Alhaurín el Grande has taken an important step forward in terms of accessibility with the completion of the work on its town hall As explained by works councillor Teresa Sánchez; the municipal architect Guillermo Ordóñez; and the coordinator of the public works department the actions have made it possible to create a space that is "more accessible Among the most notable interventions are the installation of a new ramp that bridges the great difference in level the incorporation of an adapted lift that connects the two floors of the building and the elimination of architectural barriers on the first floor The layout of the customer service areas has also been optimised and all the access doors have been adapted to comply with current regulations for people with reduced mobility The council has stressed that the aim of these actions is to "guarantee that all residents regardless of their mobility or circumstances The inauguration ceremony brought together hundreds of local residents accompanied by the territorial delegate for justice Both were in charge of unveiling a commemorative plaque on the façade of the building The event also served to pay tribute to the democratic history of the municipality in a ceremony led by the second deputy mayor Official medals were presented to members of the current municipal authority while an emotional tribute was paid to former councillors and mayors who have contributed to the progress of Alhaurín el Grande since the democratic transition of 1979 until today José Aragón and Gonzalo Torres were especially remembered as well as former mayors Antonio Solano Rueda and José Ortega Pérez the oldest living mayor of the municipality who gave a speech full of emotion and memory highlighting the value of public service and the importance of political commitment he presented a commemorative plaque to the current mayor Anthony Bermúdez took the floor to thank all the councillors and mayors for their dedication and commitment to the municipality: "Thank you for the sacrifice for the common good for making a commitment to society and for loving Alhaurín el Grande so much" Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain After being put back a couple of weeks due to the threats of heavy rains the Fiesta de Cachorreñas has been rescheduled for Saturday For those daring to delve into the real Andalucía and take a bite of the most authentic of their surroundings there will be a delectable delight in Alhaurín el Grande According to Ana Abelleán Ciudad, the pre-eminent expert on the historic cuisine of the Malaga province, there is nothing more Alhaurín than Las Cachorreñas a savoury dish with a centuries-old recipe and surely one of the secrets behind the longevity of its citizens the elders of Alhaurín el Grande will go head to head in a competition to discover the best Cachorreñas cook Expect plenty of free cachorreñas, and mojete (typical bread from the village), ham and wine tasting, a food market specialising in produce from the Guadalhorce Valley and flamenco shows The Fiesta de la Cachorreña is talking place in now Plaza Baja Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish The council of Alhaurín el Grande is currently offering four fascinating and free bilingual guided tours of the Guardalhorce town in Spanish and English The free tours need no preregistration and run from Monday to Fridays throughout October 2024 The morning walking tours will be a fantastic way for Alhaurín natives and newbies to meet and learn some fascinating facts about their surroundings is a tour of the beautiful twisting streets of the Casco Viejo (Old Town) This writer particularly recommends taking a bottle of water after a delicious light breakfast at Panadería Carnero The tour takes in the picturesque Pueblo Blanco streets and some monuments of note along with stories and anecdotes most have never heard before The next one starts at 11am in Parque de la Arquilla del Agua at the top of the hill next to El Rincón restaurant ‘La ruta del agua y la artesanía’ (or the water and crafts route) traces the importance of tradition and water supply in the town A breakfast of churros beforehand at Bar Gali should give you enough energy for this outing The fourth free guided tour on offer meets at the Aperos de Labranza room at the wholesale market on the Cártama road opposite the Repsol garage The guided tour starts every day at 12pm and discusses the customs and traditions of Alhaurín el Grande as well as a chance of picking up some fruit and veg along the way Although the episode of rain and storms in Malaga seems to be coming to an end for now this last day of rainfall has left an afternoon of thunderstorms and hail in several parts of the province The most significant hailstorm so far was Alhaurín el Grande early this Tuesday afternoon The storm has left striking images of streets covered in a layer of white and hail hitting cars Social media has been filled with messages from local residents shocked by the unexpected hail Although the image in Alhaurín el Grande has been unprecedented hail has reached other parts of the province and also the city National weather agency Aemet has extended the yellow warning for heavy rain and hail to include Malaga city and Guadalhorce for accumulated rainfall of up to 15 mm per hour this Tuesday evening there will be a delectable delight in Alhaurín el Grande the coming weekend the pre-eminent expert on the historic cuisine of the Malaga province there is nothing more Alhaurín than Las Cachorreñas a savoury dish inspired by the age of the Moors and passed onto the folks of southern Andalucía Still today it is a staple in this Guadalhorce village – and surely one of the secrets behind the longevity of its citizens A simple dish made of potatoes, onion, garlic, tomatoes, squished oranges and salted cod. As with all the simplest of recipes, the art is in the preparation. On Saturday, March 22, the elders of Alhaurín el Grande will go head to head in a competition to uncover the best Cachorreñas cook in the land and mojete (typical bread from the village) a food market specialising in produce from the Guadalhorce Valley and flamenco shows The Fiesta de la cachorreña is talking place in Plaza Baja, Alhaurín el Grande on Saturday The Fiesta de Cachorreñas in Alhaurín el Grande was put back until Saturday the grapevine works more efficiently than such new fangled forms of communication like the ‘Internet’ Continuing to grow as an outstanding location for cultural experiences the Antonio Gala theatre in Alhaurín el Grande is to host two ballets for all the family from the Ballet Premiera of Ukraine: Snow White and Romeo and Juliet This will be the ballet company’s first trip to Spain The group counts on 33 dancers and has already given over 600 performances around the world with their colourful costumes the Ballet Premiera of Ukraine presents their interpretation of Romeo and Juliet giving an ideal excuse to introduce the young ones to the world of classical ballet while at the same time presenting an opportunity for parents and kids to spend an evening together and enjoy the same entertainment Tickets are already on sale for the concerts from the following sites at a price of €24.90. Alternatively, there is also a website to purchase tickets at giglon.com A 90-year-old British woman and her 63-year-old son have been found dead at their home in the town of Alhaurín el Grande in the Guardalhorce Valley So far, everything points to the both of them having died of natural causes. It is thought that the son died first, leaving his mother, who was dependent on him, to perish of starvation afterwards. A police investigation is underway to discover precisely what happened Both bodies were discovered in their home on Thursday February 13 after Social Services raised the alarm with local police after not having heard from the family for several days Local police are said to have been called on previous occasions to check up on the mother and son Social services had also visited the mother several days previous to assist the elderly woman who was already in a terminal condition it has been difficult to assess which of the two had died first The hypothesis that investigators are going on is that the son suffered a fatal heart attack already in a fragile state and unable to move passed away due to not having the care of her son The Guardia Civil is investigating the matter and have taken the bodies of the two to from Alhaurín el Grande to  Malaga for autopsies to be carried out Alhaurín el Grande is planning to recover ownership over its emblematic castle Originally constructed in the 1990s as a bit of fun with the practical use of storing and providing water to a new urbanisation that was never given the go-ahead the construction of the Moorish castle form was never completed due to the lack of legal licences atop a hillside and visible from most places in the Guardalhorce valley has become one of the most instantly familiar landmarks in the area and is now lovingly referred to as ‘El Castillo’ by all the residents of Alhaurín The current council of Alhaurín el Grande under the leadership of mayor Anthony Bermúdez has decided to finally deal with the site and has undertaken a series of administrative moves to reacquire part of the land from Finca la Mota the part with the faux castle / water tower Given the interest