Orihuela Town Council meeting - 27th January 2009

At the full monthly meeting of the Orihuela Town Council (Pleno) held on Tuesday 27th January 2009 the following points which affect Orihuela Costa were discussed.

Unfinished Urbanisation

In the Town Council meeting held on the 31st March 2008, as a result of the proposal by the PP it was agreed unanimously by all parties, to open the tender process for the completion and development of the Montepinar Urbanization situated near to Orihuela city to bring up-to-date the basic infrastructure of the area. The urbanization was built at the time without a licence and urban planning and remains unfinished for some 40 years.

The matter was raised at this Pleno in order that the original Tender process is cancelled, because of the lack of interest from any private developers to take on the work, and for the raising of a new Tender for the development of Montepinar to be carried out.

Why does this concern to the inhabitants of the Costa?

There are eight Urbanizations in the Costa, Castillo de Don Juan East and West, Montezenia, Las Filipinas East and West, Blue Lagoon, Los Almendros and Lomas de Don Juan, which have the same bad situation as that of Montepinar.

Los Verdes Councillor Monserrate Guillén, demanded in the Pleno (Council meeting) that the Government of the PP start the same process to rectify the situation of these neglected Urbanizations of the Costa.

Conflict in the Gaza Strip

An Institutional (Joint) Motion was presented to the meeting by spokespersons of the four parties of the Council in respect of the situation in the Gaza Strip of Palestine. The Motion was agreed unanimously (25 votes), with the following terms.

1. The condemnation of the disproportionate military actions undertaken by the Government of Israel, and similarly to condemn the attacks by Hamas against the people of Israel, and to demand an end to hostilities by both parties.
   
2. To express the deepest indignation at the tragic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and demand that both parties fulfil their obligations, allowing full access for humanitarian aid and the international press.
   
3. To set aside from the 2009 municipal budget, a fund for aid to be given via the Red Cross to provide medicines, medical supplies and food.
4. To urge the Government of Spain, to develop all the diplomatic and political actions necessary not only to resolve this conflict but for the fulfilment of all UN resolutions relating to human rights.

TRAM Extension to Orihuela Costa

As previously reported Los Verdes presented a Motion to the Pleno in respect of the proposed extension of the TRAM system southerly from Alicante.

The Motion called for;

1. That the Orihuela Town Council agree to demand to the Valencia Provincial Government (Generalitat Valenciana) that the TRAM public transport system extension is continued as fas as Orihuela Costa.
   
2. That the Valencia Regional Government undertake a study to ascertain the viability of an extension of the TRAM system from Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja to Orihuela a historic centre.

The three opposition parties (Los Verdes, PSOE and CLR) voted in favour (11) of the Motion but for no understandable reason the PP surprisingly voted against (14) it, therefore the Motion was rejected.

The 2009 Budget is NOT a surprise for Los Verdes

The Los Verdes party decided to vote NO to the 2009 Budget for Orihuela because;

It is not participatory, as it does not take into account the wishes of the citizens;
It is not supportive, as the social elements are decreased considerably;
It is not just, as it does not take into account the real needs of those who most need help;
It is not fair, to the different parts of the Municipality and in particular to the Costa;
It is not committed, as it is not intended to create jobs, to generate confidence that the people need now;
It is not balanced, as the bureaucratic machinery that the PP government has created, needs a large part of the budget.

We have asked many times over the past years as to what will happen when the "bad times” come as the construction boom will not last forever. The PP government branded us (Los Verdes) as prophets of doom. During the boom years, they (PP government) have not been able to manage the revenue, and have even created a Council Deficit (debt) and it will be made worse in these years of difficulties.

The 'bad times' have come.

Now we can not spend the money on parties and assistance to "hangers on " that, certainly, do not need it. On the contrary, this government has got into debt due to extravagant vanity, and today we must all pay dearly.

2009 BUDGET
Let's look at the numbers:

67 million € in 2009 (in 2008, 90 million €).
The overall budget reduced by 27%, investments are down by 89%, lower overhead costs down by 19%, financial liabilities, that we have to pay to several banks, are increased by 115.25%.

Staff Costs
The bureaucratic machinery that the PP government has created, needs 40% of the budgets to pay approximately 1,000 staff (including joint ventures). In overtime they have been paid a whopping 1 million €. As for productivity, the arbitrary concept of the PP is to reward the good and punish the bad civil servants, this will amount to 980,000 €.

Investment
The investments are estimated at approximately 2.4 million €, of which the City will provide resources of 563,000 €, whilst 975,000 € will be financed with a new loan and the rest will be from subsidies of 804,000 € from Regional Administration and Central Government.

Debts
Financial Expenses: The City Council owes 40 million €, which costs about 5 million € this year, 1.8 million € in interest and 3.2 million € in repayment of the capital owed.

