizes for the best floats, 500€ for the best float, 300 for second and 200 for third. Anyone interested in participating in the parade, which takes place on the 17th of March at 2pm, should call Jimmy on 603 114 896 or Richie on 637 490 937 or drop around to the Trinity Bar on Cabo Roig strip. For information on forthcoming fundraising events and the parade itself check the Facebook page, simply search Facebook for St Patrick day parade Cabo Roig Spain and like the page. Over the next few weeks the committee will let you know any further information on future developments.

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Román Jiménez becomes the first Spanish President of CLARO has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/11/23/roman-jimenez-becomes-first-spanish-president-claro/

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Román Jiménez becomes the first Spanish President of CLARO

At the Annual General Meeting held by CLARO last week, the 12th since their formation, the Executive Committee appointed Román Jimenez as President, the first time that the party has elected a Spanish National to its senior post. In the report that was present to party members, CLARO stated that "the deficiencies of the Orihuela Costa are as a direct result of the joint discrimination by the Partido Popular and Ciudadanos in relation in respect of the funds allocated to the Coast, which contributes around 60% of the income of the entire municipality, but in exchange receives a disproportionately small and unfair allocation in return". The party says that it is also dissatisfied with this year’s budget noting a lack in investment particularly in the infrastructure with facilities such as a second health centre, cultural and social centres, school, library and an extremely poor road network. They justify their statement by adding that from a total of almost 13 million euros available to the municipality for investments this year, mainly as a result of the sale of municipal plots in Orihuela Costa, and of the five million included in the budgets (of which the Coast will not see a euro) the Costa will receive just over 2 million euros, a miserly 17%. This is all the more regrettable given that the government committed to the principle of 40% of the investments from the sale of municipal land for Orihuela Costa in order to correct the historical deficiencies. At the time of the agreement the councillor for finance was was none other than Juan Ignacio López Bas, the current deputy mayor. " They add that the coast is still massively underfunded. The Assembly decided that CLARO's future strategy should include MUCH CLOSER cooperation with the Costa associations, such as FAOC and La Zenia Citizen Movement, which have recently been very active. As a longer-term strategy, CLARO will support the trend of "a growing Spanish population as a result of the economic success of Orihuela Costa in the creation of jobs. The report also noted hope that work on the Emergency Services Centre will soon be relaunched and that the planning of a cultural and leisure centre should begin in the near future. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel in respect of a new school and funds destined for parks and the maintenance of roads will increase. The footbridge along C/Cabo Creuss the road between Lomas de Cabo Roig and Cabo Roig, is also planned to get underway in 2018. In electing heir new Executive Committee, Roman Jimenez, a local resident well known for his defines of the interests of the Coast, and who worked for several years in the British National Health Service was elected as President. The new Executive Committee is composed of three Spanish members, Roman Jimenez, Antonio Cerdán, General Secretary and Paul Piccio, two Britons, Bob Houliston and Bob Hunking, an Austrian Karl Failoni and a Swede Eva Johansson.    

[theleaderdotinfo-blog]

Tragamillas Club celebrates 25th Anniversary has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/26/tragamillas-club-celebrates-25th-anniversary/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/26/tragamillas-club-celebrates-25th-anniversary/

Tragamillas Club celebrates 25th Anniversary

Orihuela’s Tragamillas Athletics Club celebrated its 25th annumversary last Saturday evening with a commemorative dinner attended by numerous political, business and sports personalities.

The mayor Emilio Bascuñana was accompanied by Councilor for Sports Víctor Valverde, as well as the Provincial Deputy Carolina Gracia along with councillors of the different municipal groups.

Following the dinner a tribute was paid to the founding member by the councillor for sport.

Club President Francisco Belmonte, thanked everyone for their assistance over the years as he reiterated the commitment of the club to the promotion of sports in Orihuela.

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C.L.A.R.O. Slams proposed Municipal Budget and seeks major increases for Orihuela Costa has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/08/c-l-r-o-slams-proposed-municipal-budget-seeks-major-increases-orihuela-costa-2/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/08/c-l-r-o-slams-proposed-municipal-budget-seeks-major-increases-orihuela-costa-2/

C.L.A.R.O. Slams proposed Municipal Budget and seeks major increases for Orihuela Costa

In the consultation procedure (alegaciones) for approving the much delayed Orihuela municipal budget for 2017, C.L.A.R.O. has submitted proposals which make major criticisms of the proposed budget and call for major increases for Orihuela Costa.

C.L.A.R.O’s main criticism is that the budget proposals fail to provide sufficient financial resources for the services and investments needed in Orihuela Costa.   The proposed budget is discriminatory and continues the long history of using the income raised principally from taxpayers on the coast to provide greatly superior services and investments for Orihuela city.

The proposed budget of €83 million is based on an increase in revenue of €8.8m compared to 2016, €5 million of which is raised directly from Orihuela Costa.    The major sources of this increased income are a rise in the local property tax (IBI) of 7.5% and sale of municipal land valued at €1.6 million for investments.  

