Age Concern Marbella/San Pedro will hold its next fundraising gala night at Restaurante El Gamonal
The evening will commence at 7.30 pm with a welcome drink
followed by a three-course dinner and live entertainment supplied by soul singer Mr Maph
The annual event will also include a raffle
with prizes of vintage Scandinavian jewellery and a Louis Vitton beauty case
The charity said that this even has two clear goals: “To ensure the continued growth and development of the social and activity centre and to underpin our hardship fund
This is directed at those of our expat residents who find themselves in temporary financial difficulties
We offer a one-off lifeline for unexpected expenses as a hand up rather than a longer-term hand out.”
Tickets cost 85 euros and reservations can be made by email: events@ageconcernmarbella.com
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Plan Red San Pedro Alcantara: A cultural and digital boost for the town
Part of Marbella’s bold new 20 million euro urban regeneration plan
the Plan Red San Pedro Alcantara promises to be a big cultural and digital boost for the town
One of the standout features of Plan Red San Pedro Alcántara is the construction of a cutting-edge library and digital centre in Plaza Jorge Lorenzo Tejada
Designed to be more than just a traditional library
this multi-purpose space will include a rooftop terrace and a digital training programme aimed at closing the digital divide in the community
Urban regeneration will also extend to Calle Cocle
where outdated infrastructure will be modernised with improved paving and accessibility measures
making the area more pedestrian-friendly and inclusive
Marbella’s ambitious plans could provide a much-needed boost for the next few years
Stay tuned to the Euro Weekly News for more
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and respect for the product in every dish on the menu ·
UMI isn’t just the name of one of the most successful Japanese restaurants on this part of the Costa del Sol - it also represents a Japanese culinary philosophy
it invites diners to savour the flavour and texture of every bite of sushi
cutting-edge creations by contemporary chefs
The Japanese word "umi" means “sea” or “ocean,” reflecting the fusion of seafood - fish and shellfish - with the refined techniques of Japanese cuisine
At the helm of the kitchen are the two owners of the restaurant
the latter considered one of Malaga’s top sushi chefs
as he has already shown at his other restaurant
diners can choose where to sit - at the bar to watch the meticulous preparation of this complex and unique cuisine up close
special tribute is paid to everything that comes from the sea - though you’ll also find wagyu beef featured in some of their creations
what you shouldn’t forget when visiting this restaurant is that its very name signals a full immersion into the sea
and aromas.If my visit to Nakara a few months ago was deeply satisfying
UMI certainly lives up to - if not surpasses - those expectations
with creative dishes that stay true to the philosophy that has guided the restaurant since its inception
earning it a place among the best in its category
This is not just thanks to the quality of the ingredients
which prove that excellent Japanese food can be made accessible without breaking the bank
Edgar and Jesús prepare off-menu specials based on what’s fresh at the market
along with some signature dishes already known from Nakara
like the shrimp volcano or the pulled meat bao
The wine list isn’t extensive in terms of labels
but it does feature a few well-chosen bottles that pair perfectly with this style of cuisine
the right cut and thickness of the tuna belly
and just the right additions to enhance the flavor and give the tuna a touch of salinity
This dish became a must-have for Nakara’s regulars
and now it's following the same path at UMI
served with a mildly spicy mayonnaise - just enough heat to lift the flavor without overpowering it
you'll discover a true fusion of Andalusian and Japanese cuisine through a serving of gyozas
slightly silky dough pairs perfectly with the rich oxtail filling
creating a bite that's both juicy and melt-in-the-mouth
Nigiris typically don’t need much accompaniment beyond a bit of soy sauce
since the sushi is already seasoned with the rice and wasabi used in its preparation
This red mullet nigiri stands out for the unmistakable flavour of the fish - a pleasant and unexpected surprise
San Pedro de Alcántara is in mourning following the announcement of the passing away of Alfredo
owner of Restaurante Alfredo in Calle Andalucía
Alfredo was the heart and soul of the emblematic traditional Spanish restaurant in the heart of San Pedro de Alcántara
his death leaving an irreplaceable void in the community
He was a culinary artist and an exceptional host
and his restaurant became a reference point
a place where it was not only acceptable to mop up the sauce with one’s bread
The restaurant is a benchmark for the best fresh ingredients
His legacy will last through the flavours and memories he created
as well as in the training of many exceptional professionals
He will always be remembered for his affection and his invaluable contribution to the gastronomic culture of San Pedro Alcántara
So sorry to hear of Alfreddo’s passing a lovely hard working guy with a lovely hard working family
RIP Alfreddo and god bless you and your family 🙏
Marbella town hall is taking measures to tackle the invasion of seaweed on its beaches and cleared two tonnes of the invasive brown algae Rugulopteryx okamurae during Holy Week alone
"We have removed more than two tonnes of algae from the beaches this Easter without any institutional support," said the councillor responsible for beaches
"Marbella cannot cope alone with a problem of this magnitude and it is incomprehensible that we continue to receive no financial or technical support from any regional or state administration," and went on to say
"The volume is so great that it escapes any reasonable forecast
What we are experiencing this year is unprecedented."