this new Alhaurín administration has in the iconic structure after previous councils had left it to crumble it seems there are plans afoot to turn the site into a space to be enjoyed by local residents while maintaining its emblematic status as ‘Alhaurín’s castle’ Spanish registry of historical monuments reference RI-51-0011262 It’s planed to be one of 5 towers and to serve as dales Netball is starting to take off in southern Spain and Sierra Stars Netball Club in Alhaurín el Grande is looking for new players they’ve just been recognised by the Asociación de Netball España and played their first game on Sunday A team made up of women between 14 and 70 with the support of the local town hall At the moment, there are only a handful of netball clubs along the south coast but they are hoping to build interest as well as build a community of fun players no matter what the level of fitness or skill level It’s the only netball club in the Guadalhorce Valley Wolfmen MC in Alhaurín el Grande on Saturday Ready to blow the roof off one more time at this real bikers lodge The Rob Sas Band returns to Alhaurín el Grande with a setlist of the best in classic rock numbers from ACDC to Zeppelin and ZZ Top to Sabbath is no doubt the most experienced on the Costa del Sol scene He has played with a plethora of greats including Steve Priest and Mick Tucker of The Sweet and ‘Hud’ Hudson of the Strawbs The accomplished Rob Sas repertoire is not only limited to the explosive riffs of heavy rock He has also worked with the Soul Survivors and backed Clem Curtis of The Foundations and with Jamaican soul singer Jimmy James and The Vagabonds composed of local well-known local musicians David Gil (vocals) are all seasoned musicians on the Costa del Sol The Stratocaster-wielding Sas returns to Wolfmen MC in Calle Cuesta de Marzo Salon Vikingos opened a little more than 3 years ago in the country village of Alhaurín el Grande and instantly raised the bar among restaurants in the area The pair who took on a greasy spoon and then curated a culinary diamond have enjoyed so much success they are now ready to move to far bigger premises Apart from the charm of the narrow corner building on the village’s main square is as visually creative as it is worthy of a Michelin mention Owners Tim and Gary are one of eatery’s the main draws It is rare to find such warmth and authentic dedication to the customer experience as one does in Salon Vikingos And that’s exactly what has led them to become so successful Whether those living locally or those simply holidaying Consistently 5-star reviews on Google and 5 points on Tripadvisor the Salon Vikingos varying menu which offers up visually stunning dishes with the freshest and highest-quality ingredients who had travelled the world and stayed in the best hotels knew exactly what was missing in Alhaurín when they took on a greasy spoon café and transformed it into the best restaurant in town Now, due to their popularity, they are about to embark on a far more ambitious project in Calle Gerald Brenan Their 120-diner pre-opening night for New Year’s Eve was booked out in just 3 days The full opening is hoped to be in early January 2025 Tim and Gary will always be Vikingos to us Learn more about Alhaurín el Grande Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article Local law enforcement found their bodies after being requested to perform a welfare check They had to forcibly enter the property in Alhaurin el Grande a half-hour drive inland from the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola Post-mortem examinations have been conducted Civil Guard officers investigating the case have concluded that both deaths were due to natural causes with no evidence suggesting they were victims of a crime Police had to force their way in (stock)(Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)The British pair were known to local social services and town hall employees raised concerns days after an ambulance was called to their home to aid the unnamed woman Her son is believed to have been her registered carer though it remains unclear whether he also had health issues two British pensioners were found deceased at their Costa Blanca residence Firefighters found the bodies of the man and woman described by police sources as friends living together at their home near the small town of San Fulgencio Investigations are ongoing(Image: Stoke Sentinel)Local council social services staff had raised concerns There were no signs of violence at the scene and a subsequent post-mortem supported the theory that the pair died of natural causes Both are believed to have suffered chronic illnesses and had been categorised by social services as "vulnerable" The area where they were living is on a residential estate which is extremely popular with foreign pensioners For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. The new dog park in Alhaurín el Grande is getting closer to becoming a reality The town hall has given the green light to the project for this facility which will be located next to the Parque de la Libertad and will cover an area of 2,000 metres This space will be specially designed for the enjoyment of pets and their owners and will offer amenities such as shaded areas water points and a specific area designated for dogs to do their business (pipican area) The cost of this infrastructure will be 80,000 euros an investment that will be financed by both the local council and the Guadalhorce valley rural development group The site of the dog park will be equipped with adequate lighting and drinking water which will enhance the experience for both the animals and the owners who use it the entire enclosure will be fenced to ensure the safety of the dogs as they play and run free An important feature of the park will be the subdivision of the space which will allow dogs to be separated according to their size and build facilitating safer coexistence between different types of pets who is the main driving force behind this project has underlined the importance of having the collaboration of the animal welfare associations of Alhaurín el Grande These organisations will actively participate in the design of the park ensuring that all the needs of both human and canine users are met the participation of these associations is key to ensuring that the park is "fully adapted" to current requirements and demands The council said that the start of work will depend largely on weather conditions but it is estimated that the project will take between three and four months to complete Although the works are subject to unforeseen weather conditions the team in charge of the project has indicated that it is a "very non-aggressive" project This environmentally friendly approach will allow the park to maintain a natural and pleasant appearance for both users and local residents The project has been designed with the aim of creating an open area where dogs can enjoy freedom in a safe and controlled environment while respecting the tranquillity of the neighbourhood It is hoped that this new park will become a meeting place for animal lovers promoting the coexistence and well-being of both pets and their owners Gerald Brenan is probably one of the most famous British names associated with Malaga province There are monuments and streets named after the British writer and hispanist but probably the most important landmark is Casa Gerald Brenan In Malaga province there is also a secondary school in Alhaurín de la Torre (IES Gerald Brenan) Alhaurín de la Torre and Colmenar as well as an avenue in the new 'Sup-T 12' area to the west of Torre del Mar Alhaurín el Grande has also been hosting an international short story competition named after the writer for 20 years The house where he stayed in Yegen is also a museum named after him Brenan first came to Spain in 1919 after the First World War and initially settled in the tiny village of Yegen in Granada province's Alpujarra which was also made into a film in Spanish (Al Sur de Granada) in 2003 including the English painter Dora Carrington and writer Lytton Strachey His other books about Spain include The Spanish Labyrinth and The Face of Spain Brenan married American poet Gamel Woolsey in 1931 and during Spain's Civil War the couple returned to England They came back in 1958 and settled this time in Churriana in Malaga They stayed there until Woolsey's death in 1968 and the writer moved to Alhaurín el Grande where he lived until his death Brenan died at his home in Alhaurín el Grande aged 92 on 19 January 1987 His body was taken to the University of Malaga to be used for research at his own request famously telling a friend that it would save on funeral costs He was eventually buried in the English Cemetery in Malaga city alongside Woolsey in 2001 Police have arrested a gang allegedly responsible for a shooting at a family home in Alhaurín el Grande on 13 June Two people allegedly approached the home on Calle Vicente Aleixandre about 6.30pm and rang the doorbell A man opened the door and three shots were allegedly fired at him - two bullets hit him in the leg and a third in the ankle it was not only the man who was injured in the shooting barged into the house and stole a safe while threatening to kill both the man's wife and daughter Investigators believe the shooting was a settling of scores between gangs police