A surplus of blue sky and sunshine in the Costa Cálida as Camposol and the Barbary sheep hit the headlines

A reminder: Remembrance Day on Saturday, special services in Camposol and elsewhere

It appears that the weather has finally turned in the Region of Murcia this week, as after another weekend of temperatures in the high twenties, with Águilas and Mazarrón among the warmest places in Spain, Tuesday brought us the coldest morning in Murcia for six and a half months! 

Inland temperatures dipped to close to freeezing in Caravaca de la Cruz, and over the weekend will remain low at night while daytime maximums climb back up to as high as 25 or 26, but as the autumn progresses attention is focussing more on more on the lack of rainfall both in Murcia and in the rest of Spain. The reason is that water supplies are dwindling in the Segura basin (which includes practically all of Murcia as well as parts of Alicante, Albacete, Granada and Jaén), and it is even reported that the source of the River Segura has actually run dry: in other words, the clear skies and generally pleasant weather are really not what Murcia needs.

The reservoirs managed by the CHS (Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura) are currently at only 13.2 per cent of capacity, and in some of the largest the water level is far lower. In total the CHS has at its disposal just 151.2 cubic hectometres of water in reservoirs with a capacity of 1,140 hm3, with reserves standing at around 100 hm3 less than at the same point last year, and irrigation water supplies have already been cut drastically.

In the Cenajo reservoir the long-lost bridge known as the Puente del Diablo has reappeared from beneath the water, and the latest weather forecasts continue to show no sign of significant rainfall, either in the Costa Cálida or further inland where it is needed in order to replenish the reservoirs.

The CHS is doing what it can in maintaining water infrastructures, and for example this week flood prevention dam repairs were completed at El Paretón. This vital infrastructure was damaged during the torrential storms in December 2016, and diverts floodwater from the River Guadalentín into the Rambla de Las Moreras.

But the farmers of Murcia are understandably anxious, and there is the threat of further protests against the shortage of water like the one which resulted in tractors bringing traffic in Murcia to a standstill in April. This week it has been announced that the organizers of that demonstration have been fined 3,000 euros each.

No-one wishes to be alarmist, but while we continue to enjoy glorious sunshine in the Costa Cálida (although in cooler temperatures) the reality is that unless it rains significantly and soon, this is a topic we will be hearing far more about in the near future!

Other issues in the Murcia news this week include the success of a last-ditch attempt to save the Barbary sheep which roam Sierra Espuña, a proposal to prioritize the re-routing of the Rambla de los Aznares in Camposol instead of concentrating solely on who is to be blame, and the infrastructures in Murcia being overwhelmed by the huge number of illegal immigrants who arrived in the Region during October.

And the announcement that Brexit will come into effect on 29th March 2019 seats a deadline by which many decisions must be made, including those affecting the status of UK residents in Spain and other EU countries.

Scroll down below for more on these and many other stories...

 

Agricultural and environmental news

The Barbary sheep of Sierra Espuña are saved! To the relief of many, the latest attempt by the PP party to amend the law regarding invasive animal species in order to save red swamp crayfish, rainbow trout, Barbary sheep and other animals in Spain was approved in the national parliament on Tuesday, meaning that it will still be possible on occasion to see one of the most impressive sights in the Sierra Espuña, that of the Barbary sheep in what has become their natural habitat.

The extermination of the Barbary sheep in Sierra Espuña is already under way, having been decreed in March 2016 by Spain’s Supreme Court in order to put a halt to the “harmful” effects on bio-systems within which invasive species compete with native species. But the PP has now managed, with the support of PSOE and Ciudadanos, to modify the Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law of 2007 in such a way as to make it possible to continue to create economic activity through the use of “exotic” species (in hunting, in the case of the Barbary sheep).

Many ecologists are unimpressed, but for visitors to the regional park of Sierra Espuña the news is welcome: if is it necessary to limit the numbers of Barbary sheep in order to protect agriculture then do so, but allow us to experience the thrill of rounding a corner on a mountain path and confronting one of these majestic beasts face to face!

35 hectares of “new” land have emerged at Las Encañizadas in La Manga: over 50,000 cubic metres of sand have severely narrowed the “golas” in La Manga, seemingly lending support to the regional government’s proposals to dredge them in order to help regenerate the marine environment of the Mar Menor.

The tiger mosquito travels by car as it spreads across Spain: Murcia is among the regions responsible for “exporting” the insect inland as “stowaways” hide under car seats and travel all over the country!

Los Urrutias beach says goodbye to the last of its breakwaters: after 25 years the barriers are now gone, the hope being that water will now circulate more freely and no more unpleasant-smelling mud will accumulate along the beach of Punta Brava.