El Cable and Cabopino beaches have been the worst affected
the town hall deployed a daily cleaning operation from 3am until 10am
the latest time at which heavy machinery must leave the beaches for safety reasons
"We are assuming an expense that does not correspond to us
because this algae problem is not exclusive to Marbella
but to the entire Andalusian coast and the state
we still have no response from the competent authorities."
The problem of invasive seaweed is a serious problem for the town
not only from an environmental point of view but also from a tourism point of view
but also the ecological balance of our coasts
The damage to marine biodiversity is already a reality
and we still don't see a regional or state plan that seriously tackles the problem," López concluded
San Pedro has recently welcomed a fresh addition to its culinary scene with the opening of *Chef by Divot*
As a sister restaurant to the already we- ll-established Divot on the Costa del Sol
Chef has taken on the challenge of creating its own identity while maintaining the high standards its predeces- sor is known for
Some may have considered it ris- ky to expand in this way
*Chef by Divot* brings an invigorating new energy to the gastro world
The first thing you’ll notice about the restaurant is its warm
complemented by a stylish and contemporary design
perfect for a variety of dining experiences
whether it’s a special occasion or a casual evening out
Free on-street parking adds an extra layer of convenience for guests
offering an array of mouth-watering starters such as burrata
The main courses include an impressive selection of dishes ranging from meats
the real showstopper is the selection of premium meats
One standout feature is the restaurant’s unique charcoal table grill
allowing diners to have their choice of meat cooked exactly to their liking—a rare and exciting touch that enhances the experience
it’s cooked to perfection and paired with a carefully curated selection of sauces .The dessert menu is just simply divine
We shared a selection of desserts and enjoyed the ambiance with our coffees
showcasing an impressive range of carefully chosen bottles that perfectly complement the dishes
Work on the new municipal library in San Pedro Alcántara
The project has an investment of 3.9 million euros and a completion period of 18 months
The work will be carried out in the town's Jorge Lorenzo Tejada park
which means that the new facility will be surrounded by green areas
"We are going to regenerate a disused amphitheatre
hence the cylindrical shape of the construction," Javier García
He added that the "environment will be surrounded by trees in this space for culture
"In San Pedro we are committed to emblematic and iconic buildings that give us an identity and we are going to continue working along these lines," said García
who believes that "the new public buildings that are being developed have a touch of modernity and are not limited to being simple warehouses or buildings without any kind of ornamental or avant-garde element"
The library has been designed with a concrete structure and has a protective layer which will filter the sun's rays
There are two independent accesses to the two main floors of the building which comply with accessibility regulations
The library is distributed over two floors
with the upper floor home to a main central space and a large independent area for the children's section
On the lower floor there is a study area and a conference room as well the desk for borrowing and returning books
The lower floor is also accessible from the park and can function independently from the upper floor
so that it can be used as a study room only
The upper floor has access from Calle San Javier
In addition the roof will be open to the public via a staircase-terrace located next to the main upper entrance of the building
Both entrances to the main floors are accessible for people with reduced mobility
and are also the building's evacuation routes
The plan for the new San Pedro Alcántara municipal library is one of the investments planned in the current municipal budget for this area
Other projects include a new centre for older people and a music and dance school
Preparations are under way for the last Andalusian fair of the year
which will take place from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 October
Held on the fairground located on the Finca La Caridad estate in honour of the town's patron
the festivities kick off with the traditional parade of the 'giants and big heads'
This will be followed by a firework display held on La Salida beach at 9.30pm
which signals the official inauguration of the festivities and the lighting up of the entrance arch
The 'casetas' will offer traditional music and dance performances
while the municipal caseta will offer free concerts by national artistes
the rides will be the main attraction and the fairground will be free of music between 7pm and 9pm to allow youngsters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to enjoy the fair