detected a gang made up of five individuals of Dutch who went unnoticed as tourists and lived in Manilva They were using false documents and were involved in settling scores by order and drug trafficking Two of the gang members were located on an estate in Manilva one of them having a search and arrest warrant issued by Interpol for other countries in the European Union Guardia Civil searched the house and arrested three other people in collaboration with Marbella Local Police two other members of the gang were arrested with cash and another luxury watch also seized A new 725,000-euro water park has opened to the public this Monday (1 July) in the Malaga province town of Alhaurín el Grande The new attraction is located in the northern area of the municipal sports centre and boasts 14 different play areas to create lots of splashing fun it could not be used due to a lack of required documentation there are a series of requirements to be met not only is it enough to get the health authorities to approve the facility but also other equally essential requirements which we didn't have last summer and which we have been able to meet this year," councillor Sergio Rodríguez said The park needed to have a Legionella prevention plan (PPCL) a document that must be certified by an approved company the new attraction will be open during the months of July and August from Monday to Friday 10am until 2pm and in the afternoons from 5.30-8.30pm the aquatic facility will be open from 9.30am to 1.30pm "The failure to open the water park earlier was not a whim of the local government team it is an accumulation of mistakes on the part of those who did not hand over the facility with the regulations in force to open a facility like this to the public where there will be children," added the councillor Children under the age of eight must be supervised by an adult at all times at the park It is also forbidden to take glass objects into the play area Skateboards are not allowed and clothing and footwear must be suitable for the facility A 71-year-old British man has died after being rescued from the floods in Campanillas the president of the Junto de Andalucía announced He passed away in hospital suffering from hypothermia and several cardiac arrests after being rescued from flood waters The man whose home was is Alhaurín de la Torre in Malaga has yet to be named The rainstorms that swept Spain hit the Valencia, Castilla la Mancha, and Malaga regions particularly hard, claiming, according to current figures, almost 100 deaths As Spain enters three days of official national mourning there will be a minute of silence observed on Thursday out of respect for all those who tragically lost their lives as a result of the flooding The minute of silence will take place at exactly 12 midday where officials from the local council the mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre along with other officials from the council will hold their minute of silence in Plaza Alcalde Antonio Vega González Flooding again in the Costa del Sol from another DANA weather phenomena The heaviest began in the West of the region Casares and Estepona have been battered by hail storms leaving road surfaces extremely slippery as the latest DANA-strength weather system swept across the Costa del Sol causing havoc with traffic on the A7 and extremely treacherous conditions for those already trying to navigate to roads waterspouts (sea tornadoes) have been reported some roads are blocked by fast-flowing flooding around the area of Casares Such was the intensity of the first wave of the deluge there were torrents flowing like rivers through the streets of Alhaurín el Grande in the Guardalhorce Valley on the opposite side of the Sierra de Mijas mountains The fire service of Benalmadena is warning not to risk crossing flooded areas on foot or by vehicle and in case of your car being trapped in a flood if the level of the water rises above the middle of the wheel is was reported by numerous news sources on Thursday that the Malaga province had suffered the driest February since records began Intense rains are predicted to continue into Sunday and lighter rains into the beginning of the week and onto Wednesday The presence of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus has been detected in another three horses in Malaga province It comes after previous cases of the virus being registered in horses in Almargen and Antequera in the last fortnight According to the weekly report published by the Andalusian public health Service (SAS) the presence of West Nile virus has been detected in eight horses throughout Andalucía: one in Atarfe one in Pinos Puente and one in Valle del Zalabí one in Almargen and one in Alhaurín el Grande Jaén province; and one in the municipality of San José del Valle The virus has also been detected in two birds: an Egyptian vulture in Alcalá de los Gazules (Cadiz) and an Iberian imperial eagle in Almonte (Huelva) the regional ministry of health also reported on Monday a new case of West Nile virus in a human was confirmed this week in the Seville municipality of Dos Hermanas The person started to show symptoms at the start of July and was diagnosed in Catalonia In relation to the circulation of West Nile virus in the trapping stations of the regional ministry of health the real-time analyses carried out have detected the presence of West Nile virus only in the captures made in the first week of October in the municipality of Los Palacios y Villafranca in Seville A much loved British cartoonist known for his work with Fleet Street publications and hit children’s TV cartoons recently died peacefully at his home in Alhaurin el Grande Peter Maddocks loved drawing from childhood he received a scholarship to study at the Moseley School of Art the creator of the ‘Jane’ cartoon strip which was popular around that time he served in the Merchant Navy from 1943 until 1949 The cartoonist said that this period was an unforgettable experience which made him a man and gave him many ideas for storylines that he would later use in his work In 1954 he got his first big break creating the daily strip ‘Four D. Jones’ . The cartoon which related the tales of a time-travelling cowboy gained cult status and ran in the paper for ten years Peter later became one of the 20th century’s most prolific and respected Fleet Street cartoonists Although he earned a name for himself as a political satire newspaper cartoonist he later had great success creating cartoons for children they set up Maddocks Cartoons and had long-running TV hits with series such as The Family Ness Always a committed freelancer who preferred to spread himself over many projects and publications such as The Mr Men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Peter was asked to produce a cartoon strip for the newspaper SUR he began painting and became an active member of the local art scene His paintings have been exhibited in the Artsenal Inoxis Cultural Space and Art Gallery in Alhaurin al Grande Peter began working on producing ‘How to’ ebooks for would-be cartoonists including ‘How to Be a Cartoonist’ and the follow up ‘How to Be a Super Cartoonist’ both of which are still available in English and Spanish Peter died aged 96 after a short illness at his home in his beloved Alhaurin el Grande He will be sadly missed by his family and the many friends he made along the Costa del Sol The largest cache of laughing gas in Europe has been discovered inside a warehouse in Alhaurín el Grande has become fashionable along the Costa del Sol The Guardia Civil investigation started in February when officers became aware of the existence of a group of people dedicated to carrying out "illicit activities" in an industrial building in the La Rosa industrial estate in Alhaurín el Grande Investigators found the warehouse was being used to store laughing gas cylinders they observed numerous rental vehicles arriving at night they loaded the bottles of nitrous oxide into these vehicles and then distributed them to nightlife venues in coastal towns in Malaga province for use at parties 21,302 litres of laughing gas in bottles were seized it is the largest seizure of this type of substance in Europe Five people of different nationalities were arrested One of those arrested had numerous previous convictions for similar offences Another 15 zones will be deemed high flood-risk points in Malaga province following last week's devastating floods Six years of a lack of rain plunged the province into an extremely serious situation when the Dana weather event hit last week Despite the reservoirs receiving a much-needed top-up the excessive rain left some residents with nothing remaining especially in the Guadalhorce Valley (Álora Valle de Abdalajís or the Campanillas neighbourhood in Malaga city and is even worse than when the Tous dam burst (1982) have reforestation plans for the mountains and carry out cleaning and conditioning work on watercourses every season Any foresight is too little when the sky decides to unload 200mm in a few hours as in the case of this latest downpour in Malaga with the rainfall close to 600mm - a whole year's worth of rainfall in a single day The regional river basins authority is updating its flood risk map with another 15 areas being added in Malaga province This is the result of the third study of the preliminary