Altea urbanisations on crime watch

By Tom Cain
THE ‘VECINOS Cooperando’ initiative, the equivalent of the UK Neighbourhood Watch scheme, which was recently launched in Altea, is reaping huge benefits as more and more people and urbanisations sign up.

Last week 11 separate urbanisations joined the scheme following talks with security councillor Patricia Mora and local police chief Herminio Navarro.

The 11 urbanisations are Jardines de Alhama, Alhama Springs, El Paradiso, Las Mimosas, Sierra Altea I and II, Sierra Golf, Urlisa I and II, Galera de las Palmeras and Altea la Nova.

Sr Navarro said that the scheme was launched in June with the intention of creating a communications network that allowed residents to work with the security forces and at the same time with each other.
He added that residents observe and detect then inform the authorities about anything they consider to be suspicious.

A council spokesman said that the response from the urbanisations has been tremendous and in the coming months it is expected that many more will join the scheme.

Security councillor Patricia Mora said that anyone who is interested in the scheme can get more information from the local police station in Villa Gadea or from the town hall.

tcain@cbnews.es

Pedreguer residents demand improvements and maintenance

By Nikki Luxford
RESIDENTS of Monte Solana in Pedreguer are escalating their battle with the town hall to have their urbanisation improved and maintained.

The 200-home urbanisation is home to residents of many nationalities including English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Mexican and Colombian, yet since it was signed over to the town hall, maintenance and safety issues have been ignored.

Costa Blanca News spoke to the spokesperson of the Residents’ Association of Monte Solana (RAMS), Richard Levy, who took us on a tour of the run-down urbanisation.

He explained: “When the constructors began their work here, the town hall did not take a bond from them in case they didn't finish the site, as per specifications. Now we have umpteen issues to contend with and the town hall is failing to do its job.”

Residents have filed more than 15 complaints against the town hall and have not received a single response.

They have had meetings with the mayor and public works and services councillor and have written a letter attaching all the names, addresses and NIE numbers of residents to explain the problems and distress being caused, yet nobody has responded.

Mr Levy said: “When the political party came round wanting our votes, they said that they would sort out the urbanisation and there wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately they have failed to keep their promises.
“We pay our taxes, which have increased from 50 euros to 80 euros, yet the town hall does not provide the level of services required by law.”

SAFETY HAZARDS

Mr Levy pointed out to CBN the safety issues that residents want resolved. First, the bridge crossing the river at one of the entrances of the urbanisation has no safety rails which, especially during the rainy season, proves hazardous for cars. Also there are no pavements or fencing on the side of the roads, which have a steep drop.

There are also street lights throughout the urbanisation that do not work. Some have been damaged and cables lie openly for anyone to touch; these pose a fire and safety hazard.

Mr Levy said: “Not only are the cables a fire risk, without the lights there is a lack of security during the night. They have put around 10 new lights at the entrance so it looks welcoming and that is it.”

Another fire hazard that residents have noticed is the piles of fire wood and shrubbery lying at the side of the roads. The town hall contracted gardeners to clear the shrubs and grass, yet they failed to take the cut-down wood away.

RAMS made the town hall and fire chief aware of this problem, and while CBN was on site workers turned up at 10.50 to start clearing away the cut-offs.

RAMS spokesperson said: “I have been to see the fire chief, Pepe Malcheron, who came up to the site to witness first-hand the fire hazards.

“He agreed that the garden waste left on the side of the road and the easy access to cables and streets lights were fire hazards and should be sorted out as soon as possible.
“He also mentioned he was unsure whether the front arch entrance was too low to allow fire trucks to enter and failed to find the obligatory fire hydrants for fire engine hose pipes. He said it was a disgrace.”
The local police also visited the site, and due to the bad condition of several roads, do not patrol certain areas.

Residents are annoyed at this and want the roads to be repaired as already two cars have broken their front axels costing more than 1,000 euros.

As residents continue their fight, they have said that they deserve their urbanisation to be repaired as they are taxpayers and the town hall has a duty.

They said: “We owners and residents here are paying money and all we want to know, and see, is where our money is going.”

One resident said: “We have seen that they are extending the cemetery in Pedreguer which is great. But why not do something for the living?”

RAMS have been in contact with the Guardia Civil, as they feel that their last solution will be a march through the town if the town hall does not take notice of their letters or the media involvement.

The RAMS spokesperson told us: “When I went to the Guardia Civil they told me they understood our problems.”

Residents have expressed that they want to be part of the village yet the problems they are experiencing are affecting them and their property investments.

At the time of going to press, the public works councillor was unavailable to comment.