when the price of many rides will be reduced
The day fair will be inaugurated on Wednesday
when the streets and plaza's in the town centre will overflow with revellers dressed in traditional costumes dancing sevillanas
and enjoying local cuisine washed down with plenty of Cartojal
the saint's feast day and an official holiday in the town
a day when the locals flock to marvel at the parade of horse-drawn carriages
It is expected that the pruning plan for San Pedro Alcantará will manage 1,600 trees in the town throughout 2025
Deputy mayor Javier García stated that among the objectives of the initiative
which started last week with an intervention on more than 150 trees
are the conservation of the plants' health
the aesthetic improvement of the city and the prevention of incidents that may affect the safety of pedestrians
The plan has an annual budget of 120,000 euros
with the possibility of extension if deemed necessary
It "is being developed by a specialised company
that also carries out phytosanitary treatments"
after which it will continue on other roads and areas
the squares Mariano Díaz Alonso and Juan Macías and the Avenida del Mediterráneo
The mayor also reported on an emergency action undertaken in Calle Caravaca
next to the municipal market and the San Pedro school
having to be removed following a technical report
in addition to another tree next to it the roots of which made it dangerous to pedestrians"
the road has been closed since the landslide on Saturday
It is expected that the work to reopen it will take several months due to the complexity of the process and the severe damages caused to a viaduct in the municipality of Benahavís
The regional government cannot announce an exact date yet
The diversion of the usual Ronda-San Pedro traffic has already caused traffic jams and difficulties for those residents of Ronda and the Serranía who travel down to the Costa del Sol for work
The situation is also affecting Guadalhorce Valley residents
The only alternative routes they can take are the connection through Gaucín and Manilva
As well as being a much longer journey (about two hours)
the local saturation of caravans further complicates the situation
It is technically impossible to make a temporary detour
due to the rockslide occurring right in the mid-slope area
where the road runs on the damaged viaduct
it will first be necessary to demolish and rebuild that part of the road
also needs to be stabilised to make it safe to pass through again
we have not had to lament any situation greater than the destruction of the road
but yesterday an emergency (order) was signed," said councillor for public work and transport Rocío Díaz
" We are already working: yesterday we used drones to make a preliminary assessment
but we have to wait for the technicians to say how far and how serious the matter is."
Díaz stated that the road will remain closed for the time being
the technicians will be able to give us more information on how long it will take to repair the road
so I ask for maximum caution and as soon as we have more technical information
The Junta de Andalucía has activated an emergency plan and budget for the repairs on the road linking Ronda and the Costa del Sol (A-397)
but the continuous rain poses challenges in the initial stage of the work
A date for the reopening has not been announced
but it is known that the task will not be easy or quick
heavy downpours are expected to resume this Thursday
making it impossible to set one at the moment
Inspections have not ceased because of the rainfall
Technicians have been working in the area since Saturday
They also began installing lifelines on Monday for the initial manual clearing of rocks
and a company specialising in vertical work
technicians have estimated that the work will take "several weeks"
The activation of the emergency budget means that the work can be done as quickly as possible
without the restrictions of a tendering process
there already is a work plan for the road containing all the necessary actions
it has become clear that the process will be very complex," said Navarro
The current weather conditions hinder the first phase
which will be to secure the mountain and remove the fallen rocks
the viaduct (bridge) will be in need of thorough reconstruction
blocking 3,000 square metres of road and a 250-metre stretch in Benahavís
which makes the road "completely unusable" and leaves no possibility for establishing a detour road
"The aim of Fomento (the regional government's road network and transport department) is to start the repair work when the weather permits and for traffic to resume as soon as possible
but it is not going to be quick or easy," said Navarro
"We are very aware of how this affects the economy of the area
Regional minister Rocío Díaz's intention is to act as quickly as possible to minimise the economic and social impact."