flood risk assessment of the Hydrographic Demarcation of the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins hydrogeology and a host of scientific issues analysed The new zones are: in the western Costa Del Sol In the area of the Guadiaro in Benaoján and Guadalcobacín river; the Grande from the junction with the Guadiaro river to Rosalejo up to where it meets the Nacimiento stream the stream of El Pinar and the river Guadalhorce from Villanueva del Trabuco to La Higuerilla La Cueva river and the Arroyo de las Morenas are added as risk zones in the area around Benamargosa The latest update complies with the European Flood Directive and serves to detect and review Areas of Potential Significant Flood Risk (ARPSI) The study has considered possible flooding due to the sea: from the rise in sea level on the coast and its impact inland flooding caused by a possible tsunami or tidal wave is not considered to be applicable within the framework of this directive due to the low probability of it happening," according to the document The report also includes the possibility of flooding due to groundwater upwelling where warmer surface water is pushed away from an area allowing colder deep water to rise up and replace it "This occurs due to a rise in the water close to the surface coinciding with flat areas with difficult drainage [...]" Episodes of heavy downpours and floods are already well known with the drainage capacity of watercourses and infrastructures crucial The study looks at recent events that have occurred in Malaga province since 2018 there were major floods in March in the Serranía de Ronda and the Campo de Gibraltar areas which led to the overflowing of the Guadiaro and Hozgarganta rivers was closed with emergency workers protecting houses in the neighbourhood of La Estación Several factories were partially surrounded by water with several road closures on the road to Ronda several houses are evacuated when the Guadiaro overflowed there was significant flooding on the Costa del Sol and Antequera due to the storm Hugo the N-331 in Antequera and the MA-6404 in Teba were also closed due to the overflowing of the ¡Venta river near the football field," according to the report The report pointed out further flooding in October 2018 in Ronda Malaga and Costa del Sol with rainfall of up to 100mm in one day in the Estepona area or almost 400mm in places such as Campillos It goes on to detail at least ten episodes including the floods in Campanillas and Campillos which are perhaps the most severe in recent history the report pointed out that 19 warehouses or stores; 781 vehicles; 52 businesses; 338 homes; nine offices; four infrastructures or facilities the value of the damage exceeded nine million euros The figures for flood claims and insurance in recent years are as follows: Malaga (3,389 incidents) Ronda (425) and Alhaurín de la Torre (363) the most significant are those of Campanillas (9.1 million euros) Campillos (7.7 million euros) and Marbella (6.4 million euros) They are followed by the rest of Malaga city (5.6 million euros) Behind come Mijas (4 million) and Alhaurín El Grande (1 million) Marbella has recorded 54 episodes in the last six years; Malaga Alhaurín el Grande has organised a patio festival this weekend Visitors will get a peek behind closed doors and see locals' home courtyards full of plants and flowers Modelled on the famous Cordoba patio tours there will be three different routes covering all corners of the old town on Saturday and Sunday "We want to raise awareness of our significant history and cultural heritage with treasures yet to be discovered such as the courtyards and traditional streets of the old town," said the council Twelve patios in total will be open. More information: www.alhaurinelgrande.es/festival-de-los-patios-alhaurinos-historia-tradicion-y-belleza/ James O'Brien is Leading Britain's Conversation The emaciated body of a 90-year-old British pensioner has been found by police in her Spanish home with police also discovering the body of her son The elderly woman reportedly starved to death in her home in the south of Spain after it's believed her son Police were called to the house in Alhaurin el Grande around half an hour's drive from the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola where they discovered the pensioner's body The pensioner was found alongside the body of her 63-year-old son Officers were seen to force their way into the property after knocks on the front door received no response Police have said there is no suggestion that foul play was involved in the deaths Read more: Meghan relaunches lifestyle brand with new name - and rare photo of daughter Lilibet Her son is understood to have been her registered carer, Diario Sur reports Authorities confirmed to the news outlet that autopsies are set began on Friday It comes after the bodies of two British pensioners were found dead last Thursday at their Costa Blanca home It also follows the recent deaths of two Brits in what French police believe to be a 'murder-suicide' at their remote holiday home Read more: Post-mortem results reveal fatal injuries of British couple found dead at home in rural French village Andrew Searle and Dawn Kerr were found dead at their home address in the hamlet of Les Pesquies in Villefranche-de-Rouergue in the early afternoon of February 6 after Mr Searle did not show up for one of their regular dog walks Detectives say Ms Searle was found at their property in Les Pesquies with "several" injuries to her head while her husband was found hanged with no visible defensive injuries They say they are investigating whether the deaths are the result of a murder-suicide or if a third party was involved Their French villa and its grounds were cordoned off as forensics officers investigated the scene See more Latest World News See more Latest News See more World News See more More Topics The first ever plans for the Malaga Norte wastewater treatment plant date back 18 years Andalucía's regional government (Junta) has tried to speed up the process to get this important facility up and running The contract for the project had already been granted but it has suffered various setbacks due to some head-on opposition among other environmental and neighbouring protest groups coming from the landowners in Vega de Mestanza a citrus fruit-growing area between Alhaurín de la Torre and Malaga city but have recently been received on two occasions for talks with Junta president Juanma Moreno and regional minister of agriculture Ramón Fernández Pacheco who are both determined to put an end to this saga The ministry's office points to the lack of action at the municipal level over many years leading the Junta to take up the reins to resolve any actions pending at the time all those missed deadlines and non-compliance have turned into fines Since 2018 the Junta has had to pay up to 7.5 million euros in penalties (at a rate of 630,000 euros half-yearly in round terms) other earlier fines have been avoided thanks to some of the infrastructure actually being built The first infringement that incurred in the province pinpointed four areas where wastewater was being dumped (Coín Estepona - now fixed - and Alhaurín el Grande) Those cases clocked up fines of more than 12.3 million euros As such this long history of fines exceeds 20 million euros The amount in fines will increase until the part relating to Alhaurín el Grande's treatment plant is in operation it too has an ongoing dossier of violations that could result in more sanctions and more public money being spent to cover them The Norte plant will treat wastewater from Alhaurín de la Torre Cártama and the new areas of development around Malaga city This future facility should not be confused with the large Guadalhorce treatment plant in the city which also treats wastewater from Torremolinos Nor should it be mistaken for the Bajo Guadalhorce treatment plant The first - Guadalhorce - is managed by Emasa (the municipal water company for Malaga) and invoices third parties for the service provided The second is managed by the provincial water consortium of the Diputación (provincial authority for Malaga) the future Norte plant will also be managed by Emasa Exactly what the legal set-up will look like remains to be seen given that this Malaga-based public company already has a lot of responsibility for everything to do with supplying water to the growing metropolitan area that is Malaga (supply Directive 91/271/EEC lays down the necessary measures to be taken by EU member states to ensure that urban wastewater is adequately treated before being discharged into other water sources and sets maximum deadlines for the implementation and enforcement of such treatments the Junta agreed to provide technical and financial assistance to local councils and the like declaring such essential projects to be of general interest to the people of Andalucía Since 2015 the aforementioned Directive 91/271 and Directive 2000/60 (the latter provides a framework for the protection of a member state's waters from such as pollution) have not been complied with in these localities "Since the change of government in the Junta de Andalucía in 2019 water policies have been a priority in Andalucía One of the main objectives of the [regional] government which was considered in the Andalusian pact for water signed