Benalmadena property

Boulevard in Arroyo de la Miel a step closer

Andrew Belles — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:22:46 +0000

The Works on Avenida Antonio Arande are another step closer to starting this week, alter the Town Hall confirmed the construction company, Ituval, has been awarded the contract.

The 1.2 million euro project will consist of “a landscaped boulevard with various services and activities,” according to a spokeswoman from the council. She added: “It will embellish the look of the Arroyo de la Miel neighbourhood and will have a similar aesthetic effect on Avenida de la Constitución and Plaza de Pueblosol.” The remodelling of the boulevard, which runs parallel to Avenida Medina Azahara, is being funded by the Government and the works have a completion time of five months.

Source: Sur in English May 27th to June 2nd 2011

‘Green light’ for Pueblo’s 100 space car park

Andrew Belles — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:31:42 +0000

This week the Town Hall approved a revision of the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) which will allow the owner of a large plot of land in Benalmádena Pueblo (between Avenida Juan Luis Peralta, Calle Hermano Francisco and Calle Salvador Balbuena) to construct 25 new homes, eight of which will be subsidised, a 1,100 square metre park, and a privately-managed car park for more than 100 vehicles.

The proposal was only supported by the Partido Popular, the municipality’s governing party; the Izquierda Unida party voted against, and the rest abstained.

Source: Sur in English February 11th to 17th 2011

Benalmádena’s beaches are to get a 1.5 million euro makeover

Andrew Belles — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:47:42 +0000

Benalmádena’s beaches will be at the centre of 10 key improvement projects, costing 1.5 million euros, according to plans unveiled last week by the Town Hall. The series of works, being funded by the Consortium for Development and Tourism on the Western Costa del Sol Western (‘Plan Qualificada’) and the central Government’s Modernisation Fund for Established Tourist Destinations (‘FOMIT’) will focus on environmental improvements and accessibility. “The projects will allow Benalmádena’s beaches to be at their very best,” said Rafael Obrero, Councillor for Beaches.

Amongst the ventures is the extension of the Paseo Marítimo’s “traditional-looking” street lighting up to the Los Maites buildings; and refurbishing the promenade at Torrequebrada which, according to the councillor, “has been in a sorry state of repair for several years now.”

Torrequebrada resident, Fiona Gillam, welcomes the move. “I have felt quite unsafe walking along the Paseo in this area in the evening. It’s very dark and isolated, and it looks shabby in comparison to the rest of the promenade,” she says. “It’s about time they did something, especially as there are many big hotels here – at the moment it doesn’t give tourists the best impression.”

Other projects include the installation of public toilets, a First Aid point and store-room at the Bil Bil Castle; and sections of beaches of Benalmadena will take a significant leap forward in terms of quality,” said Obrero. He added the Town Hall prioritised the works as “The beaches are the main tourist attraction and economic engine in Benalmádena.

Source: Sur in English January 14th to 20th 2011 author George Prior

Town Hall seeks solution for storm damaged beaches

Andrew Belles — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:47:26 +0000

Works are underway on several beaches in Benalmádena to find a permanent solution to reduce the damage caused by winter storms every year.

Much of the initiative is focused around the areas near to the mouths of rivers and streams where water flows from the land into the sea. During heavy rainfall the increased flow of water washes away the sand on the beaches, meaning it has to be frequently replaced. On a rent visit, Rafael Obrero, the Councillor for Beaches, said the team are working on ways to channel the water to run directly into the sea, so it doesn’t “break across the sand.” Works have already been completed on Playa Malapesquera.

Source: Sur in English January 14th to 20th 2011

New Municipal recycling campaign

Andrew Belles — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:12:37 +0000

This week the Town Hall has launched a new campaign to encourage both businesses and individuals to recycle paper, glass and packaging at a time of year when, historically, there has been an increased amount of refuse collected by the authorities.

Sur in English: December 31st to January 6th 2010

New street lighting along the Paseo

Andrew Belles — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:09:35 +0000

State funds of more than 300,000 euros have been allocated to improving the street lighting along parts of Benalmádena Costa, which particular emphasis on the stretch Puerto Marina and the Bil-Bil Castle.