the alternatives for the traffic in the area are the A-367 to Ardales
and from there the A-357 to Malaga; the A-7 towards the Costa del Sol; the A-355
from Coín to Marbella; or the A-369 towards the westernmost area
the A-397 has received up to three million euros in investments in slope stabilisation and other maintenance work
the Junta delegate revealed that it already has environmental authorisation for a project that aims to create several sections with a third lane and reduce the sharpest bends to improve traffic flow and road safety
Fomento has also asked bus companies to increase public transport connections between Ronda and the coast
with more frequent services and improved quality
a restaurant in the truest sense of the word in San Pedro Alcántara
Both of them have plenty of experience in the sector behind them
one for having been in charge of the kitchen of the now defunct and mythical restaurant in Guadalmina
and the other for having been the maitre d' at the restaurant of the La Zagaleta Social Club
The reality is that they never disappoint and today it is one of the most renowned classic cuisine establishments on the Costa del Sol
What stands out most about Vigu is the preparation of the products that make up its menu
paying great attention to the cooking so that none of the original flavours are lost
A quality that is often conspicuous by its absence
although we must not forget the years in which Víctor was the second head chef at Finca Cortesín
The motto of this restaurant is «cuisine with Mediterranean soul»
and Víctor does not fail to put soul and feeling into his cuisine
even when he takes risks with somewhat more daring dishes than what we can find on his usual menu
such as the baby squid with fried egg or the burrata salad with rocket
Vigu's menu will undoubtedly remind us of dishes from Víctor's restaurant
a recipe that Víctor executes to perfection
then the vegetable rice with boletus or the rice with red prawns and clams are very good options
If there is one dish that Víctor has been mastering since he was in the family restaurant
it is the clam stew with artichokes in green sauce
which has more variety than when I visited Vigu for the first time
The tandem formed by Gumer and Víctor is perfect and has made this establishment a place to take into account if you want to savour classic Mediterranean and Malaga cuisine and other dishes that were once all the rage in this part of the Costa del Sol
very fresh and with just the right amount of salt to bring out all the flavour
The small monkfish (sapito) is one of the most sought-after delicacies by lovers of good food
Víctor prepares it with fried garlic and a little chilli
just enough so as not to overshadow the delicate flavour of this white fish
just the right size and perfectly sautéed so they don't lose their juiciness
The flavour of the egg ties everything together
freshness and texture of the squid that has been previously grilled and then bathed in a light sauce in which the tomato enhances the original flavour
The Costa del Sol town of San Pedro Alcántara is holding its traditional Christmas market on Saturday 14 December from 10am to 7pm
This initiative aims to "contribute to the revitalisation of the commercial fabric
encourage shopping in local establishments and revitalise the streets of the town centre during the festive season"
The activity will take place in Calles Lagasca
charity shops (such as Aspandem and Cudeca)
"There will also be a charity snack at the Hanna churrería
a street parade by the town's Maestro Ramón Mayén band
who added that the Aires del Sur choir will also be performing
"This initiative also serves to raise awareness of establishments that are located outside San Pedro town centre," he explained
The workers who commute daily to towns on the Costa del Sol from the natural beauty spots around Ronda
some of which also extend into the provinces of Cadiz and Seville
are outraged and distressed by the situation they now face: having to get up even earlier
have to spend more money on petrol or diesel and vehicle maintenance
All of this just to get to their place of work because of the rocks and earth that have cut off the A-397 road between Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara in the Benahavís area
they arrive home later and it is practically impossible to achieve a half-decent work-life balance
Some people might as well just go on the dole," said Cristóbal Román
who has been working on the coast as an electrician for 26 years
This Monday he had to take the road from Gaucín to Sabinillas
"It took me between two and two and a half hours
because there is more heavy goods vehicle traffic and more traffic in general
The big problem will come in April when tourism comes to the coast
everything will be rammed," said this Ronda resident
who thinks that the situation is even more serious for workers commuting from towns like Setenil de las Bodegas
or from Montecorto: "Their nearest place was via San Pedro and now they have a huge detour
More than one of them will consider becoming unemployed
half a day driving and half a day working."