If we make a comparison between the investments and debt we see that investment is half the cost of debt, or better said, the cost of debt is double the investment. It demonstrates once again the fiasco of the management of the PP in the past 20 years. With proper management we could have an investment of at least 7 million € each year for the whole municipality, including the Coast

Amendments
Los Verdes in the face of these budgets, accepted its public commitment to Orihuela and its citizens. Therefore we made a Campaign of Participation to gather needs of the Oriolanos (citizens of Orihuela Municipality) to be included in the Council's 2009 Budget. The outcome of the campaign was the presentation of 72 amendments that reflect the real concerns of the Oriolanos. The citizens collaborated and developed the suggested amendments.

Of these 72 amendments 14 have been approved, including 5 amendments relevant to the coast as follows:

1. Undertake a campaign aimed at businesses within Orihuela, to provide support, for the replacement of plastic bags by other forms of packaging that causes less damage to the environment.
2. Removal of physical architectural barriers that restrict access for the disabled to the beaches of the municipality.
3. The provision of information signs on illegal construction sites.
4. Purchase by the local police of Orihuela of electrically propelled motorcycles.
5. Purchase of sound level meters for the local police to measure noise.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, the PP ignores the real needs of citizens and then develops a budget intended as a political strategy of prestige for the Mayoress, Monica Lorente. It is not a social budget because there are cuts in social policy spending. It is not intended to create employment because there is only half a million euros for investments which can give employment to Oriolanos.

Ultimately the bad management of the taxes of Orihuela by the PP, in looking after their own interests and not that of the town, squandering the income of the Regional Administration or Central Government, has contributed to this abominable policy, the stagnation of Orihuela and lack of services for its citizens.

Extension of the TRAM to Orihuela Costa.

The Los Verdes Councillors in Orihuela have announced that they have filed a Motion for inclusion and discussion at the next monthly Town Council (Pleno) meeting asking that a request is made to the Valencian Regional Council (Generalitat Valenciana) for the TRAM system that runs from Alicante northwards to Denia to be extended southerly to Orihuela Costa. The system is managed by the company Ferrocaril de la Generalitat Valencia and provides a public transport system as a viable alternative to private transport in that area.

It has been recently announced by D Andrés Ballester, Valencian Regional Councillor, that the TRAM system is to be extended only as far as Torrevieja.

It is alleged that as no representation was made by the PP Council of Orihuela for the line to be extended to Orihuela Costa it has not been considered!

In consideration that it is plausible that the PP Council have failed to make any representation on this matter Los Verdes has decided to submit the Motion to ask the Regional Government to extend the TRAM line to Orihuela Costa and to undertake a study as to the feasibility of a connecting line from Orihuela town to Orihuela Costa.

Los Verdes believe the extension of the TRAM system (a subject that the party raised in it's manifesto in 2003, as well as the controversy of the route of the AVE) is an essential and basic element to take advantage of the tourism potential of Orihuela and the area. Not only would it allow easy access to all parts of the area for tourists but it would help to decrease the volume of traffic on the roads during the summer and would benefit the environment.

First Los Verdes Surgery of 2009

The first surgery in 2009 to be held by Councillor Monserrate Guillén, Los Verdes Councillor for the Coast, will be held on the Wednesday 28th January 2009 from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm at the Emerald Isle in La Florida in Orihuela Costa.

This is the opportunity for any residents of the coast to discuss their individual problems directly with their Councillor irrespective of which party they support.

Please note that this surgery is at a new location.

As all the previous surgeries have been very busy, if someone wants to ask for a specific time, to reduce waiting, they should contact us by email at either losverdesinorihuelacosta@gmail.com, or telephone 965319660 to request a time if it's still available.

We provide translation facilities for English, French, German and Swedish into Spanish during the surgery.

The FREE Starter Kits, available for the People's 'Litter Pick-up' as part of the 'Clean up the Costa' campaign, will be available for collection during the surgery times from any of the Los Verdes members present.

It is also the opportunity to discuss the 'Dignity for the Disabled' campaign.

Orihuela Costa Budget Proposals 2009

As part of the preparation by Los Verdes of the 70 proposed amendments put forward, to the PP controlled Town Council, for inclusion within the Orihuela Municipality Budget for 2009, the Orihuela Costa Working Group of Los Verdes has put forward the following suggestions for the benefit of the inhabitants of Orihuela Costa.

We ask for a financial investment within Orihuela Costa in proportion to the population and taxes collected within the coastal area. This has been blatantly ignored by the PP ruled Council for the last 20 years!

The items are not listed in any order of priority or cost.

