Mijas property

Mijas steps up controls over roadside billboards

Andrew Belles — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:22:26 +0000

One of the first measures adopted by the new mayor angel Nozal when he took over the Mijas Town Hall was to crack down on the growing number of advertising billboards which in some places damaged the image of the municipality offers to tourists. The majority of the 600 billboards counted had no licence, not even on municipal land. Immediately steps were taken to remove the advertising on public land and to initiate action against those on private lands but with no licence.

The results are clear: in the last four months around a hundred billboards have been taken down, putting an end to what Nozal described as a “barbarity committed against the landscape of Mijas”.

To control the situation even further the local council voted at the end of the last week to award contract to manage the hoardings permitted on municipal land.

The selected firm will have the right to sell advertising on a maximum of 80 billboards (these will be smaller than the traditional size) in exchange for an annual fee of 150,000 euros. Ten per cent of these supports, however, will be reserved for Town Hall use for municipal information.

The contract also comes with the obligation to install 400 litter bins in the municipality.

Source: Sur in English

Mijas to save over 2 million euros be recycling

Andrew Belles — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:46:24 +0000

Mijas Town Hall is starting a campaign to encourage residents to recycle more household waste in a bid to save over 2 million euros a year of Town Hall funds. The new Mayor, Ángel Nozal, who has made it a mission to cut municipal costs, confirms that by separating waste and depositing it correctly in the various recycling containers located throughout the municipality, the Town Hall could save considerable sum when the waste is treated.

Currently rubbish produced in Mijas is taken to a plant in the Entrerríos area which charges the local administration per tonne of waste that is treated. However, by separating the organic waste from glass, paper and plastics, the costs would be reduced.

In addition to the advantages for the environment and municipal coffers, the Town Hall says the campaign will be run by the long-term unemployed and young people who are looking for work.

Endesa and irregular homes

Andrew Belles — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:15:30 +0000

The electricity company, Endesa, has been sending out letters to the owners of ‘irregular properties with temporary electricity metres. The letter states that the Mijas property owners have 30 days to present documentation to the Mijas Town Hall on the legality of their property or their supply could be affected.

The Mijas Town Hall has reacted by asking Endesa to withdraw this current policy until the process of legalisation of such properties is complete. The New Councillor for Town Planning, Manuel Navarro has stated that “the owners of these homes are victims of a bad municipal system and shouldn’t have to pay the consequences,”. It was recently announced that a new office is to open in Mijas Pueblo dedicated to fixing the ‘irregular’ housing problem.

Mijas to set up dedicated office for irregular homes

Andrew Belles — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:34:40 +0000

The local administration in Mijas has announced that it will be opening an office to deal specifically with the problem of buildings which have fallen foul of town planning regulations and are now considered to be “irregular”. The office will be in Mijas Pueblo, though not in the Town Hall itself, and will be staffed by legal and administrative experts whose mission will be to create a framework for changes in the law and to carry out any procedures needed to enable property owners to legalise their homes.

Announcing the decision to open this office, Town Planning Councillor Manuel Navarro said that it would be given two years to create the necessary legal framework and to propose changes which need to be made the PGOU (Urban Development Plan) with regard to land not zoned for construction. Once that is done, “it could start the procedure to legalise individual properties.”

The local government’s idea is that all owners who want to legalise their properties should pay whatever tax is due “just like owners who bought apartments in Las Lagunas have done, because the price includes part of the cost of urbanisations or of permits”.

The Town Hall also intends to hold meetings in July with the Planning and Environment delegates from the regional government, the Junta de Andalucía, to try and reach an agreement which would accelerate the process. According to Navarro, the Town Hall is hopeful that it will obtain the support of the regional government, “as we are not trying to make a profit, just solve a problem”.

The council s also considering presenting a motion, before the end of July, proposing the suspension of all disciplinary actions against the owners of irregular properties.

Source: Sur in English June 24th to 30th, Author: Mari Carmen Jaime

The Pueblo is to be beautified

Andrew Belles — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:30:29 +0000

The recently elected Partido Popular, who now leads the Mijas council, have announced that the Town Hall is to launch a series of measures under a new “embellishment plan” to improve the look of the historic and popular white village.

The new Mayor, Ángel Nozal, said at a recent press conference: “Mijas Pueblo is the tourist jewel of the municipality of Mijas and we must make an effort for the impending summer season.”

