ARCHIVED - Murcia and Spanish news round-up week ending 1st March 2019
The Spanish government guarantees residency status for UK nationals post-Brexit as the Costa Cálida basks in 28-degree sunshine
Once again much of the talk this week in the Costa Cálida has centred around the weather, with the Region of Murcia set to bask in temperatures in the mid- to high-twenties for the second weekend in a row, and with Brexit now under a month away (in theory, at least) there has been good news for those expats concerned about their future status and rights in Spain.
In one of its last acts before the general election which has been called on 28th April, the Spanish government is to introduce a decree outlining contingency plans for a hard Brexit, including measures to make life relatively easy for British residents in this country including those who are currently without permanent residency status.
According to details published in the national press, the intention is to offer new residency papers to around 400,000 UK nationals if the UK leaves the EU with no Withdrawal Agreement. As for the 300,000 already registered, they will have until January 2021 to prove their legal residency status, and it is reported that for them “the process will be almost automatic”, while for the “new” residents there will be additional requirements.
In addition, the benefits are to be extended to Gibraltar, although it is important to stress two aspects: firstly, Spain will have a power of veto in any future agreement between the UK and the EU regarding the British Overseas Territory, and secondly, the privileges granted to UK nationals living in Spain are conditional on the British government making similar concessions to Spaniards living in the UK, and that the same applies to the measures outlined for British businesses in this country.
It is also worth noting some of the comments made by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in parliament on Thursday, when announcing that this Decree was to be brought in: he explained that in his view the UK’s exit from the European Union is “a terrible decision” which Spain is obliged to respect, although it is entirely contrary to “common sense, the logic of our times and the tide of history”.
For Britons living in Spain, then, this is a reassuringly positive, conciliatory and constructive attitude on the part of the national government: if only it were possible to be certain that their counterparts in London will reciprocate with a similar gesture and ensure that the Decree is fully implemented!
Meanwhile, in the Region of Murcia there has still been barely a drop of rain since mid-December and in most places there was none at all in the whole of February, and with February now over it appears that the winter of 2018-19 has been a mild one.
Last Saturday the mercury suddenly soared to up to 28.2 degrees in Abanilla and 26.7 in the regional capital as the cloudless skies which were a constant feature in February were accompanied by the arrival of unusually warm air from the east. By Monday the temperature was back to normal, but a second heatwave arrived on Thursday and this time the warmest place in Spain was Mula, in the north-west of Murcia, with a high of 29.2 degrees.
And although conditions on coast remain rather cooler, and a slight dip is expected on Friday and Saturday, the heat is back on for Sunday as afternoon highs are set to head back up towards 30 in inland areas: hard to imagine in the UK, but as March begins it’s time to start working on the tan and check the air conditioning!
Airport and tourism news
One of the questions faced by Fernando López Miras, the president of the Murcia government, in the regional parliament on Thursday concerned the possible loss of passengers from the new Region of Murcia International Airport in Corvera to the airport of Alicante-Elche, and in this context it will have come as heartening news to him that Barcelona-based airline Volotea are reported to be planning new routes between the Region of Murcia and destinations in northern Spain and France.
It has already been confirmed that this summer Volotea will operate twice-weekly return flights between Corvera and the northern Spanish region of Asturias, but managing director Carlos Muñoz is as yet not willing to be drawn on the identity of the new destinations currently under consideration.
Meanwhile, Sr López Miras has also reported that he and his government have “demanded” that the Ministry of Development declare flights to and from the cities of Madrid and Barcelona to be an “official public service”. This would allow a situation like the one in Extremadura, where the regional government pays Air Nostrum 3.5 million euros per year in order to maintain similar routes at the airport of Badajoz.
No more 2700-year-old boats waiting to be discovered in Puerto de Mazarrón: experts describe the chances of more Phoenician boats lying off Playa de la Isla as remote, despite the bay having been used as a harbour for boats transporting the minerals mined a few kilometres inland during the 7th century BC.
British visitors to Spain spent almost 8 per cent more this January than last year: this is despite the proportion of foreign tourists accounted for by the UK being the lowest at any point in the last four and a half years at 19.2%.
2,300 tourist properties to be built in Águilas: the project near Calabardina is an example of sustainable development and reflects the current optimism in the Murcia property sector.
Águilas Carnival paper costume and body painting competition 2019: the biggest Carnival celebrations in the Costa Cálida are now in full swing!
New La Manga viewing point to be completed this June: improved facilities and access to the sea in the Galúa area of La Manga as part of the 18-million-euro “La Manga 365” initiative.
Tickets on sale for exclusive tapas meals at the SaborArte gastronomic festival in Cieza: seats are selling fast for the gourmet tapas meals at SaborArte during the Floración, when the fruit trees in the orchards around Cieza burst into bloosom!
Environmental issues
Of course the wonderful weather in the Region of Murcia is great news for those spending time at the beach, as temperatures up into the high twenties make the Costa Cálida one of the warmest places in Europe, but at the same time the lack of rain and the high temperatures are a cause for concern, and on Friday Greenpeace made this point in a press release demanding more action to reverse climate change before it’s too late.
A year ago, it is worth remembering, the UK was in the grip of the Beast from the East and Storm Emma, and Spain was suffering a blast of Arctic cold which left temperatures at -10ºC in many parts of the country. Weather can vary from year to year, obviously, but there is no doubt that extreme weather events are becoming more and more common, and in Spain this is likely to lead to more drought and heatwaves and, in consequence, a severe shortage of water.
