Date Published: 14/02/2014

ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014

Property sales in Murcia increase, politicians unite to open airport, burglars arrested after mass robberies

Passports

ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 The week begins with a message from the British Consulate to advise residents that the system by which those living in Spain obtain, renew or replace their passports has been changed and from now on applications will be processed ONLINE. The embassy say this is to minimise the risk of error and advise that residents must allow 4 weeks for new passports, or 6 for replacement, so if you’re planning a trip, make sure you check your passport well in advance.

Warning: The Gas scammers are back

And the week continues with a second warning about gas scammers, as reports have been received that a group of individuals purporting to be from Repsol are operating in Murcia and the Vega Baja, and ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 Repsol themselves have put out a warning advising that these individuals are not official gas installers. We´ve also had a report from Calasparra in the North-west of the region that scammers are operating in that area, so be aware, although gas fittings must be changed on gas bottle appliances every 5 years, this should be done using an authorised gas company, and although it is not illegal for somebody else to change the fittings, these conmen take advantage of the more mature and charge them extortionate rates for the job. There is also the risk that those posing as gas fitters are in fact thieves, and there have been many cases of theft during their visits, so don´t be bullied into allowing these people in your home.

A full report about gas scammers was posted last year, with more information about this situation, so don´t get caught out.

Region of Murcia news.

Staying with conmen and fraudsters, police have had a busy week, with several major arrests. First up were ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 two individuals responsible for 33 robberies in San Pedro del Pinatar and Pilar de la Horadada, specifically targeting empty holiday properties. Police have also detained a Bulgarian group cloning credit cards in Murcia who were using cashpoints to capture user pin numbers, and another group were caught who have been targeting bars and restaurants across the Murcia-Valencia border area. 20 arrests have also been made in Murcia in relation to a massive nationwide network linked into the shops buying scrap gold which have proliferated since the economic crisis began, a multi-million euro operation.

But crime begins at home, and one little case caught the attention of the media this week, as Murcia council were urged to replant trees killed by a Murcia resident, who drilled holes in the trunks and filled them with bleach as he didn’t want his view ruined by the rapidly growing ficus trees.

Murcia property news

This week Murcia became one of very few areas of Spain which recorded increased property sales for 2013, closing the year with an increase of 6.4% on the 2012 figures. This made Murcia the second best performer in the country in percentage terms, good news for those working in the property sector. Murcia continues to offer exceptional value for money, and there are always new hot properties on offer in our Murcia property section along with latest regional property news.

ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 Of course, one factor which will influence the success of the Murcia property market is the opening of Corvera airport, and this week, the processes to achieve that opening have continued to move forward, following the decision of the regional government to continue working with the former concessionary rather than seeking a new partner. The two regional ministers involved in the negotiations presented a united front this week, emphasising that they are united in working towards this goal, and hope to have the airport operational by 18^th September.

San Javier airport turned in improved figures for January, showing an increase of 16% on air traffic from the same month last year, also demonstrating that it has no intention of lying down and allowing the new airport to take its flights and operators: hopefully this will mean more flights for the Region in the future.

The weather has also caused havoc, as although Murcia has escaped the snow other parts of Spain have experienced this week and remained warm and dry, strong winds kept emergency services busy, sadly a British national dying in a multiple pile-up at Puerto Lumbreras when the wind whipped up a dense dust cloud, although police are now investigating why that happened, the finger of blame being pointed at an agriculturalist who has illegally ploughed up land next to the motorway, exposing soft soil.

What’s on Murcia

This weekend there are a plethora of Valentines events to choose from, some of them offering meals across ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 the weekend, as well as a good selection of musical events in local bars. To see what’s on day by day, use the Events diary facility on the header bar of every page: just click on the date to see the options on offer.

This weekend there are a number of artisan fairs on offer: Alhama de Murcia has its monthly artisan fair, and there is also a free guided theatrical tour of the town on at the same time. Caravaca de la Cruz in the North-west has its monthly artisan market, as does Calasparra, which is held inside the beautiful little sanctuary de la esperanza, San Pedro del Pinatar also has an artisan fair down on the seafront and the neighbour’s association on the La Manga strip also has a valentine artisan and second hand fair on Saturday.

El Berro in the Sierra Espuña has an Encuentro de cuadrillas on Sunday, and Águilas offers its route of the railways, which is a great morning out, also on Sunday.

There are some interesting musical offerings next week, with top international classical guitarist Fabio Montomoli in concert in Murcia ( tickets a measly 5 euros), Opera with the Marriage of Figaro at El Batel in Cartagena and the UCAM symphony orchestra with Discantus choir and soprano soloist in Murcia performing a mixture of popular operatic works, again, the tickets are affordable.