in 2020 has been to speed up all actions related to sanitation and purification that have been pending since 2010 in spite of the Junta charging users a fee for these infrastructure improvements," said ministry sources Among these pending actions was the project to build the Norte plant and associated collection and discharge points The basic project was contracted by the Junta in 2006 In that year work also began on the sewer network needed to transport the wastewater from the municipalities to the treatment plant Completion of this project would achieve two objectives: compliance with environmental objectives and an increase in the resources available in the Guadalhorce valley through the reuse of treated wastewater The importance of this alternative resource goes without saying has begun to receive reclaimed water for irrigation use from the Peñón del Cuervo plant in Malaga Also a project is under way to extend tertiary treatment at the Guadalhorce plant to provide 15 hm3 per year of recycled water for agriculture and golf Regarding the controversy raised by the location of the Norte plant in Vega de Mestanza sources suggest that the location of the treatment plant has never been modified since 2006 It is the alternative that was considered in the POTAUM (the overall planning and urban development management tool used for Malaga city and surrounding metropolitan areas) approved by the Junta de Andalucía in 2009 and then approved by Malaga city council in 2011 as part of its PGOU (the city plan): "This construction project has been approved by the planning experts in the Junta and has received a favourable report from the planning department (Urbanismo) for Malaga city it also has environmental authorisation from all concerned and all the necessary permits to start the work." During the consultation process to secure a fully agreed environmental authorisation the treatment plant and its associated installations (pumping stations electricity...) have been subjected to two new public information processes "All the technical experts who have participated in this long process concluded that Vega Mestanza is the best solution," said the ministry an Aquambiente-Dinotec-Sando joint venture costing 104 million euros including VAT was awarded the contract in 2021 with a completion period of 36 months The idea is to carry out the work in phases using multiple teams of workers in order to dispense sooner with the unauthorised discharges of untreated sewage that cost so much in fines Guardia Civil officers have arrested ten people after dismantling a large counterfeit cigarette factory in the Malaga province town of Alhaurín el Grande Officers seized 1,448 packs of counterfeit tobacco from the factory which operated 24 hours a day and distributed cigarettes throughout Spain providing an estimated turnover of four million euros a month The police operation started last September when investigators discovered that several people were sleeping in a warehouse on an industrial estate in the Guadalhorce valley town officers concluded the industrial unit housed a clandestine tobacco factory where cigarettes of four internationally known brands were manufactured and counterfeited which were then distributed throughout Spain investigators swooped when a lorry with false number plates tried to enter the premises police entered the warehouse and found nine people inside the search of the building and the vehicle confirmed the site was manufacturing fake tobacco Police also found the factory had a large production capacity and a considerable level of sophistication A powerful self-contained generator set was found to power the machinery the factory operators had soundproofed the generator and made an exhaust pipe to expel the gases police officers seized 1,448 packets of cigarettes ready for sale as well as 2,040 kilograms of cigarette 'mince' silk-screened plates with the name of the commercial brands and packets ready to be assembled The ten detainees were handed over to the courts where they were ordered to be remanded in prison retired theatre and movie set designer Birgitte Mellentin from just outside Copenhagen has continued her artistic drive with her paintings setting up a studio in the heart of the Guadalhorce Valley in Alhaurín el Grande With a constant drive to continue developing her paintings and contrasting a feel of the figurative in her abstract works almost as though they were fragments of memories from the nature surrounding the Malaga province town Euro Weekly News paid Birgitte a visit at her gallery to chat about art and what brings her to Alhaurín Birgitte: ’I always paint even if it’s not a good day But I made a living being a theatre set designer doing all the sets and costumes for operas and plays in Denmark ‘Ten years ago we decided to move down here and for a couple of years I kept on working and travelling back to Denmark The massive studio space is a converted shop unit making what was once an unwanted space into a perfect artistic space for creation The ideas come from memories, often fleeting, from the abundance of nature surrounding Alhaurín el Grande She points to a large triptych at the end of the studio scratches into the paint revealing earlier works underneath There was a man here before Christmas who wanted to buy it He kept coming back and taking measurements.’ Birgitte does not want to separate the three ‘I can still see it’s you.’’ The size of the brush has changed Alhaurín el Grande has always been a magnet for the artistic her arrival here was more a case of chance and deciding to stay She doesn’t need to hold exhibitions or deal with intermediaries and galleries Follow Birgitte on Instagram at @birgittemellentin AN ELDERLY British woman has been found "starved to death" after her carer son died at their Costa del Sol home The 90-year-old mum and her 63-year-old son were discovered by cops on a welfare check Police had to force their way into the home in Alhaurin el Grande, around 30 minutes away from the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola Cops believe mum starved to death after her carer son died of natural causes The alarm was raised by town hall workers days after an ambulance was called to their home to help the 90-year-old These Brits were also known to local social services and her son is understood to have been her registered carer It is not clear whether the 63-year-old also had health issues Civil Guard officers who investigated the case believe the pair died from natural causes Cops say there is no suggestion they were victims of a crime. Follow-up tests are being conducted following their post-mortems. They were found at their home near the small town of San Fulgencio around a 45-minute drive south of Alicante Cops revealed the pair both suffered chronic illnesses and a post-mortem revealed they died from natural causes The alarm was raised by staff at the local councils social services department A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Alicante said late last night: “The Civil Guard was informed about 3.30pm through the emergency 112 service about the discovery of the lifeless bodies of two people aged around 80 “Firefighters were at the scene along with local police from San Fulgencio when we arrived “The bodies have been transferred to Alicante’s Institute of Legal Medicine for the corresponding autopsy and full identification of both.” Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Alhaurín el Grandein the Guadalhorce valley has been able boast one of the most original (and attractive) parks in the province of Malaga an enclosure located next to the municipal sports centre perfect for entertaining children during the summer holidays when the high temperatures make it difficult to go to other traditional parks The mini water park has the added attraction of being free of charge chairs and umbrellas available for families to relax and eat but requires prior registration due to the limited capacity of the enclosure Alhaurín el Grande town hall has set up a telephone number for this purpose: 952 491 216 Preference will be given to residents of the municipality The water park will be open during the months of July and August from Monday to Friday from 10.30am until 1.30pm on Saturdays the water park will be open from 10.30am to 1.30pm adults are not allowed to swim in the water area (limited to children under 12 years of age) Children under 8 years of age must be supervised at all times It is forbidden to bring in glass objects and animals It is also recommended to wear suitable clothing and footware in the aquatic facility The park is finally a reality this summer after a complicated journey that has delayed its opening for a year As sports councillor Sergio Rodríguez explained this space needed to have a Legionella prevention plan (PPCL) a document that had to be certified by an approved company where maintenance workers would take samples and record the daily results of the pH of the water and all the parameters required by an aquatic facility Another problem was that they did not have a disinfection and cleaning certification The Arca Noah animal shelter will open its new secondhand shop in the La Trocha shopping centre in Coín next Thursday The Alhaurín el Grande shelter was founded by Belgian animal lover Christel Verbist to care for abandoned and mistreated cats