Removing cables on the facades of buildings, improving the landscaping and remodelling Plaza Virgen de la Peña will be the first tasks, according to the Town Hall. Not only should this beautify the town for the impending holiday season, but should also lead to an increase in the value and demand for properties in Mijas Pueblo.

Irregular homes main priority

Andrew Belles — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:47:37 +0000

According to sources, Mijas new Town Planning Councillor initial focus will be on the development of the municipality’s new business park and finding a solution to the irregular houses, that although built illegally were bought in good faith.

The Mijas quarry has been restored

Andrew Belles — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:49:19 +0000

Having been operation since 1914, the El Puerto Quarry has finally closed in Mijas Pueblo. Sando, the company formerly responsible for the quarry has confirmed the “full restoration and reforestation” of the 170,000 square metre plot and has handed it to the Town Hall.

The process to restore El Puerto began in 2000, shortly after the firm took over its management, despite extractions still taking place simultaneously until earlier this year.

On the 170,000 square metre plot, it has been confirmed that some 4,700 trees and 10,000 shrubs and bushes have been planted, consisting of mostly native species including Aleppo Pines. Additionally to help increase the biodiversity of the area, two wetlands have also been created with the intention of encouraging amphibians to breed. Furthermore a 9,000 metre running track, a football pitch and a basketball court have been created, plus two kilometres of hiking trails and three viewing platforms.

Not only is Mijas Pueblo gaining a park that should help boost the quality of life in the surrounding area, but Mijas Pueblo will no longer be plagued by dust from the quarry and the infrastructure damage from the lorries continuously using the roads. All of this has been welcomed by those living nearby.

Pay dispute halts widening of Mijas – Fuengirola road

Andrew Belles — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:21:11 +0000

In recent days, works on the busy one kilometre stretch of the Mijas-Fuengirola road near the A-7 exit have come to a stop.

According to the trade union Comisions Obreras de Malaga, workers on the site have downed tolls following the contractor, Profasán’s, “liquidity problems” which has resulted in their members not having been paid their full salary in several months.

The A-387, which joins Mijas and Fuengirola, is used by more than 40,000 people each day. Since the project began and a bridge was removed, drivers heading to Mijas from Fuengirola have had to use a diversion through the El Lagarejo urbanisation; while those heading to Fuengirola from Mijas currently need to get on the A-7 motorway to access the town centre. Not only is it inconvenient, but could get even worse as the summer approaches. It is hoped that the Fuengirola and Mijas town halls will be able to help settle the matter.

No “promised” car parks for Las Lagunas, confirms Town Hall

Andrew Belles — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:20:02 +0000

Many car-owning residents in Las Lagunas, Mijas Costa, have started the New Year with a sense of disappointment following the news that the Town Hall will now not be constructing the promised underground car parks in the area.

“There were large posters in and around Las Lagunas ‘flagging-up’ the much-needed extra spaces,” says resident Ken Pritchard. “Now it’s been confirmed that the plans have been scrapped.”

A press release from the Mijas Town Hall says, “According to studies by official bodies, parts of Las Lagunas have up to 40 percent more free parking spaces than other municipalities on the Costa del Sol.” It added that 50 percent of Mijas residents are “sure to find a space for their car within 100 metres from their homes.”

Helen Kennedy who has lived in Las Lagunas for several years is not convinced by the Town Hall’s statistics. “Parking is a nightmare around here. I have to drive around and around after work to try and find a space and I often end up a good ten minutes’ walk away. It makes going to the supermarket a bit of a challenge, especially for older people who need to carry heavy shopping bags from their cars to their homes,” she says.

The Partido Popular, the opposition party in Mijas, describe the decision as “political impudence.”

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

Indigenous species return to Mijas Costa

Andrew Belles — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:49:13 +0000

A project has been completed to return several beaches of Mijas to their “natural state” with the planting of many indigenous species of fauna found in the Mediterranean forests and the removal of non-native plants.

Working in an area of El Chapparal covering 5,600 square metres, the Town Hall’s Environmental workers and a team from the eco-research group, Aula del Mar, removed 35 tonnes of foreign plants and sent them for composting nearby. Over the course of 18 months, more than 500 volunteers have planted more than 2,000 native trees and shrubs with the aim of “improving and conserving biodiversity in Mijas.”

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