The coast is responsible for some 60% of the municipal income and gets in return only a few percentages points of expenditure.   The sale of municipal land essentially located on the coast and sold for new house building is a long standing practice of the Orihuela local governments which systematically fail to use the funds for investments on the coast.   

The stock of municipal land on the coast is being steadily depleted and leaves insufficient land for needed investments in, for example, a new medical centre, facilities for the elderly and the young and a much needed library and cultural centre – Orihuela city has three libraries and two cultural venues to which a third will be added with the revamping of the ruined bullfighting arena.

The Popular Party/Citizens governing coalition claims that Orihuela Costa will get an extra €1.8 million for external contracts for maintenance of parks and gardens, street and pavement repairs and beaches compared to the 2016 budget.    This is equal to an increase of 19% of the extra €9.5 million in running costs planned for 2017, nothing like the 30% of the ever increasing population of the coast in the total population of the municipality.   To add insult to injury, the budget for street cleaning and rubbish removal costs has been reduced by €1 million compared to 2016.  

This is a completely cynical blow to the coast which has notorious problems of street cleaning and rubbish removal, in particular garden waste which can lie rotting on the pavements and streets for long periods of time.

Equally cynical is the failure to respect the principle, to which all parties agreed in 2012 when C.L.A.R.O. had an elected councillor, that 40% of investments would be directed to Orihuela Costa in recognition of the historical deficiency of investments in the coast and in recognition of the budgetary contribution of coastal residents and taxpayers.    The author of the 2012 budget was none other than Juan Ignacio Lopez Bas the present deputy Mayor and leader of the Citizens Party to which they switched just before the elections in 2015.     The combined total of investments in 2017 including those in the proposed budget and those previously announced is almost €13 million.   

The share of Orihuela Costa will be no more than 20%, half of the previously agreed principle that 40% of investments should go to the coast.    Since most of this investment income comes from the sale of municipal land on the coast for increased house building, implying an ever increasing population with a zero increase in the services provided,   coastal residents are being subject to multiple discriminations.

In C.L.A.R.O’s proposals for modifications in the proposed 2017 budget we seek extra expenditure for social services, including a day centre in the Savia care home for retired residents, extra personnel for the Playa Flamenca Town Hall to improve the efficiency of services to citizens, a reduction in the charges of the privately managed municipal sports centre, extra expenditure on essential services like street cleaning and rubbish removal, measures to reduce traffic congestion in the area of the La Zenia roundabout and Avenida Villamartin leading to La Zenia Boulevard and completion of the so-called “via parallela” the almost completed system of linked roads running parallel to the N332 which would also relieve congestion caused by the new commercial centre.  

We also insist on pedestrian bridges over the N332 at Alameda del Mar for access to Cala Mosca and over the AP-7 between Campoamor and Lomas de Cabo Roig for which no new budgetary funds are needed since there is a builders deposit available for many years destined for this purpose.  

No footpath and no lighting at all along the route between Cabo Roig and Lomas de Cabo Roig

Without a pedestrian crossing, the increasing population of Lomas de Cabo Roig risk their lives using the road bridge over the motorway to access the medical centre, shops and beaches of Campoamor.    

Finally the C.L.A.R.O. proposals ridicule the amount of €50,000 included in the budget for the study of a cultural/social centre with library.   

At this rate the completion of a social/cultural centre will drag on as long as the still incomplete Emergency Services Centre, the foundation stone for which was laid 10 years ago!   The truth is that a social/cultural centre should already have been built on the municipally owned land now serving as part of the car park for La Zenia Boulevard.   It would in part redress the imbalance which exists between city and coast where the city, with a similar size population, has its three libraries and two, soon to be three, cultural venues.

Will the governing Popular Party and Citizens coalition pay any notice to these fair and reasonable proposals for the 2017 budget, shared by numerous other associations on the coast, to reduce some of the discriminations imposed on Orihuela Costa?    We have no illusions.   The Orihuela government has no sense of duty towards the coast which it continues to milk for its political benefit in Orihuela city.  

This is why the major demonstrations of anger on the coast which we have seen in the Town Hall meeting of 4 August and, embarrassingly for the government, at the starting line in Campoamor of the Costa Blanca stage of La Vuelta round Spain cycle race on 27 August will no doubt continue until justice is finally delivered to the long suffering residents of Orihuela Costa.

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C.L.A.R.O. Slams Proposed Municipal Budget And Seeks Major Increases For Orihuela Costa has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/06/c-l-r-o-slams-proposed-municipal-budget-seeks-major-increases-orihuela-costa/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2017/09/06/c-l-r-o-slams-proposed-municipal-budget-seeks-major-increases-orihuela-costa/

C.L.A.R.O. Slams Proposed Municipal Budget And Seeks Major Increases For Orihuela Costa

In the consultation procedure (alegaciones) for approving the much delayed Orihuela municipal budget for 2017, C.L.A.R.O. has submitted proposals which make major criticisms of the proposed budget and call for major increases for Orihuela Costa.