For this Ronda resident the collapse of the Ronda-San Pedro road "is a big job"
in his opinion (one that is shared by his colleagues)
the lack of decent road communications in the Serranía de Ronda
"If we had good communication links things would change
we're here in the 21st century and we don't have good communications
I have been going down that road for 26 years and all they do is change the asphalt
with the traffic that it has," he concluded
who works as a plumber in the La Zagaleta area
"This morning [last Monday] we took the road to Gaucín with an impressive amount of traffic
Normally it takes us 45 minutes to get there and we've spent two and a quarter hours
Let's see if they can finally make a good repair to the road between Ronda and San Pedro
the only thing they do is cover it with asphalt as they did last time."
works as an orderly and driver at the health centre in San Pedro
She has the possibility of accommodation in this town
"I came last night (Sunday) knowing about the road to San Pedro
I do 12-hour shifts and for me it's incompatible to drive two hours
it can't take that much traffic," she said
She then pointed out that this Monday "many people arrived late for work and there are many colleagues who don't know what they are going to do." She added that renting on the coast "is very expensive and you can't spend your salary on it or go a week without seeing your family."
For her the landslide on the Ronda-San Pedro road "was a foregone conclusion
just remove potholes and touch it up from time to time
"Urgent need for infrastructure and investment"
a protest and lobby group that has been demanding a motorway connection for Ronda and the surrounding area from the Junta de Andalucía
highlighted the failure of the Junta de Andalucía to improve the Ronda-San Pedro road
In general this protest group makes demands for improvements in road communications for the whole area
as does the business association Apymer for the areas of Ronda
asked the Junta to speed up repairs to this road where feasible as it is seriously affecting commuters
businesses and the tourist sector in Ronda and surrounding area
"This only goes to show the urgent need for infrastructure and investment that we have; this road had promised improvements that have not been implemented
We need someone to understand the urgency for the area in terms of investment and infrastructure," said Palma
Ronda's mayor María de la Paz Fernández also says that this situation "will not be fixed from one month to the next." She is concerned about the situation and the consequences for Ronda's economy
She has summoned the mayors in the area to a meeting this Tuesday
Parauta's mayor Katrin Ortega is another person affected by this situation as she lives between the village and San Pedro
"It used to take me 40 minutes from San Pedro to Parauta and now I have to travel two hours
there are times when I have to go back and forth during the day because my children go to school in San Pedro
but I have my house in Parauta and my parents in San Pedro
On the days I go to Parauta I will stay there for two or three nights
it's a matter of organisation," she commented
has stated that the recovery of the A-397 road between Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara is top priority
Moreno foresees a partial reopening of the road in August
with a deadline for its full completion a month and a half later
During the opening ceremony for the public centre for vocational training 'Remedios Rojo' in Malaga city
the regional president spoke of both the good and the bad that recent torrential rains have brought to Andalucía
The main damage was caused to the abovementioned road
which connects Ronda with the Costa del Sol and is used by up to 9,000 commuters
The A-397 has been closed since Saturday 8 March
after the rains caused a serious rockslide
The other side of the coin is that the continuous rain has increased water reserves across Malaga province
with significant rises recorded in La Viñuela reservoir in the Axarquia
the increase in water reserves in Malaga's dams is "a relief"
both economically and environmentally as it guarantees water supplies during the high season of tourism
A Christmas and New Year programme packed full of events and activities has been unveiled for families to enjoy in the Marbella and San Pedro areas
which includes new features such as the recovery of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara on 31 December
festivities will take place in the Parque de la Represa and will feature performances by Los Calvin and Rebelion
celebrations will take place in the Plaza de la Iglesia with performances by 5 D'Copas and Garage 3 Band
Marín pointed out that the Christmas agenda "is full of traditional events
chocolatadas (where people drink hot chocolate and eat panettone)
Father Christmas motorbike rides and children's parties such as the magical parks (in the Antonio Serrano Lima sports complex
Jesús Cortés 'Pori' football pitch and El Arquillo Park
Marín also said this year's edition of the town's Three Kings parade will start in the area of Plaza Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra and end on Avenida Severo Ochoa (at the petrol station opposite the Hospital Quirón)
