Orihuela Town Council meeting - 26th May 2009

At the full monthly meeting of the Orihuela Town Council (Pleno) held on Tuesday 26th May 2009 the following points which affect Orihuela Costa were discussed.

1)The Municipal Local Action Plan against the risks of accidental water pollution in Orihuela was approved unanimously.

The Plan will apply to any emergency situation of water pollution that takes place within the coastal area of orihuela and risks because of rain in the barrancos and ramblas.

The Councillor for Los Verdes, Manuel Gallud 'congratulated' the PP government for recognising amongst other things on the coast the danger of flooded roads due to the lack of planning in Cala Capitán and la Zenia.

2)The Motion presented by Los Verdes, about the reduction of various municipal taxes to persons unemployed who do not collect unemployment benefit or their benefits are below the minimum wage, or users of social welfare and large families, received the unanimous agreement of the council. The Los Verdes Councillor Manuel Culiáñez requested in his Motion discounts of up to 75% on various municipal taxes.

3) The CLR (Centro Liberal Renovador) proposed the improvement of sections of bicycle lanes in the municipality of Orihuela. Councillor, and spokesman of Los Verdes, Monserrate Guillén, reminded those present in the council meeting, that in 2008, Los Verdes presented an amendment to the General Budget of the Municipality of Orihuela about investment to build sections of bicycle lanes throughout the municipality . The PP Government accepted the proposal to improve and expand existing sections into parishes and also in the Coast. The motion was approved unanimously.

4) Questions:
Department of Public Works (PP Councillor Eva Ortiz): Request for information with regards to the homes of VPO (social housing) on the Coast, because until this time it has not been notified to the winners of the draw (or at least to some), nor to those who were included in the reserve list to confirm the situation, and already one year has passed since the allocation award took place.

Department of Infrastructure (PP Councillor Manuel Abadía): In light of the change of the contract for the recycling collection and processing of waste in this town, tell us where they (the contractor) take the recycling rubbish and what type of treatment it receives, since the new contractor has come into action.

Department of Infrastructure (PP Councillor Manuel Abadía): If we all agree that you are not attaining the 100% collection of waste, as it is reflected in the terms and conditions of the contract, why, however, has the Council authorised full 100% settlement of the Contractor's charges? Or are they not checking at all? Are you aware that at this time, the new contractor has ceased to employ 18 people who were already working for the previous business? If so, and given that there was insufficient staff already, how can you accept this fact that is detrimental to the service that the company has to give citizens and that favours the profits of the contractor?

The Councillors will give their answers in writing.

Last polls: up and better than in 2004

According to Predict 09, a European site summing up national polls, the Greens/EFA would get 42 seats out of 735, if elections had been held around 21May. The result is two seats up from the end of April, and slightly better than the score in 2004, when the Greens/EFA won 43 seats out of 785.

Parasite Risk In Anchovies Varies Depending On Origin Of Fish

ScienceDaily (May 31, 2009) — The Anisakis spp parasite can still be found in one of the most emblematic Mediterranean dishes – anchovies in vinegar. Spanish researchers have shown the parasites are present at higher levels in anchovies from the south east Atlantic coast and the north eastern Mediterranean, and urge consumers to freeze or cook the fish before eating it.

Although the European Union and Spanish regulations require restaurants to freeze fish that is eaten raw, “people still run the risk of anisakiasis infection from homemade anchovies in vinegar if they have not got into the habit of freezing the fish for at least 24 hours at -20ºC”, according to a team of scientists from the University of Granada (UGR), which has found the larvae of Anisakis spp and another similar parasite, Hysterothylacium aduncum, in anchovies from the west of the Mediterranean Sea and the east of the Atlantic Ocean.

Read the full article - ScienceDaily (May 31, 2009)