and dogs in the area The charity also endeavours to find forever homes for the animals in its care and this new shop will help raise funds to continue offering this service (the other one opened in Alhaurín el Grande in 2015) The shops are used to raise funds to pay vet bills and for vaccinations as well as the administration fees involved in the adoption process one of the volunteers who will be working in the new shop "We are currently getting the new premises organised and will open to the public next Thursday We will do house clearances and can we collect any large items people can drop donations off at the shop." Gibbs also runs what she calls "puppyville" a 9,000-metre plot on her property in Cártama where the dogs are taken once they have been vaccinated by Arca Noah Gibbs looks after the puppies while they are waiting for adoption She currently has 22 young dogs in her care especially over the last couple of weeks during the inclement weather but thankfully we have not experienced any serious problems caused by the rain The puppies are having a ball rolling around in the mud which makes it difficult when we need to photograph them for potential adopters," she explained The shelter's founder settled in Alhaurín el Grande 20 years ago and after witnessing "the distressing situation" of abandoned pets in the town The shelter cares for between 20 and 40 dogs each month "the situation in this area is still very bad" "It's great that we have the capability to look after these animals but it is very sad that we still have to do this Information about adoption and volunteering can be found on the shelter's Facebook page One of the first of the many spring fairs organised in the province will be held at La Granja de Antonio in Alhaurín el Grande on Sunday 21 April an event that will offer an artisan market The market will offer the works of local artists and designers whose products will include handmade ceramic tableware There will also be a sourdough bread and a recycled art workshop The market will open between midday and 4pm visitors will enjoy live music supplied by Marcus Myers one of the area's most established entertainers Four or five decades ago only a few summer adventurers from Coín Alhaurín el Grande or Alhaurín de la Torre used to head to this location in Malaga province's Guadalhorce valley Only a few did it riding on noisy 'vespinos' (a lightweight moped made in Spain from the 1960s in collaboration with the Vespa manufacturer) The slippery stones made for some unexpected soakings and a few laughs along the way because mobile phones did not exist and none of those kids had their own camera almost always turned up there without their parents' knowledge Word of mouth worked well then among those who lived in Coín or Alhaurin tipping each other off to the existence of real natural pools that were almost like a water park where they could enjoy themselves to the full although some disruption was caused to this spot Barranco Blanco changed its meaning over the years but also a draw for experienced hikers used to walking beside There is not much worth walking there though because once the most impressive pools and waterfalls have been passed the rest of the river becomes less spectacular the place has put itself on the map with many locals including those who haven't gone to any great lengths to take care of idyllic places like this one see the lengths they go to on their social media Long before social media it had already become one of those places where you felt bad having to tell someone how to get there as you wanted to keep it secret lots of plastic and other mundane debris began to show the less-friendly side of some visitors Evidently their drinks containers weighed more when empty than when carried there full two-wheelers reigned ahead of four-wheelers the authorities decided to take action to prevent any vehicular traffic parking up by this idyllic ecosystem Barranco Blanco has seen how drought conditions have notably deteriorated those picture-postcard scenes of crystal-clear pools and splendid waterfalls anyone who wants to go there in summer (usually from 1 June to 15 October) will have to face a walk of just over two kilometres Access by motorised vehicle is strictly forbidden have ignored this warning and ended up with the corresponding fine for parking right next to the river to save time or effort Even if the fine is divided between five hypothetical occupants of the offending car the penalty will be much more expensive than buying tickets to visit a theme park Those who respect the rules and appreciate being out in nature this summer can leave their cars just a few metres from the MA-3303 road the meeting point of these two towns in the Guadalhorce valley: Coín and Alhaurín El Grande The first few metres are downhill and in the shade but bear in mind that the return walk will be uphill The sun will also beat down on the walkers for a good few metres First-timers arriving at Barranco Blanco this year will experience some disappointment There is no sign of the impressive waterfall that is so often seen on social media says the member of a group who is acting as their guide The annual rainfall has not changed radically Perhaps it wants to hide that cascade of water that attracts people of all ages in the hope that they will go away Frustrated by not getting a great profile picture or selfie there is no choice but to go upstream to find another of the iconic images of Barranco Blanco where the green plantlife can be seen at the bottom of the crystal clear waters Someone decided to hang a swing-rope there to emulate Tarzan but in recent years with such a low water level but fortunately from there you only fall into the water Some people say that they no longer go to Barranco Blanco because they don't want to erase the image There are also those who regret the day when this place which for years has served as a natural swimming pool for the locals of Coín and Alhaurín one of the fires that caused one of the most terrible forest fires in Malaga in living memory started in this area yet softly spoken Duncan Hulscher had just about enough of running bars in Amsterdam when he came to Alhaurín el Grande in the Guardalhorce Valley he could see how the change of environment suited him he had negotiated a price and bought the lease of Tia Rosa the COVID lockdown was imposed and all bars and restaurants ordered to close and then we started doing home deliveries.’ Tia Rosa was one of the first in town to venture into this side of the business and I think we gained more customers who would later return once the restrictions were eased.’ Duncan didn’t find too many difficulties establishing his business here in Spain ‘The bureaucracy wasn’t any stricter here than in Holland; in fact the Spanish government has become much stricter.’ At the beginning of 2024 Duncan was forced to close for a couple of weeks to undertake construction work as his one bathroom already the biggest of all the bars and restaurants on Calle Gerald Brenan was found to be a few centimetres too small and needed to be made very a tiny bit bigger for regulation wheelchair access Often the case with bars and restaurants operated by foreigners is that the clientele tends to be of the same nationality. While it is true that Duncan’s Tia Rosa is the most popular bar in town with the Dutch there’s always a large mix of other nationalities laughing and revelling together here There you can get away with hardly learning any Spanish and they will become your friends and customers.’ No other establishment in Alhaurín el Grande offers quite the same level of welcome and warmth as Tia Rosa and there is no other host quite like Duncan Find more ‘Speaking European’ features. This year umbrellas will be needed for more than just collecting more sweets in the Three Kings parades due to take place on the Costa del Sol and across Malaga province They will be needed to take shelter from a cold front which could leave showers in most municipalities in the province on the afternoon of Sunday 5 January Faced with this scenario of meteorological instability the most far-sighted towns and cities have already made changes to their procession timetables Two alternatives are on the table: bringing forward the arrival of Their Majesties of the Orient to the 4th or bringing it forward to the morning of the 5th (as Alhaurín de la Torre Ronda and Pizarra have done) to avoid the rain there are several dozen municipalities that have made public their new schedules (but it is expected that there will be many more added throughout this Friday) Álora and Villanueva del Rosario have opted to take their floats out on parade on Saturday The Andalucía region provincial capitals of Seville Huelva and Cádiz have decided to do the same In Malaga city the council has already announced that it is studying a possible advance of the schedule many other towns have taken the alternative of taking their floats out on the same day but in the morning or several hours before the time initially planned Aemet forecasts "very cloudy or overcast skies accompanied by moderate rainfall that will spread from west to east during the second half of the day without ruling out locally heavy and persistent downpours" "The change of weather for the weekend in Andalucía when a front will cross from west to east starting in the