Sur in English: December 31st to January 6th 2010

Long-awaited boulevard is ‘up against the clock’

Andrew Belles — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:06:14 +0000

Paseo Antonio Andrade, the landscaped boulevard which will run through Arroyo de la Miel, must be finished before next September or the project will forfeit its state funding, it has been revealed. The 1.2 million euros was allocated via the State Fund for the Modernisation of Tourism Infrastructure (FOMIT), a line of credit which allows municipalities with “mature tourism facilities” to borrow at low rates of interest. Despite the Town Hall signing an agreement in November with railway operator ADIF, on whose land it will be built, and the idea first being mooted more than six years ago, work on the 7,000 square metre project has still not begun.

Sur in English: December 31st to January 6th 2010

Residents take direct action against Developer of their urbanisation

Andrew Belles — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:33:36 +0000

Arenal Golf in Benalmadena is described as “the urbanisation of your dreams” in the promotional material. Sadly, for some owners and tenants who have bought, or who are renting there, this is not the case.

“we were promised a gym, a social club, a golf club –the list goes on. But we don’t have any of that,” says one angry resident who did not want to be named. “We bought into that ‘dream,’ but it’s turned into a nightmare. What was promised has not been delivered and it looks like it never will be.”

Now, after months of complaining to the company responsible, a group of Arenal Golf residents have taken direct action by erecting banners across one of the uninhabited phases of the development.

The banners, reading “GYM?”, “SOCIAL CLUB?”, “S.S.S!” and “Abandonados,” were first put up on Sunday evening “to draw attention to our plight,” says a resident, who alleges the urbanisation was built illegally. “That’s why the situation has not been resolved. But that’s not our fault. We moved here in good faith, thinking that everything was official.”

Residents’ frustrations are twofold. “We’ve been forgotten even by the municipal authorities. The rubbish is hardly collected, so we often see rats and cockroaches, and there’s no street lighting either. It’s very unfair as we pay our taxes, so the Town Hall should do more to help. It feels like we’re being punished for living here.” In the meantime, a group of neighbours have organised their own street cleaning committee and are planning more direct action protests.

Source: Sur in English, Septembre 3rd to 9th 2010, author: George Prior

Arroyo’s transformation moves into next phase

Andrew Belles — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:52:34 +0000

“We’re making extremely good progress with our urban regeneration and revitalisation programme,” says Mayor of Benalmádena, Enrique Moya. “We’re continuing in our efforts to enhance the social, economic and commercial dynamics of Arroyo de la Miel and beyond.

After months of works, and several delays, the fruits of the Town Hall’s labour are beginning to show with the opening of a shopping centre; the completion of the re-modelling of the town’s main streets, including Avenida de la Constitución and Avenida García Lorca; and the revival of the Pueblosol project, which includes an 825-vehicle underground car park and a tree-lined boulevard.

Whilst some projects have already been finalised, others are about to begin in order to complete the programme. The next phase of works, which will be carried out within the coming months, includes the remodelling of an additional stretch of Avenida de la Constitución, from Avenida García Lorca to Avenida Bonanza; the creation of the Antonio Andrade landscaped walkway; the smartening-up of Aveinda Medina Azahara; and the second phase of the improvements to Calles Las Flores. However; the latter two are yet to receive final funding approval.

“Strolling around Arroyo de la Miel is now much more pleasant than it used to be. They seemed to have made a big effort with the landscaping and flowerbeds, the resurfacing of pavements and roads, the ramps for wheelchairs and pushchairs. It has really boosted the look and feel of the town,” says resident, Jean Stafford. “All the road works and disruption, dust and noise, now seem worthwhile.”

Source: Sur in English, June 4th to June 10th 2010, author: George Prior

Sanitation improved on two of the town’s busiest beaches

Andrew Belles — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:42:31 +0000

Benalmádena Town Hall has undertaken a series of scheduled improvements to the drainage system on Malapesquera and Torrebermeja beaches. The work, valued at nearly 40,000 euros is to try and stop overflows from the septic tanks by the increased use of the toilet and shower facilities during the high season

Benalmádena’s Councillor for Beaches, Rafael Obrero said that the project is “completely necessary” in order to avoid a situation like last year, when the system collapsed and the Town Hall was forced to hire a company “at significant cost as it was totally unforeseen”.

Source: Sur in English, May 28th to June 3rd 2010.