 

Tourism and airport news

Aena guarantees job security for San Javier staff if flights are diverted to Corvera: the company will fully respect the rights of employees at Murcia-San Javier airport if and when it is closed down in order to transfer air traffic to Corvera.

 

Camposol investigation committee to request the re-routing of the Rambla in 2018

Some progress was made at the latest meeting of the regional government committee which has been set up to investigate the irregularities surrounding the construction of Camposol, the main breakthrough being that at long last Francisco Blaya Blaya, who was Mayor of Mazarrón from 2003 to 2011, finally agreed to answer questions.

So too did Manuel Aldeguer, a former senior official at the CHS water infrastructures administration company, but despite their agreeing to appear before the committee the versions of events they offered were contradictory and confused.

The main positive upshot of the meeting was that the PSOE party will be proposing that funds be set aside for the Rambla in which part of Camposol was built to be re-routed in 2018. The arguments over who is responsible for irregularities in the past will doubtless go on for years, but the important thing is that something should be done about the situation as soon as possible.

 

Illegal immigrant breakout in Sangonera highlights shortcomings in Murcia infrastructures

The recent flood of illegal immigrants arriving in the Region of Murcia has overstretched the facilities designed to accommodate and deal with them with undesirable results, and in consequence reinforements are to be requested from the central government in Madrid.

During October over 700 migrants landed or were brought ashore in the Costa Cálida, more than double the total for the whole of 2016, most being delivered to the port of Cartagena after being intercepted by the Guardia Civil or the maritime rescue service as they crossed the Mediterranean in perilously fragile boats. But once on dry land in Murcia the immigrants caused significant headaches for the authorities, as it appears that no-one knew where to hold them in custody pending possible deportation procedures.

Thus it is reported that at least 60 were left to fend for themselves in the streets of Cartagena, 26 immigrants escaped after a brawl in the dining room of the overcrowded detention centre in Sangonera la Verde, others made their way to the Jesús Abandonado centre where beds are provided for the homeless, and still others began the search for family and friends both in this country and elsewhere in Europe. Six were detained in France and returned to Spain.

 

Murcia and Spanish property news

Market value of residential property up by 4.3 per cent across Spain: the latest data published this Wednesday by Tinsa, the leading Spanish property valuation firm, confirm that the recovery of the market continued its overall consolidation during the month of October, with the value of residential property in Spain as a whole estimated to be 4.3 per cent higher than in the same month in 2016.

Benidorm skyscraper sold to US mortgage fund: the sale of the second highest residential block in Europe highlights the return of confidence to property developers in the Costa Blanca.

Spanish property rental prices rising as young people find buying is out of their reach: Millennials are forced into renting their homes by lack of purchasing power, and with demand pushing rental prices higher the value of property is also increased as investors buy to rent.

 

Other items in the Murcia news this week

Mar Menor holiday apartment rental fraudster arrested in San Javier: a A 38-year-old resident of San Javier has been arrested by the Guardia Civil in connection with at least 17 cases of holiday home rental fraud in the Mar Menor area.

Murcia parliament committee agrees to recommend safety improvements on Lorca-Águilas road: if and when implemented, the recommendations would lead to the RM-11 once again qualifying for the description of “autovía”, a status which it does not currently hold due to the lack of certain features present on other dual carriageways within the Region.

Can anyone lend a hand to the Conde de Floridablanca? The historic statue in the city of in Murcia has lost a hand due to the corrosive effects of pigeon droppings. Council officials state that there is no danger to passers-by, although the Count is not completely ‘armless!

More vandalism at the work to lay high-speed rail tracks into Murcia: five incidents in seven weeks as another digger was set alight in Los Dolores, just ten days before work begins on the underground route into the Estación del Carmen.

Mazarrón Mayoress ties the knot: congratulations to Alicia Jiménez and her groom Ginés Román!

Street mural unveiled at Alhama de Murcia food market: the painting is part of an ongoing campaign to spruce up some of the public buildings in Alhama, and another will soon appear on Avenida Antonio Fuertes.

Polish windsurfer rescued from the Mar Menor after being caught out by the wind: the 52-year-old woman was found after dark with symptoms of hypothermia close to the island of Isla Perdiguera.

Cehegín dog walker spots 230-million-year-old reptile fossil: the 30-centimetre marine reptile is the oldest vertebrate yet found in Murcia, although identification is made more difficult by the fact that its head is missing.

Two drivers detained as Alhama police clamp down on road safety: the two face fines in Alhama for drink-driving and driving without a licence.

Street improvements in Puerto de Mazarrón during tourism off season: work is going on to replace old water supply and sewage pipes, re-lay pavements, install new street lighting and re-tarmac the road surfaces.