second half of Saturday in the westernmost part and affecting practically all of Andalusia on Sunday even with some embedded thunderstorms," was added to a post uploaded this Friday morning to the social network X (formerly Twitter) Cambio de tiempo para el fin de semana en Andalucía, cuando un frente irá cruzando de oeste a este comenzando en la segunda mitad del sábado por la parte más occidental y afectando el domingo a prácticamente toda Andalucía, incluso con alguna tormenta embebida pic.twitter.com/pM3rBmQ1jm increasing to moderate from the southwest and occasionally strong with very strong gusts on the coast and in high areas" This factor has been a determining factor in the decision by the provincial cities of Seville Cadiz and Huelva to bring their parades forward to the 4th Cordoba will take a decision this Friday and Malaga stressed yesterday that it will "make a decision soon" after consulting with Aemet "Several storms are approaching with their associated fronts which will distribute precipitation that will spread over a large part of the north and the Atlantic side of Spain throughout the weekend" according to the specialised website Meteored The Three Kings could arrive this year both wet and hot Together with the arrival of a very active front the temperatures will be the other clear protagonists of the last stretch of the week with maximum temperatures that could exceed 21C in Malaga province warm 'terral' winter wind will take centre stage so maximum temperatures will once again be above average" said local Malaga weather expert José Luis Escudero author of the SUR blog 'Tormentas y Rayos' (Storms and Lightning) The forest fire that started at noon on Friday The voracity of the flames was explained mainly by the mass of vegetation that has fuelled the fire The area is characterised by being heavily populated with pine trees and the pine cones can explode like grenades the Junta de Andalucía’s specialist forest fire brigade beaten and robbed in his home in Alhaurín el Grande in Malaga's Guadalhorce valley earlier this week The attackers demanded to know “where is the money?” leading police to believe that they knew that there was a considerable amount of money in the property The thieves fled with around 12,000 euros in cash money which the owner of the house had received as a deposit for the sale of the property The man was dining alone at around 10pm when the assailants gained access to the house after breaking down the door although the resident is thought to have resisted the attack the assailants managed to tie and gag the man who was then repeatedly beaten until he revealed where the money was located the victim managed to free himself and alert the police An investigation has now been opened by the Guardia Civil who are also looking into a series of other burglaries that have taken place in the area over the last few weeks Police have revealed that the victim of the most recent incident is a close friend of another British man whose home was ransacked and robbed earlier this month although it is unclear if the incidents are related According to the descriptions of the attackers given by the victims of some of the recent burglaries police believe they are being carried out by three young Spaniards wearing ski masks to hide their faces paid a visit last Friday to the area of the Sierra de Mijas part of a mountain range badly hit just over two years ago by a major forest fire That same fire also devastated other areas of public forest and affected nearly 2,000 hectares in the Malaga province municipalities of Mijas Alhaurín el Grande and Alhaurín de la Torre Moreno praised the recovery work that has made it possible for the forest to be ready for future reforestation The Junta's head was keen to point out that the Junta undertook to make every effort to recover this area from the damage done by the flames as soon as possible As such the ball was set rolling with a budget of more than two million euros to undertake work to avoid fire risks and to regenerate the land when a fire of this magnitude occurs it is necessary to intervene on many fronts to eradicate further fire risks to clean up the remains of dead wood and to revive land in readiness for subsequent reforestation "This is what we have done in the three affected areas specifically in the mountains of Sierra Blanca La Mezquita and Puerto Blanquillo in Alhaurín de la Torre This work has been carried out in all three areas and the work has been completed in all three" The Junta president thanked the Plan Infoca team (the Junta's forest fire specialist brigade) for its timely response to emergencies the hard work of the staff and their dedication to the job At the same time he also called on the public to be prudent and responsible when out and about enjoying the countryside Moreno underlined the increased risk of wildfires in summer in the Andalucía region and the need for everyone to prevent causing them to remain vigilant and to collaborate with Plan Infoca on fire prevention to protect the valuable natural heritage that we have and that "is everyone's responsibility" Moreno reported that the average number of wildfires registered in Andalucía has been reduced by more than 20% compared to the average of the last ten years and that so far this year there have been 372 incidents requiring a response from emergency services compared to an average of 500 at this time of year He alluded to the number of hectares burnt and Moreno said that Andalucía has the best prepared fire-fighting system and the most resources in Spain with a 15% increase in fire-fighting vehicles this year and 2,700 firefighters and other professionals Moreno was accompanied on his visit by Ana Mata (mayor of Mijas) Patricia Navarro (Junta delegate for Malaga) and the regional delegate for Sustainability and Environment In turn the mayor thanked the president for his visit and the work carried out by the Junta de Andalucía to aid the recovery of the Sierra de Mijas and she announced that "we [the Mijas council] are finishing the drafting of a tender to publish a five-year contract with a total budget of 1.2 million euros for the execution of forestry work aimed at fire prevention and which will include all while preserving the fauna and flora of the mountains" which will be carried out in the areas known as Sierra Blanca and Sierra Bermeja will carry on over eight months from October to May a series of prohibitions are in place to prevent fires - for instance use of chainsaws - and therefore no action can be taken during this period The Artsenal Inoxis art gallery in Alhaurín el Grande inaugurates its Winter Exhibition on Saturday 14 January The new collection of paintings and sculptures includes the works of more than ten local artists that can be viewed until Sunday 26 March Among the artists taking part are textile artist Jolanda van den Broek flowers and bark; silk screen artist Chandy Haggett whose works depict colourful landscapes and scenes of the Andalusian countryside; and Sebastian Echevarria a painter of Argentine origin whose portraits of celebrities like Hendrix Monroe and Chaplin are full of life and executed with a great variety of colour is officially opened at 8pm and includes a concert by Cristina Mateo at 9pm The art works can be viewed on Thursday between 5pm and 10pm and between 7pm and 12pm on Friday and Saturday which was set up by a group of like-minded enthusiasts the Artsenal Inoxis space offers local artists a chance to showcase their works and open mic sessions on the second Saturday of the month although this month's session has been rescheduled for Saturday 21 January due to the inauguration of the exhibition The construction of the new water park in Alhaurín el Grande is entering its final phase and is expected to be finished by January 2023 which has a budget of 725,000 euros and is financed by the town hall is located in the municipal sports complex on the site of the former outdoor swimming pool will include a splash-park with different water features for children between the ages of four and 15 The second zone is designed for older children and will be around 100 square metres and will include a 7.5 m diameter water bubble and a series of innovative physical activities The facility will include a non-slip surface and green areas with shaded spaces with hammocks along with a treatment plant system to filter the water used in the different areas “This park is a commitment to the little ones of the municipality,” councillor for Works Alhaurín el Grande town hall building is undergoing a comprehensive renovation to improve access from the Plaza del Convento overcoming the multiple architectural barriers it presents and making it much more accessible for citizens an elevator is being installed to connect the two floors of the building as well as ramps to overcome the multiple differences in level on the patio and on the exterior walkway on the upper floor “Whether they are people with functional diversity older people with some type of mobility problem or for those who come with baby strollers or similar access will be much easier,” works councillor Teresa Sánchez said The council has invested 350,000 euros in the project and in addition to the elevator and the ramps “none met the width established by current regulations for access for people with wheelchairs” the new