ARCHIVED - Murcia and Spanish news round-up week ending 26th May 2017

Water quality improving in the Mar Menor as the government invests more in regeneration

In a week when it seems that summer weather has arrived to stay for the next few months it is perhaps appropriate that many of the headlines have involved the improving water quality and increasing investment in the Mar Menor.

Many saw the recent withdrawal of Blue Flag status from 19 beaches around the lagoon as a disaster for tourism, but regional government minister Javier Celdrán pointed out this week that although regaining Blue Flag status is important, far more important is the regeneration and protection of the marine environment. Fortunately, the latest data suggest that this is already being achieved to a certain degree in time for the summer.

Elsewhere there have been various news stories over the last week concerning the restoration of historic buildings including a castle in Cartagena, a bathing station in San Pedro del Pinatar, a mining installation in Portmán and, back in Cartagena, the old Cathedral which was bombed during the Civil War: in this last case the Mayor is hoping to enlist the support of the Pope!

In addition, the usual mix of stories also includes good and bad Brexit-related news for Murcia, a group of bewildered Chinese tourists who were unable to understand why they were making an unscheduled 2-hour stop at a Librilla service station, and a greengrocer who combined his day job with bank robberies using a Dirty Harry-style magnum! Read on for more…

The Mar Menor regeneration program

Transparency of the water in the Mar Menor has improved by 75 per cent: the regional government underlines that regaining Blue Flag status at the beaches in the lagoon is important, but far more important is the regeneration and protection of the marine environment.

16.3 million euros more for the Mar Menor recovery program: the additional funding will be used to tackle various issues which are important in improving water quality in the Mar Menor, including computerized systems to monitor and improve the treatment of waste water and rainwater as it enters the drainage system and the creation of artificial wetlands in the Campo de Cartagena.

Mar Menor jellyfish nets will be in place this summer after all: in the end the practice which began 20 years ago will be maintained in 2017, with the blessing of scientists and those who are monitoring the seahorse population.

EU Mar Menor sanctions placed on hold: there had been fears that the concerns over the water quality in the Mar Menor could lead to sanctions being imposed on the regional government in Murcia by the EU authorities in Brussels, but for the time being at least it appears that this threat has been lifted.

New stormwater tank begins work in San Pedro del Pinatar: As work goes on to ensure that the runoff of potentially harmful substances into the Mar Menor is reduced to a minimum this Friday the new stormwater tank in San Pedro del Pinatar was officially declared open.

The tank has a capacity of 3,400 cubic metres, and is designed to contain rainwater rather than allowing it to flow into the lagoon, before the water collected is then treated and re-used in agriculture. Having cost 1.2 million euros to build in the Parque José Luis de Los Ríos Martínez, it was inaugurated on Friday morning by Francisco Jódar, the minister for Water, Agriculture, Farming and Fishing in the regional government of Murcia.

Other environmental news

Domestic water supplied guaranteed for the summer in Murcia: desalination plants and aquifers are called into service to palliate the effects of three-year drought affecting the Segura basin in Murcia and southern Alicante.

Wild fire in the Galifa countryside: the flames spread along a 400-metre front, fanned by a strong breeze, but fortunately they were doused and brought under control before any major damage was done.

Mazarrón highlights the role of the public in combating tiger mosquitoes: aerial technology is known to be especially effective in combating mosquitoes, but this is really one of those problems where the best cure is prevention.

Warning that La Manga dunes are being sacrificed to replenish tourist beaches: the ANSE organization in the Region of Murcia is warning that great harm is being done to the few remaining natural dunes in La Manga del Mar Menor, due to the perceived need to replace the sand on other beaches which was washed away by the torrential rain which fell in December and February.

Tourism and tourist attractions

Despeñaperros castle in Cartagena to be restored: the 19th century fortification on the hill opposite the bus station coincided with the Peninsular War in which Spain fought to free itself from Napoleon’s forces, the idea being to be able to attack the nearby Castillo de los Moros should it fall into enemy hands.

Floridablanca bathing station in San Pedro del Pinatar to be reopened: it’s been a long time coming, but at last it is reported that the regional government that the regional government and the Town Halls concerned are planning to restore and reopen the dozen or so bathing stations or “balnearios” which have been quietly deteriorating for the last few years on the shore of the Mar Menor.

Restored 16th century artwork presented for Caravaca Jubilee Year: the Tablas de la Vera Cruz were painted by Hernando de Llanos in approximately 1520, and are normally incorporated into the main altar screen of the Capilla de la Cruz in the Basilica-Sanctuary in which the Vera Cruz, the holy cross of Caravaca, is housed..

Murcia unveils plans to pedestrianize the Avenida Alfonso X: the project in the regional capital will result in it being possible to walk on pedestrian streets all the way from the River Segura, the Glorieta de España and the cathedral to the Plaza Circular.

​Murcia parliament requests recognition of the Isla del Fraile coastline of Aguilas: in Roman times the Isla del Fraile was home to a factory which produced the prized fish sauce known as “garum”.

Concerns in La Union over deterioration at the Lavadero Roberto in Portman: the local PP group feel that their work to protect and preserve the heritage of the municipality is being undone by the current Town Hall, and this week their attention has turned to the brooding monument to the industrial mining past of Portmán that is the Lavadero Roberto.

Excavation work continues at the Molinete archaeological site in Cartagena: the Molinete hill in Cartagena was home to the Roman forum and curia.