Licor 43 now wholly owns the Limoncello lemon liqueur brand: the Cartagena-based group, which provides one of the most interesting (and tastiest) visits on offer in the Region of Murcia at Experiencia 43 just outside Cartagena, has acquired the remaining shares in Villa Massa.

Christmas shoppers in Cartagena urged to avoid sexist gifts for children: it’s all too easy to fall into the stereotypical “dolls for girls, cars for boys” mentality when choosing gifts for youngsters, but the message being put across by the Town Hall in Cartagena is that although this is fine in cases where those toys are what the children actually want, preferences should not be imposed upon them. “Don’t limit their imagination” is the slogan being used!

Potential suicide climbs down from Murcia Cathedral: a Rumanian threatened to jump if he wasn’t given 3,000 euros and a sandwich, and was not coaxed down until he had spent 2 hours threatening to jump!

Golf on the timetable for San Javier schoolchildren: San Javier takes advantage of the wealth of sports facilities in the area after the successful introduction of swimming, sailing and canoeing into the Physical Education curriculum!

Former La Unión Mayor to return to Murcia as the central government delegate: Francisco Bernabé will be dealing with the illegal immigrant overflow and the high-speed rail controversy in Murcia.

Palacio de Villescusa ready to welcome back Lorca Town Hall staff: the 17^th century building is now 300 tons lighter than before the Lorca earthquakes after modifications were made to the roof!

Murcia winter flu vaccination campaign starts next week: jabs are available for all, either free of charge or for just a few euros, and the best time to be vaccinated is during the second half of November, as this guarantees maximum protection in January and February.

Mazarrón lorry driver rescued after 3-hour ordeal in overturned vehicle: two cranes were needed to free the legs of the trapped driver near the Rambla de las Moreras in the outskirts of Mazarrón.

“Could do better” is the verdict on the English spoken by Murcianos: a report published this week this week concludes that the average level of English spoken by Spaniards is lower than last year, and that the Region of Murcia is among those which fall into the “low-intermediate” range in terms of linguistic competence in English.

 

Spanish national news

Catalunya crisis still dominates as former president evades prison in Belgium and "picket" protesters disrupt road and rail traffic

There is no sign as yet of much slowing down in the pace at which the situation in Catalunya is developing, following the declaration of independence in the parliament of Catalunya on 27^th October, and this week’s developments began with the news that Carles Puigdemont, the former president of the government, had escaped jail in Belgium, at least for the time being.

Sr Puigdemont handed himself over to the Belgian authorities on Sunday and was released later the same day as the courts decided not to hold him and the four former government ministers who hurriedly travelled with him to Brussels in custody. However, while the Belgian authorities deliberate over whether to deliver the fugitives to Spain in response to a European detention order, their passports have been withdrawn and they must be locatable at any time should the courts require them to make further declarations.

The former president then confirmed that he is “prepared” for prison in Spain if extradition is granted, while at the same time vowing to take his case to the international courts if necessary and confirming that he will stand as the PDeCAT candidate for the presidency at the regional election on 21^st December. He will be campaigning from Belgium, though, while it looks as though ERC leader Oriol Junqueras, who was the vice-president of Catalunya in Sr Puigdemont’s government, could be doing so from the Estremera jail in Madrid: he and other former ministers in the regional government were imprisoned last week on the grounds that there was a “high risk” of them fleeing the country as Sr Puigdemont had done.

Wednesday saw the calling of a general strike in Catalunya, and although the level of support appeared to be low, various major roads were blocked by “pickets” expressing their discontent at the imprisonment of Sr Junqueras and other separatist leaders. On Thursday, meanwhile, Carme Forcadell, the former Speaker of the Catalan regional parliament which was dissolved after it fell to her to announce the result of the vote in favour of the declaration of independence, escaped unconditional jail on Thursday after she spent two and a quarter hours answering the questions of the Supreme Court of Spain. During her declarations to Judge Pablo Llarena she agreed to desist from any further actions which contravene the Spanish Constitution, and clarified that the declaration was merely “symbolic”.

And that is the summary of a relatively quiet week in terms of the situation in Catalunya!

Sideline stories, though, include the fact that over 2,200 businesses have now left the region since the disputed referendum on 1^st October, and that the separatists are steeling the limelight from Mariano Rajoy, Donald Trump, Kim Jong-Un, Emmanuel Macron, Pacman and Mister Spock in the Catalan Christmas pooper sales race! (Click for more details in the festive “caganer” tradition in Catalunya)

Elsewhere in the Spanish news there was proof that Catalunya is not the only place where the national government intervenes to impose order, as the Town Hall of Madrid came under supervision by Hacienda after refusing to bring spending in line with revenue, a Cádiz man was arrested in connection with the horrendous death of an Alsatian puppy, and a morgue employee in Albacete was arrested for stealing from the dead!

Scroll down for further details on these and other stories…

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