Motorists rights downgraded

Motoring may become a little more expensive in 2010 thanks to new regulations that the government are pushing unopposed though Parliament.

The Partido Popular is in complete disagreement with the new proposed laws, as are motoring groups and National Newspapers. The PP abstained from voting against the legislation in principle while El Pias newspaper has said that the plans “make it easier to pay fines, but do nothing for driver’s rights’.

In essence, the PSOE are advocating not giving out points for wrong doers but offering them an opportunity to pay fines or sit classes, to regain points lost! This is completely different as to what other law enforcement agencies have been working towards around Europe. From Spring 2010, drivers can be given a ticket for travelling at just one kilometre per hour over the speed limit! The fine, €100, or €50 if you pay on the spot or within 15-days. No longer shall you have that 10-kph leeway! It’s not until you are travelling at 30-kph over the speed limit that you are liable for points, unless you are driving carelessly or dangerously. (so - got 50 to burn, just drive at 29 kph over the limit most of the time and more or less disregard the speed limit!). 

Motoring journalists, RACE and the PP have pointed out that one might as well drive at 30-kph over the speed limit, if one is willing to drive at just one-kph over! The PSOE have not commented on that one! There shall also be more Speed cameras placed on the AP7 this summer, especially north of Alicante to and from Benidorm plus new unmarked ‘Q’ cars video taping your activities; especially if you are using a mobile phone, programming a Sat Nav device, driving without due care and attention or have an ‘unsafe load’ onboard, including pets or shopping, which can be launched forward and cause injury in case of an accident. At present there are six Mercedes ‘Q’ cars in operation in Madrid. 

As a motorist this seems like nothing more than a get rich quick scheme from the PSOE Government. They have dragged their heels on allowing EU residents to drive on their own country's driving licenses, introduced new legislation regarding booster seats for all those under five foot tall, had to reluctantly say that all motorists no longer have to carry extra bulbs in their cars (what happens if you have a sealed beam or gas unit!) and no one seems to know what documents one has to carry in the car! Remember, guilty until proved innocent! 

Money raised from fines in to go towards road safety. Maybe by putting crash barriers in place that don't kill motor cyclists on impact or allow a car to run directly into a drainage ditch, might be a better place to start!. Just IMHO. 

You’ve now been warned. Happy motoring!

Keith Nicol

Torrevieja's Walking Tours for summer 2009

Many residents and visitors to Torrevieja are missing out on discovering more about the city just because many of the sights are too close to home.

One passes them frequently, always promising oneself to one-day find out more about what’s behind those closed doors or in many cases, open but what might seem to be, uninviting ones! Now is your chance. No more excuses as Torrevieja is offering complimentary walking tours of the City Centre every Tuesday and Thursday though to September 15th, 2009. 

As more and more of Torrevieja is landscaped and made more accessible to pedestrians it’s now easier than ever to safely walk the streets and with the assistance of two qualified tour guides, now is your opportunity. The tours are given in both Spanish and English and available for groups of up to 20 (please book ahead of time), families and individuals to join in. There are three tours each day, at 0900, 1100 and 1700 hrs and up to twenty people can participate.

Each tour lasts around one hour forty-five minutes and on route you’ll discover many of Torrevieja’s hidden sights, the history of salt, shipbuilding, music and culture, plus a lot more. To book your place on a tour, or to organise a group, please phone 666 579 949 for more information.  Don’t forget to wear a hat, some comfortable shoes, bring some water, and your camera. 

Munroe’s Rock fest kicks off a season of Summer events

It may have taken them 20-years but it was better later than never for brothers Nigel and Neil, as the owners of Munroe’s organised their 20^th Anniversary Rock Fest on Saturday. This eleven hour festival attracted, as expected, the local fans of punk, Goth and heavy metal but families, friends and music lovers turned up too to see what all of the fuss was about. In the end, a well organised and trouble free day was had by one and all with calls to put on a 21^st Anniversary festival already being requested. 

And hot on the heals of Rock Fest, two more festivals have just been announced, both just across the border on the Oriheula Costa. The first of these is being promoted by ECO, Empresarios Costa de Orihuela, who have been granted approval from the Ayuntamiento de Orihuiela for the first ever Summer Festival to be held on the Orihuela-Costa. The event will take place on 4th and 5th Jul 2009. Further details are available by calling the ECO office on 96 673 0056.

On what many of us still think of as the August Bank Holiday weekend (29^th & 30^th), Party of the Park shall be back at Asturias, with a full range of fun activities, groups, artists and activities being planned as “the big summer event for all of the family”. For more information or to register your interest in being part of the event, please contact 636 120 144.

Just two of the many events that shall be added to the local calendar for residents and visitors to plan for, this summer.