C.L.A.R.O’s main criticism is that the budget proposals fail to provide sufficient financial resources for the services and investments needed in Orihuela Costa.   The proposed budget is discriminatory and continues the long history of using the income raised principally from taxpayers on the coast to provide greatly superior services and investments for Orihuela city.

The proposed budget of €83 million is based on an increase in revenue of €8.8m compared to 2016, €5 million of which is raised directly from Orihuela Costa.    The major sources of this increased income are a rise in the local property tax (IBI) of 7.5% and sale of municipal land valued at €1.6 million for investments.   The coast is responsible for some 60% of the municipal income and gets in return only a few percentages points of expenditure.  

The sale of municipal land essentially located on the coast and sold for new house building is a long standing practice of the Orihuela local governments which systematically fail to use the funds for investments on the coast.    The stock of municipal land on the coast is being steadily depleted and leaves insufficient land for needed investments in, for example, a new medical centre, facilities for the elderly and the young and a much needed library and cultural centre – Orihuela city has three libraries and two cultural venues to which a third will be added with the revamping of the ruined bullfighting arena.

The Popular Party/Citizens governing coalition claims that Orihuela Costa will get an extra €1.8 million for external contracts for maintenance of parks and gardens, street and pavement repairs and beaches compared to the 2016 budget.    This is equal to an increase of 19% of the extra €9.5 million in running costs planned for 2017, nothing like the 30% of the ever increasing population of the coast in the total population of the municipality.  

To add insult to injury, the budget for street cleaning and rubbish removal costs has been reduced by €1 million compared to 2016.   This is a completely cynical blow to the coast which has notorious problems of street cleaning and rubbish removal, in particular garden waste which can lie rotting on the pavements and streets for long periods of time.

Equally cynical is the failure to respect the principle, to which all parties agreed in 2012 when C.L.A.R.O. had an elected councillor, that 40% of investments would be directed to Orihuela Costa in recognition of the historical deficiency of investments in the coast and in recognition of the budgetary contribution of coastal residents and taxpayers.   

The author of the 2012 budget was none other than Juan Ignacio Lopez Bas the present deputy Mayor and leader of the Citizens Party to which they switched just before the elections in 2015.     The combined total of investments in 2017 including those in the proposed budget and those previously announced is almost €13 million.    The share of Orihuela Costa will be no more than 20%, half of the previously agreed principle that 40% of investments should go to the coast.   

Since most of this investment income comes from the sale of municipal land on the coast for increased house building, implying an ever increasing population with a zero increase in the services provided,   coastal residents are being subject to multiple discriminations.

In C.L.A.R.O’s proposals for modifications in the proposed 2017 budget we seek extra expenditure for social services, including a day centre in the Savia care home for retired residents, extra personnel for the Playa Flamenca Town Hall to improve the efficiency of services to citizens, a reduction in the charges of the privately managed municipal sports centre, extra expenditure on essential services like street cleaning and rubbish removal, measures to reduce traffic congestion in the area of the La Zenia roundabout and Avenida Villamartin leading to La Zenia Boulevard and completion of the so-called “via parallela” the almost completed system of linked roads running parallel to the N332 which would also relieve congestion caused by the new commercial centre.  

We also insist on pedestrian bridges over the N332 at Alameda del Mar for access to Cala Mosca and over the AP-7 between Campoamor and Lomas de Cabo Roig for which no new budgetary funds are needed since there is a builders deposit available for many years destined for this purpose.   Without a pedestrian crossing, the increasing population of Lomas de Cabo Roig risk their lives using the road bridge over the motorway to access the medical centre, shops and beaches of Campoamor.    Finally the C.L.A.R.O. proposals ridicule the amount of €50,000 included in the budget for the study of a cultural/social centre with library.   

At this rate the completion of a social/cultural centre will drag on as long as the still incomplete Emergency Services Centre, the foundation stone for which was laid 10 years ago!   The truth is that a social/cultural centre should already have been built on the municipally owned land now serving as part of the car park for La Zenia Boulevard.   It would in part redress the imbalance which exists between city and coast where the city, with a similar size population, has its three libraries and two, soon to be three, cultural venues.

Will the governing Popular Party and Citizens coalition pay any notice to these fair and reasonable proposals for the 2017 budget, shared by numerous other associations on the coast, to reduce some of the discriminations imposed on Orihuela Costa?    We have no illusions.  

The Orihuela government has no sense of duty towards the coast which it continues to milk for its political benefit in Orihuela city.   This is why the major demonstrations of anger on the coast which we have seen in the Town Hall meeting of 4 August and, embarrassingly for the government, at the starting line in Campoamor of the Costa Blanca stage of La Vuelta round Spain cycle race on 27 August will no doubt continue until justice is finally delivered to the long suffering residents of Orihuela Costa.