layout of the spaces intended for offices and work areas has also required new flooring both because it is a very old building and because of the multiple unevenness it presents The comprehensive reform is included in the council’s accessibility project and will allow all municipal departments to be completely accessible to everyone who needs to carry out any procedure with the town hall without any type of limitation or barrier The Alhaurín el Grande fire is advancing at a speed of 50 metres per minute almost double that of the fire in June in the Sierra Bermeja has been fuelled by the mass of vegetation The fire has entered an area densely populated with pine trees and a dense layer of scrub in the undergrowth Although the forest fire originated in the Higuerón area the slight wind pushed it towards the municipality of Alhaurín el Grande whose population has been affected by the smoke and the constant fall of ash released from the fire although throughout the afternoon it has developed several different sources due to the exploding pine cones which are shot by the flames like missiles The complexity of the fire lies mainly in the orography of the affected terrain which is in the middle of the mountains and with very steep slopes that make it difficult to fight the flames on the ground The work by air is also proving to be more difficult than usual due to the density of the forest and the height of the pine trees (the flame front reaches some 20 metres high) the water dropped from the aircraft remain in the treetops which prevents them from fully falling onto the undergrowth Without it being by far the worst possible scenario (a terral wind would have unimaginable consequences) the weather will not help firefighters to control the blaze over the weekend According to the data provided by state forecaster Aemet maximum temperatures of 34 degrees are expected tomorrow (Saturday) in Alhaurín el Grande during the middle hours of the day in that area of ​​the Guadalhorce Valley The wind - just like yesterday - will blow from the southeast as it is expected to remain very low at around 30% to 40% the 'three thirty' rule is fulfilled: more than 30 degrees of temperature 30 kilometres per hour of wind and 30% humidity botanist and professor at the University of Malaga (UMA) insists that the abundance of pine trees is the key factor in this fire "Some mountains make me worry," warned the academic "A burning pine cone is like a grenade that explodes," Salvo warned and the resin also acts as a vehicle for the flames The Mediterranean forest is adapted to fire they are forest crops that in some cases have managed to recover native forest but the crops need permanent maintenance that we have forgotten." together with the dry plant material that has accumulated we are very concerned about the mountains in Malaga." Alhaurín el Grande town hall has warned residents who continue to dump their waste in public areas will face fines of up to 300 euros The council has launched a surveillance campaign to monitor areas where household rubbish and furniture is regularly illegally dumped “This is a control and surveillance campaign to eradicate the problem that is affecting our municipality and public health We remind residents of their duty to dispose of their waste at the correct points,” councillor Teresa Sánchez said The 'puntos limpios' areas in the town are open from Monday to Friday between 8am and 2pm and from 4pm until 7pm; and on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 2pm The councillor also pointed out that Alhaurín el Grande has a total of 292 grey containers for organic waste This measure was undertaken after residents complained that the opening in the top of the containers was not sufficient to comfortably deposit rubbish bags Alhaurín el Grande is getting ready to host one of its most anticipated foodie events which will take place over two weekends in March The event brings together 24 local restaurants all of which will offer a selection of tapas cocktails and desserts between Friday 17 and Sunday 19 and also from Friday 24 until Sunday 26 March The tapas and cocktail route will offer participants the chance to vote for their favourite dishes and drinks on the FedelApp which can be downloaded to any mobile phone The nominations will be entered into a draw with various prizes while cocktails will have a singular price of five euros Establishments participating in the route include Alhaurín Golf Resort which has produced a tapa called 'Arancini Golf' white fish and cheese served with two types of mayonnaise a dish of red tuna and caramelised onion; Bar Blanme tequila and strawberry cream; and Bodega Iberika's 'Tostita de boquerón alhaurina' olives and orange-tinted oil served on toasted bread For a full list of participating bars and restaurants and the dishes and cocktails they will offer, see www.alhaurinelgrande.es Walking along the upper part of Calle Real in Alhaurín el Grande on Saturday felt like you were attending a feria To set the scene: there are polka dots all over the place huge awnings create an airy roof in the form of Malaga's green and purple flag There is no doubt that the show's art comes from the town's Andalusian roots It's a hot spring day and fans and straw hats are visible among the audience The organisers have removed the plastic from the carpet it is not by chance that this town is wearing a flamenco outfit as one year ago the initiative Alhaurín Flamenca was born with the aim of promoting local fashion and highlighting the importance of Andalusian traditions in the world of fashion is clear about what makes her brand different apart from her surname which she invented using her children's initials Ninú explained that the incorporation of transparency and lace in her designs is what makes her stand out as well as creating "very sensual dresses that are feminine and that make the woman feel very beautiful" where she works along with five other women the dress designs presented by Ninú on the white runway were part of a race against the clock so I had to start making more at the last minute from Monday to Sunday and until three in the morning," the designer said she dedicates her time exclusively to women's flamenco outfits though she will soon present a new collection of flamenco-style communion dresses for young girls Pepe Canela was waiting for one of his models' hairstyle to match his outfit for the runway though has felt "malagueño" for the past fifteen years it was an honour to be back for the event's second year He devotes his time to designing dresses for special occasions and wedding dresses the show's only designer to incorporate male models - two of them his distinguishing feature is found in using flamenco style as inspiration "for all those times that you want to go to feria but don't feel like going in a heavy outfit," he explained Models arrived at the event without knowing what they were going to wear that day as the designers were in charge of choosing what dress suited each person "I always carry sizes 38 and 40 on average because although there are models who may be smaller I'd rather take a pin than have it fit too tightly on them but in July we're going to do a show with people of all sizes and of different ages because it's important that all women can see themselves represented," the designer pointed out As for Antonio Eloy's hair and makeup team they were responsible for getting the models ready from first thing in the morning "We receive a reference photo and when we arrive there we start doing their makeup and hair according to what the boss has told us to follow but all the women have to go out with their hair up in a bun and the two boys with a drawn-on moustache," one makeup artist explained when locals all got together to enjoy the music because the spring sunshine at midday was enough for anyone to take their sunglasses out of their pocket With the goal of creating a unique vision in the fashion industry and of supporting Malaga talent the second Alhaurín Flamenca fashion show began to the tune of Miguel Poveda's Embrujao Por Tu Querer affiliated with the promotional brand Málaga de Moda under the slogan 'Talento Original' ('Original Talent') was succeeded by designs from the Academia Isabel Cazorla and Inma de la Riva's brand with the presentation of ten of her dresses as well as an acknowledgement and a bouquet of flowers handed over by the mayor of Alhaurín el Grande Alhaurín el Grande will soon inaugurate a Buddhist temple of the Kadampa Tradition a trend which aims to increase the Buddhist faith throughout the world The project involves an investment of three million euros and will be the sixth Kadampa for World Peace temple promoted by the Buddhist organisation KMC (Kadampa Meditation Centre) which is funded by KMC Spain and has been under construction since the end of 2020 will be located in the Fuente del Perro area will be the largest in Europe and will include a bigger meditation centre since the current one has become too small for national events The construction of the temple was approved in December 2016 when the green light was given to its implementation as a project of public interest The town hall claims it will be “an important tourism and economic catalyst” The Kadampa tradition began in Spain 25 years ago and now there are 20 centres located throughout the country