they will arrive again by boat at the Virgen del Carmen Marina from La Bajadilla at 5pm
and will perform a parade with the Royal Guard until they arrive at the Plaza de la Iglesia
where they will be welcomed by local authorities and given the keys to Marbella
San Pedro's festivities start this Wednesday 4 December at 6.30pm with the unveiling of the municipal nativity scene made by the Asociación Belenista María Rosa Duvige
there will be a performance on 15 December
offering traditional flamenco Christmas carols
in the Avenida Marqués del Duero on 19 December
as well as the traditional Paseo de la Ilusión (walk of the lights) for the elderly to see the Christmas lights of Marbella and San Pedro
in collaboration with the taxi association
on 10 December and the arrival of Father Christmas on 17 December
The 'grand parade' will be on 5 January at 6pm and as a prelude
their majesties of the orient will visit Aspandem
while in the morning they will make a tour of the streets in vintage cars
More information: www.marbella.es
There is now a ruling on how long the A-397 road between Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara will be closed for major repairs
It was already known that the damage following the landslide of a steep bank over a bridge within the municipal border of Benahavís was very serious
but until now there were no estimates as to how long those repairs would take
That was until this Thursday's visit to the affected area by Rocío Díaz as regional minister of public works
The repairs will be carried out under an emergency contract
but they cannot begin until the heavy rains have subsided as these are still affecting the area at the end of this working week due to the effect of Storm Konrad
Work is therefore expected to start at the end of next week
From then on it will take about four and a half months to be able to open one lane
so two-way traffic will be able to drive through with some controls in place
we will have to wait until August to be able to use this road again
work will continue until both lanes are fully restored as the total duration of the repairs has been estimated at around six months
two-way traffic will not be restored until at least the end of September or beginning of October
this lengthy timeline is due to two factors: the first is that the bank is still going to continue to experience landslides due to the heavy rainfall in the Serranía
The second is that the structure of the viaduct where the rocks landed is damaged
The regional minister will soon inform all the mayors in the affected area
She also made a commitment to ensure the work is carried out as quickly as possible
although this will depend on the weather conditions of this March
The Anglican Church of San Pedro Alcántara and Sotogrande is organising a series of special events over the coming months to celebrate its 50th anniversary
25 members of the English-speaking Christian community recently explored the Ruta Arqueológica
a journey through local history that is part of the group’s Walk and Talk series
visiting the Termas de las Bóvedas Roman baths
before taking a scenic walk along the beach to the Basílica Paleocristiana de Vega del Mar
This site is one of the oldest Christian churches on the Iberian Peninsula
dating from the third to the eighth century
The walks are taken at an easy pace, making them accessible to everyone. Details of upcoming events can be found on the church’s Facebook page: Anglican Church of Costa del Sol West
The Anglican Church of the Costa Del Sol West is a chaplaincy of the Diocese in Europe of the Church of England – part of the worldwide Anglican Communion
It was first established on the Costa del Sol in 1975
it serves an area from Marbella to Algeciras
which includes the major towns of Puerto Banus
Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara kicked off the Christmas celebrations this Saturday with the switch-on of the festive lights
followed by performances from Así canta Jerez and Cantores de Hispalis
The events were preceded by a parade and a flashmob of local dance schools
Storm Jana might have increased water reserves across Malaga province
but it has also caused some major problems on the roads
the main road which connects Ronda with the Costa del Sol
on Saturday the road will likley remain closed for several months while the Junta de Andalucía's public works and transport department (Fomento) fortifies the terrain and ensures safety
The only alternatives for people to travel between the two towns will be the Gaucín and Manilva or Ardales and Coín connections
this means that drivers will have to travel nearly twice as long - nearly two hours - to get to their destination
The rockslide occurred at the Los Madroños pass around midday on Saturday
covering the entire road and causing damage to a span of the viaduct
The closure is in the municipality of Benahavís between kilometres 13
"as the landslide has occurred right in the mid-slope area
it is technically impossible to make a provisional detour as has been done in other cases"
Traffic will only be restored fully once the road has been repaired