Next week, we´ll have Carnival programmes galore as the region gets ready to party.

Active Murcia

On the active front, the St Valentines race is taking place in san Javier, and Águilas has a mad event, a 10km ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 race with multiple obstacles, in which many of the participants are costumed. There’s a free family walk in the Sierra Espuña, and a free family activity to find out about wild orchids in the Calblanque park down by the Mar Menor, as well as another family route in the Salinas regional park of san Pedro del Pinatar.

On the golfing front, we’ve also had in some great offers from the Camposol Golf Club, which does a 20 euro 18 hole offer in the afternoons and all day Sunday, and also a cracking offer from the prestigious La Manga Club: 3 nights B and B accommodation in the Las Lomas Village, plus 3 rounds of golf on their top level courses for just 243 euros.

There’s also a chance to watch free skating in San Javier this weekend at the skating championships.

Valencia Today www.valenciatoday.es

ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 Full information about the major news stories in the Valencia region this week can be read on the dedicated Valencia Today weekly bulletin, which summarises what’s going on across the border in Valencia.

Click to read the weekly round up and what’s on news for the Valencia region

Currency exchange rate this week.

Click for this weeks currency round up showing the exchange rate between Sterling and the Euro. If you ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 would like a free quote to see how much can be saved on regular currency transfers such as a pension, or one-off lump sums such as the purchase of a property, call for a no obligation quote.

Spanish National News www.spanishnewstoday.com

A heavy week, which began on Saturday with the first member of the Spanish Royal Family ever to testify in a criminal case called into court to give evidence about the business activities of her husband, accused of fraud ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 and money laundering. The princess denied, denied, denied and claimed she knew nothing about the activities of a company of which she herself was a 50% partner, although legal buffs believe her depiction of “a good Spanish housewife who left everything to her husband” may well be enough to keep her out of prison and position the blame fairly and squarely on the shoulders of her husband. However, what kept the media humming all week was the appearance of video footage and images in the “El Mundo” newspaper, which had been secretly filmed by somebody inside the court, against the express instructions of the judge hearing the testimony. Police have been out with their set squares and calculators all week working out where the footage was shot from and tracking back to who posted it on the internet and sold it to El Mundo to start with. Surprise, surprise, the owner of the website on which the footage was posted is the brother of the secretary of Iñaki Urdangarín, husband of Princess Cristina……strange that.

With Spain hotting up for carnival, the annual chirigotas event in Cádiz, which brings together the best of ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 these satyrical and irreverent groups in a hot competition prior to carnival, sparked controversy, when the subject of whether participants in carnival are allowed to wear Guardia Civíl costumes in carnival parades following a new ruling by the Interior Minister. As this is such an important subject, a question was tabled in parliament, and yesterday it was all cleared up, and the Interior Minster says it’s fine, if you want to wear a Guardia Civil costume in the carnival parade this year, go right ahead, it’s OK by him.

With that important question settled the nation can breathe a sigh of relief, and it’s back to the real world, the next topic of national importance being the launch of the Wikipaella site, making sure that the flavour of real paella is unadulterated and visitors who want the real thing can get it anywhere they want.

We’ve also had the British Royals in the Spanish news this week, Princes Harry and William accused of hypocrisy after enjoying a hunting trip to Spain the weekend before launching a campaign called, “Let’s unite for wildlife”.

In Andalucia, a Mayor has fined himself for smoking in a council meeting, then announced he’ll appeal his own fine in protest at the fuss caused by him lighting up in the first place, although the tobacco industry in Spain have this week called for tougher measures on contraband as figures show the sales of legal tobacco have nearly halved as the locals enjoy the benefits of cheap contraband.

And the locals like a bargain on their music as well: sales of music have fallen 80% in Spain since the cd made it easy to copy records and not buy them.

ARCHIVED - Weekly Bulletin W/E 23rd February 2014 Arguments about contraband look set to spark off the Gibraltar controls row again and this week Fabian Picardo has been in Brussels complaining about the “totally unacceptable” queues at the Spanish-Gibraltan border.

We´ve also had the arrival of the first US warships being stationed in Rota as part of NATO protection agreements, the “Doctor Zhivago” steam train has returned home to Andalucía, a controversial new bylaw in Granada has limited the numbers of pets per household, and an Almería man has been given the red card after throwing a fellow spectator’s dog at the referee before starting a punch-up at a football match! Whatever next!

Those campaigning against the proposed abortion law changes have been out on the streets in force as the protests intensify, although the PP women ignored a call to “vote as women not as politicians “ and stood by their party in a secret ballot vote about whether to throw the motion out of parliament.

More detailed news reports can be found in the dedicated Spanish News Today weekly bulletin, which includes a property special about the current issues facing the Spanish property market.

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