A government Decree hurried through on Friday will provide legislation in the right direction, but Greenpeace insist that more dramatic changes are needed, and express the hope that climate change and ecological transitions will be central issues in the forthcoming national, regional, European and local election campaigns. Unfortunately, to judge by the heated exchanges and accusations which have characterized political “debate” in Spain since the April general election was called last month, this hope looks to be a rather forlorn one…
Giant fan mussel finds its last refuge in the Mar Menor: the mollusc has been practically wiped out by a parasite after 5 million years in the Mediterranean but has found shelter in the lagoon.
Huge solar power farm in Campos del Río backed by the Town Hall: another massive renewable energy plant is in the pipeline close to the one being built in Mula, and will be among the largest in Europe as Murcian farmers switch from growing almonds to "growing electricity".
Other items in the news in Murcia and the rest of Spain
Cannibalism in Madrid in one of the most horrific crimes known in Spain: a 26-year-old man confesses to killing and eating his own mother and feeding parts of her body to his dog.
Sir Ben Ainslie and the UK America’s Cup team are preparing in the Mar Menor: if Ineos Team UK pull off a historic win in New Zealand in 2021 it would be nice to think that the Mar Menor and the Region of Murcia contributed!
Dog-friendly park to be created in the centre of Torre Pacheco: a canine agility circuit will be installed in the Parque de la Constitución.
9 unauthorized migrants picked up as they landed on the beach of La Azohía: two more were picked up later on Thursday 20 miles from Cabo Tiñoso.
Spanish salaries at an all-time high but the figure for the UK is still 50 per cent higher: the Murcianos have the second lowest average earnings of the 17 regions of Spain.
Fossilized remains of million-year-old lizard discovered in Abanilla: evidence of the legless lizard, similar to the Ophisaurus genus which is nowadays found in northern Africa, has been found at the fossil site of Quibas.
Novo Carthago developers claim 30 million euros from Cartagena Town Hall: Hansa Urbana claim that the Town Hall is blocking construction of the controversial resort, which was to consist of a golf course, 6,000 homes and 2 hotels near the inland shore of the Mar Menor.
Mugger arrested in the town of Mazarrón: a woman was attacked by a 35-year-old Moroccan in the town centre a few days ago.
Camposol benefits from water supply improvement work: repairs and improvements at various water supply infrastructures in Mazarrón.
Residents of eastern Almería alarmed by 3.5 mbLg earthquake: the tremor was also felt in Puerto Lumbreras in the Region of Murcia.
Espacio Mediterráneo fights back against proposals to limit Sunday opening: the popular out-of-town shopping mall warns that restrictions would mean job losses in Cartagena.
100-euro fines for abandoning pets come into force in the city of Murcia: owners whose pets are taken in by the zoonosis centre in the regional capital will be obliged to pay a series of charges.
Rising fuel prices push Spanish inflation rate up to 1.1 per cent: the data for February break a three month downward trend in inflation in Spain.
Tragedy in Toledo as a teenager is run over by an ambulance answering an emergency call: the town of Fuensalida is in mourning four years after another 3 girls were killed by a careless driver whose case comes to court next week.
HGV driver sheds a cargo of oranges and is arrested in San Pedro del Pinatar 6 times over the alcohol limit: the third such case in the Region of Murcia in the first two months of this year.
Los Alcázares couple face charges after stealing 50 drain covers: the thieves also targeted electricity and water meter covers in the municipality in an attempt to "plug a hole in their own finances!"
Alhama de Murcia warns that the processionary caterpillar season is at its peak: the caterpillars pose a serious threat to dogs, cats and even small children, and have been in evidence in and around the city of Murcia since Christmas this winter as well as in many other areas of the region.
Murcia Guardia Civil officer fined for ordering bar-restaurant to open: the sergeant insisted that the establishment should open for him to have a bite to eat and a drink.
Murcia and Spanish property news
The main batch of data related to the real estate market in Spain to be published this week concerned mortgage activity during December, and reinforced the fact that while in most of Spain the number of mortgages constituted is related to the number of properties purchased, in the Region of Murcia this is not necessarily the case at present.
During last year the number of residential properties bought and sold in the Region of Murcia grew by 24 per cent, far more than in any other of Spain’s 17 regions, but mortgage activity was relatively stagnant. In December, for example, the number of sales registered was 22 per cent higher, but the number of mortgages registered on residential property actually fell by 8 per cent to 450. A similar discrepancy is apparent in the data for the whole of 2018, when the increase in sales figures was accompanied by a rise in mortgage activity of just 6.3 per cent.
Despite that, though, so significant is the increased confidence of the banks to lend against current market values that the running 12-monthly totals are now 72 per cent higher in Murcia than 4 and a half years ago, and 91 per cent higher in the whole of Spain!
Elsewhere there have been some conflicting assessments of the current trends regarding market prices in the Costa Cálida, and at an auction of properties on the Mosa Trajectum resort just outside Murcia various sales were made which will doubtless influence the overall average figures negatively. 36 homes were snapped up at average of just 36,000 euros, with the cheapest going for only 17,000 euros as the process of liquidation continued with regard to the company Key Vil I S.L., one of those involved in the construction and promotion of the golf resort.
Also related to property in the Costa Cálida this week, there was news of a potential setback for the tourist rental legislation proposed by the regional government, as the Spanish national monopolies and competition commission (CNMC) warned that the regulations outlined may impose “potentially unjustified barriers”, and suggested various changes.
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