The current continuous rainfall does not allow the removal of the rocks yet
which means that road work will have to wait as well
Experts have explained that the task is complex
because that part of the road first needs to be demolished before it can be rebuilt
"But there is the added factor that the slope
has been badly affected and also needs to be stabilised to make it safe to pass through again
The total duration of the work will be several months (...) we will keep you informed," said Fomento
The current situation affects around 7,500 motorists inclucing commuting workers
hauliers and tourists who use the A-397 every day Traffic flow on this road ranges from 4,400 vehicles per day at the Ronda exit to 9,700 upon arrival in San Pedro Alcántara
As the cut section is from Benahavís to the Igualeja junction with the MA-7304
average daily traffic exceeds 7,000 vehicles
Regional minister for development Rocío Díaz has stated that the Junta has deployed "a specialist team" to work "with drones to evaluate the upper part of the mountain and to analyse the state of the slope in detail in order to act as quickly as possible"
technicians are already implementing an emergency plan in the area
she highlighted the high incident rate caused by the storm in Andalucía
which has registered around 145 emergency calls
The rain is not expected to stop over the next few days
Fomento has said that workers will be on alert "to deal with any risk situation"
the regional ministry has asked that drivers maintain the maximum level of caution
Set back from the Paseo Maritimo of San Pedro Alcántara, one finds Maya Garden Marbella
this is a captivating destination for relaxed vibes
We visited Maya Garden for a leisurely lunch and were pleasantly impressed
was the perfect place to relax with handcrafted sushi rolls and cocktails of white sangria and a classic Negroni
The decor of Maya Garden is a harmonious fusion of summery vibes and eclectic charm
enveloped by a lush oasis of subtropical gardens is the place for sundowners and late-night drinks accompanied by DJ tunes
we escaped the Andalucian sun and chose the covered terrace with views out to the gardens promenade and the sea
There are also tables inside the restaurant
We indulged in the symphony of flavours at Maya Garden with starters of Maya Style Octopus and classic prawn pil-pil
Later we chose the Miso Salmon Fillet with Asparagus and the classic beef burger
and pasta dishes as well as a wide selection of sashimi
It’s a delightful setting and the atmosphere is relaxed – an ideal beach spot to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle
Read our guide to the best hotels in Marbella
Website: mayagarden_marbellaAddress: Maya Garden, C. Pablo Picasso, 35, San Pedro 29670, Spain
Andrew is a Marketing Communications consultant
His career in PR and marketing spans 30 years
He writes regularly on international wellness
and lifestyle themes with a particular passion for the Mediterranean and the Americas
Andrew Forbes has lived in the US and France but now calls southern Spain his home
where he is a specialist in hospitality marketing and content
as well as a Contributing Editor for magazines and newspapers
A man of British origin was held hostage for seven hours in San Pedro Alcántara on 1 February
before he tried to escape by climbing over a balcony
The victim took advantage of an oversight by his captors
the National Police had already surrounded the building and were able to offer immediate assistance
when the police learned that a man had been kidnapped in a town in the province of Malaga the previous evening
who were made aware that the man's life was in danger
quickly discovered the location of the house where the victim was being held
A discreet surveillance operation was then set up to assess the best time to raid the property
The officers observed several men going in and out on the balcony to talk on the phone
try to climb down the façade and finally fall to the ground
The officers rushed to his aid and transported him to hospital
which involved the special operations group (GOES) of the National Police
where they arrested three men who tried to escape in a high-end car
During the search of the house officers found two firearms in the kitchen cupboards
three knives (one of them a butterfly knife)
25 grammes of pink cocaine in individual wrappings and a digital precision scale
The perpetrators were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping
illegal possession of weapons and drug-trafficking
They have all been remanded in custody under the judicial court
The heavy rains sweeping across Malaga province are falling on already wet ground and multiplying the problems on the inland road network
The Diputación de Málaga road maintenance teams are working flat out to maintain normality
which is currently being maintained on the main road network
Except for fog in the area near the Benalmádena cable car in the vicinity of the Arroyo de la Miel
there are no significant problems on the motorways
which connects San Pedro Alcántara on the Costa del Sol with the mountain town of Ronda
is blocked due to landslides which make it impossible to drive on the road