Caravaca de la Cruz welcomes the Lampedusa Cross: the cross was made from pieces of a boat which was wrecked off the coast of Lampedusa in Italy on 11th October 2013, resulting in the deaths of 311 refugees. The island's carpenter Francesco Tuccio was moved by the plight of the 155 survivors, and decided to fashion for each of them a cross from the wreckage as a reflection on their salvation from the sea and hope for the future. A similar cross was made for Pope Francis, who carried it and blessed it at a memorial service for those who had perished.

Chiringuito licences for summer 2017 have finally  been provisionally awarded for the beaches of Cartagena: Around two months after many would argue it should have been done, the Town Hall of Cartagena finally announced on Friday that this summer’s beach bar licences have been provisionally awarded, providing hope that the “chiringuito” beach bars which are such an essential part of summer services, could be up and running before mid-June.

British Airways flight at San Javier stranded amidst B.A flights chaos: On Sunday B.A announced that flights from Heathrow and Gatwick had resumed but that disruption would continue for many holidaymakers who had hoped to enjoy a half-term week in the sun. The Saturday B.A flight from San Javier was amongst those caught up in the chaos.

Murcia exports to the UK fell by 11 per cent in the first quarter: this would be a disappointing reflection of the effect of Brexit, were it not for the fact that efforts to increase exports to other countries have resulted in an overall rise of 31.1% in the global export figures for Murcia. But the real overall effect of Brexit on the economy of Murcia in the future will be much harder to quantify than a simple import-and-export analysis, as it has to take into account tourism and the property market.

Brexit and Spanish property: British buyers hesitate, others compensate: during the first quarter of 2017 over 15,000 properties were bought in Spain by non-Spaniards, but the proportion of that figure which corresponds to British purchasers dropped to 14.5%, its lowest level since comparable data were first produced. In 2008 the figure was at 38%.

More property news in Murcia and Spain

2.2 per cent increase in Spanish property prices: according to the Ministry of Development, between January and March of this year the average price per square metre of homes on the market rose by 2.2% in comparison to the equivalent period in 2016 and by 0.9% from the previous quarter. However, the region of Murcia was among seven where prices are reported to have dropped slightly.

Iconic Puerto de Mazarron villa for sale: the owners of Villa Mar, the historic residence which stands alongside the Rihuete beach in Puerto de Mazarrón, have announced that the 97-year-old property is up for sale.

Other items in the Murcia news this week…

Murcia toddlers to begin English activities in kindergarten: there is considerable debate among linguists over whether it is realistic to expect success in schemes of this nature for infants who in many cases cannot yet walk or speak Spanish, but the evidence tends to suggest that as far as language acquisition is concerned it is a case of “the earlier the better”.

Dirty Harry-style greengrocer-cum-bank robber arrested after seven stick-ups: the robber, who was merely following in his father’s footsteps while brandishing “the most powerful handgun in the world”, was on the loose for four years despite his face being captured on security camera footage!

Alarm in Archena as car catches fire at petrol station: swift action by the Guardia Civil averted a catastrophe on the RM-554 in Archena on Friday night.

Maritime rescue and security exercises in Cartagena and La Manga until 2^nd June: the MARSEC operation includes various mock-up scenarios off the coast of Cartagena and La Manga.

Chinese tourists stranded in Librilla due to drunk coach driver: 40 tourists passengers were temporarily stranded when the driver of the coach on which they were traveling from Granada to Valencia was arrested and prevented from continuing the journey. 

Rocket flare deactivated on La Manga beach: the device was spotted in the sand by a bather at the beach of El Estacio in La Manga del Mar Menor.

Caravaca graffiti artist decorates Santa Pola Osborne bull “à la Picasso”: Sam3 has converted the Santa Pola bull into his own personal protest against the legality of bullfighting in Spain.

Three arrested in Mazarrón after 80 burglaries in Puerto Lumbreras, Águilas and Lorca: a vast hoard of stolen goods was recovered from a property in Mazarron.

Cartagena Mayor seeks support from the Pope in bringing the Bishop back home after 700 years: José López claims that the seat of the Diocese of Cartagena was transferred “illegally” to the city of Murcia 726 years ago, and also demands that the “Catedral Vieja” which was bombed in the Civil War should be rebuilt.

Spanish news round-up

Northern Spain swelters in a late-May heatwave as the temperature also rises in the Catalunya independence arguments

Apart from the shocking events in Manchester this week much of the attention of the Spanish press has been focussed on domestic politics, with the two main issues being the continuing manoeuvring over the issue of the threatened independence referendum in Catalunya and the choice of the new leader of the PSOE.

In the case of the PSOE, in what may seem a mystifiying decision to the outside observer, the new leader chosen is in fact the old leader who resigned in October last year. Pedro Sánchez, having caused a strong division within the party by his refusal to allow the PP to form a government, made a moral stand last year and resigned rather than performing a U-turn, and this gesture was rewarded at the primary election last year.

As for Catalunya, information was published on Monday suggesting that the Catalan government intends to declare independence even if the issue is not put to the vote in a referendum, and possibly as a result opinion polls suggest that support has been lost.

Elsewhere, though, much of Spain has been in the grip of a heatave this week (unfortunately coinciding with three more toddlers drowning while swimming), Margarita the pet cow is fighting for her life in Tortosa, and the young people of Salamanca are apparently so deeply addicted to mobile technology that they cannot look up from their phones even to cross the road. Anxious to protect them, the Town Hall is trying out LED traffic lights installed in the pavement.

Scroll down below for more stories in the Spanish news this week...

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