The wedding season is upon us

June sees the start of the wedding season on the coast, where really only the mad Irish and Brits even consider having their wedding or blessing in the mid summer months of July and August. 

As one of the few companies who provide both Photography and Video services, things are picking up for the season, with September already booking up quickly. Fortunately we have a good team of videographers and photographers to choose from, but if you are thinking of having your celebration here in Spain, please don't leave it too late!

Torrevieja’s new Catamaran attraction

Torrevieja shall have a brand new tourist attraction in the shape of a modern Catamaran  from tour company 'Mundomarina’ for the summer of 2009. The ‘Cat’ shall be sailing out of the new Marina Salinas every Tuesday and Wednesday, from 23rd June to 31st August.

There are a number of different excursions on offer, including trips to and around the island of Tabarca, snorkelling excursions, sailing trips plus their ‘sunset’ sail. They offer three trips per day; the morning sail leaves port at 10.30 returning at 1400, afternoons from 1700-1900 and the sunset sail from 2000 returning to port at 2200.

The Catamaran is a very modern design, 24m x 10m, with a capacity for up to 100 guests. She is equipped with a bar, catering service, music, solarium, bathrooms, a shaded zone, showers plus snorkelling and water equipment. Most importantly she has a fully trained and qualified crew and holds all safety licences to cruise around the Mediterranean coast.

More information or bookings can be made by calling 966 423 066. 

Torrevieja’s new Catamaran attraction

Torrevieja shall have a brand new tourist attraction in the shape of a modern Catamaran  from tour company 'Mundomarina’ for the summer of 2009. The ‘Cat’ shall be sailing out of the new Marina Salinas every Tuesday and Wednesday, from 23rd June to 31st August.

There are a number of different excursions on offer, including trips to and around the island of Tabarca, snorkelling excursions, sailing trips plus their ‘sunset’ sail. They offer three trips per day; the morning sail leaves port at 10.30 returning at 1400, afternoons from 1700-1900 and the sunset sail from 2000 returning to port at 2200.

The Catamaran is a very modern design, 24m x 10m, with a capacity for up to 100 guests. She is equipped with a bar, catering service, music, solarium, bathrooms, a shaded zone, showers plus snorkelling and water equipment. Most importantly she has a fully trained and qualified crew and holds all safety licences to cruise around the Mediterranean coast.

More information or bookings can be made by calling 966 423 066. 

Work on Torrevieja’s Desalination Plant ceases for the Summer.

Torrevieja’s Town Hall has announced that work on Europe’s largest Desalination Plant will halt at the end of the June; to help reduce road congestion on the N332 and so as not to inconvenience visitors during the busy summer months.

Although the plant itself is almost complete, there has been much controversy over the route and disruption that shall be caused by the laying of the double pipelines from the centre, through the southern part of Torrevieja and into the Muelle de la Sal. Work will stop until September 15^th, when schools reopen and the last Spanish tourists have returned home.

AcuaMed, the company responsible for building the plant shall now not be able to meet their proposed finalization date of September 1^st. The Torrevieja desalination plant will be the second largest in the world and the largest in Europe, when completed, at a cost of over €300 million euros.

This is the second time that AcuaMed have changed their completion date as back in May 2007 Adrián Baltanás, the general director of Acuamed announced that the plant would be fully operational and producing enough water to provide 2.4 million people and 64,000 farms with purified water by September 2008!

Torrevieja’s May Fair a great success despite the weather

Outside of Andalucia, the next largest fair of its kind is the four-day event staged in Torrevieja, which this year attracted thousands of tourists and residents.  The inauguration was performed by Torrevieja’s Councilor for Culture, Eduardo Dolon  followed by the Choir and Orchestra Salinas de Torrevieja “Maestro Ricardo Lafuente”, directed by Manuel Martínez Guirao, a spectacular firework display and entertainment from Local Dance School Agustina Esteve.

Throughout the four days, visitors danced ‘sevillanas’, wined and dined in the ‘casetas’ and were entertained each evening; on Thursday by the flamenco artist El Arrebato and Friday by Grupo de Baile Paya’s Dance School, Lola Morales plus a concert by the choir Coro Alba Rociera.

Saturday was a special occasion due to this also being European Day however afternoon rain curtailed some of the activities but not before a ‘Rociera’ Mass sung by the choir Coro Alba Rociera was performed at the Inmaculada’s Church and the rain stayed off just long enough for visitors to see the horsemanship of the riders and drivers travelling through the streets and within the fairgrounds.

The main attraction on Saturday evening was from Antón Moreno, who blended flamenco with jazz, swing and standards, much to the delight of the thousand or more people in attendance. The fair closed on Sunday with yet another fireworks display and promises of an even bigger and better event for 2010 when the location shall shift to a new location beside the water park.