1. Building of a heated indoor swimming pool
2. An effective Public Transport system that truly meets the needs of the people.
3. Provision of Municipal Public Library facilities.
4. Maintenance and revitalization of public green areas.
5. Increase in the number of Local Police officers present in Orihuela Costa
6. Programme for the reduction of the cost of public street lighting without reducing the safety level of lighting.
7. Installation of Solar Panels on Public Buildings to reduce financial and environmental costs.
8. Improved provision and maintenance of street signs and road markings, such as pedestrian crossings, parking areas, and road traffic markings etc. to increase safety on the roads.
   
9. Provision of safe and effective bicycle lane system.
10. A public funded, coordinated and effective, 'Integration Program for Foreign Residents' (e.g. language course, cuisine, culture etc.).
11. The Civic Centre to be open to all residents regardless of age, or a new multi-purpose centre
12. Provision of facilities and activities for young people especially teenagers
13. Provision and maintenance of correct access facilities for persons with reduced mobility in all public spaces, including public buildings, pathways in urbanisations and beaches.
14. Provision of more parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities both in urbanizations and public areas.
15. A Public TV Broadcasting station providing multilingual programmes and services orientated towards the coastal area.
16. Provision of free to use WiFi facilities, for residents and tourists, at the major centres in Orihuela Costa, such as the Ayuntamiento, Civic Centre and in the beach areas.
17. Opening of the connecting road between the Los Balcones and Dream Hill urbanisations to provide effective access with the rest of the Orihuela Costa area.

We wait with interest to see which suggestions are included within the Final Municipal Budget by the PP - if any!

Campoamor Market Fiasco!

Today (8th January 2009) was the first day for the struggling Campoamor Market ( Mercado de Dehesa Campoamor to give it is official title) at it's new winter location in Calle Fuego in the Agua Marina area of Orihuela Costa, as I reported on the 31st December 2008.

I say winter site because it (the market) will only be in C/ Fuego for the months of October to May as it will be at the original Dehesa de Campoamor location for June to September inclusive according to a notice by Councillor José Manuel Cutillas Conesa, who has responsibility for the markets, dated 18th December 2008.

I visited the market this morning with the hope of seeing a revitalised and bustling local market full of local traders and customers - some hope!

What I found was a fiasco. Another failure by the PP Council and in particular by Councillor Cutillas.

Of the 80 pitches less than 10 were occupied by stall holders who were open for business. The photographs show the situation better than I can describe.

Let me clarify that more than 10 stall holders arrived at the market before the start of business but many were not prepared to set up their stalls as, I understand, they were unhappy with the unloading and parking facilities of the Calle Fuego location. It can be seen in the photographs the numerous trader's vans left parked on the pitches with the goods still locked inside, whilst the unhappy owners relocated into local cafés.

Not only was there a lack of traders but as can be seen a distinct lake of customers! Why? Because the Councillor failed to ensure that there was any publicity to inform the public of the change of site. An ideal opportunity to promote the market to help it succeed was neglected.

I left the market at approximately 10:50 hrs. as several of the stalls that had opened were being closed and packed away, even before the rain that came started.

As a result of the article on this Blog on New Years Eve I received an email from a well known local journalist which included this statement, “I'm interested in the market story - I knew this was on the cards, but cannot believe that nothing has been officially announced” (referring to the failure by the Council).

What's the good of moving the market and not telling the customers? Do the Council really want the market to succeed? Is the Council going to alter all the road signs that direct people to the Dehesa de Campoamor site during October to May?

It's well understood that a good location is one of the main considerations for successful retail outlets, including markets, so why change from a site that has plenty of space (room for expansion) and better and easier access for stall holders and customers. The reason for the lack of success of the Campoamor market is not the location, - it is the failure of the PP Council to get it's act together to manage and promote the market correctly! Wouldn't it have been better for them to have sorted out the problems rather than just move them to the new inadequate winter site.

Why didn't they combine a 'car boot sale' (second hand goods only) alongside the then existing market, and provide the public with what they like and want . The Council could have done it, and still could, with the correct management, and would have attracted the number of customers that the market needs to be successful for the stall holders. That is if the will is there to, which is in doubt.

Excite FM Radio Interview

Today, on behalf of Los Verdes of Orihuela, I took part in an interview on the Nick Hawkins Morning Show on the local Excite FM radio station to discuss and outline some of the work of Los Verdes in relation to the Orihuela Costa area. It was very pleasing to be offered this opportunity to explain about some of the aims and principles of the party.

The suggestion was put to us that perhaps this could become a regular monthly opportunity, on the first Tuesday of each month, to enable us to highlight the different aspects of the continuing work of Los Verdes, as elected representatives of the official opposition on the Town Council, to improve the quality of life for the inhabitants of the coastal area. We look forward to this opportunity becoming a reality.