according to information from the Directorate-General of Traffic
the images show a complete closure of the road
the Malaga provincial road network maintenance teams have been working for hours to clear the secondary roads
Work has been carried out between Igualeja and Pujerra and the MA 3404 has been reopened in Casabermeja
These are the most significant incidents at midday on Saturday
the road conservation teams have spent the whole night removing mud
stones and fallen pine trees from the MA8301 (Estepona to Jubrique) and MA 8302 (from 8305 to Genalguacil)
-For the moment there are no warnings in the Axarquia area
The conservation team is ready to act on the roads if necessary
-On the MA 7300 and on the MA7304 (Igualeja and Pujerra) stones and pine trees have also been removed tonight
-The Almáchar stream in Genalguacil has not yet overflowed at the kilometre 10 crossing
but there is a risk and the MA 8302 (Genalguacil) will be cut off
workers are clearing landslides but you can pass with caution
- The route from Ardales to El Burgo has also accumulated a lot of soil and a lot of water
As part of its series of monthly informative talks aimed at English-speaking senior citizens in the area
Age Concern Marbella/San Pedro will host “Downsizing your home” on Wednesday 26 March
Held at the charity’s social centre in San Pedro Alcántara
the talk will help those considering a change of home to understand how “downsizing can be both smart and stress free”
The one-hour talk will focus on when is the right time to do this and finding the right home
The talk will be given by Lynn Moses from the Sierra and Sand Realty agency
an expert in real estate and foreign investment
but places are limited so advance reservation is necessary
either by email Lynn@Sierraandsandrealty.com or WhatsApp on 649 879 800
said: "This informative workshop offers practical advice tailored to the individual’s needs
We all know that there are periods in our lives when we think about taking stock
We need to reset goals and look at how we are going to achieve them
Whether you are just toying with the idea of downsizing or have made the decision
getting the right information from the right people is crucial.”
Elrow is returning to the Costa del Sol in August and this time the electronic music ‘town’
which for the last two years has taken place in Torre del Mar
is landing in Marbella on 24 August at the San Pedro Alcántara fairground
over 50 DJs and more than 300 performers who will be handing out free gifts that could range from burlesque-style fans and feather boas to bunny ears
is expected to attract 30,000 festival-goers
It promises “an immersive experience with giant LED screens
continuing the legacy of hits such as the Psychrowdelic Trip which came to Torre del Mar in 2023
Rowsmic Carnival will transport festival-goers “to an imaginary world where reality fades and fantasy comes to life
whose world awakens from its slumber once a year during the Rowsmic eclipse to celebrate a carnival full of extravagant animals
eccentric characters and surreal sculptures”
The six stages are: Industrial City “where techno in all its variations reigns supreme” ranging from techno classics
melodic techno and hardtechno to psytrance; Nomwads is “a place to explore diverse rhythms and experiment with innovative sounds in a bohemian and creative atmosphere.”
Elrowcio is the stage to head for a Spanish theme including paella
El Callejón and more; the Pink Cathedral is Elrow’s stage dedicated to LGBT communities and promises to “add a touch of pink to a place of fun
Finally Cocoa is the stage for “high quality electronic music” and “unforgettable sets”
For tickets, a full lineup of DJs and more information visit: www.elrow.com/en
Residents along the coastline of San Pedro Alcántara are complaining about the state of the beaches
Social media has been flooded with messages of surprise and rejection following the recent sand contributions made by Marbella town hall to the coastline
Many residents questioned by SUR criticised the sand "as if it were clay or mud"
"They have not put that type of sand in the rest of Marbella," they claimed
if you get out of the sea a couple of times and lie down on your towel
you will have to throw it away because the sand sticks and becomes like putty in the water," a local resident told SUR
the texture and the humidity make it look different from the usual sand and has generated unease among the locals
That's more typical of an orchard than a beach," said Francisco García
It's a shame not only for us but also for tourism," added Cristina Fernández
Memes and videos have started to circulate on social media
accompanied by criticisms of the type of sand
Many have pointed out this incident is an example of the difference between San Pedro Alcántara and Marbella
and that "not all residents are treated equally" and that "Marbella's beaches are given better sand"
which comes from an area of the dune belt of the municipality in the Elvira area
as well as the chemical analysis in relation to the levels of lead and chromium
has an excellent texture and its granulometry is very good
Spokesperson for Ecologists in Action Marbella (Ecologistas en Acción) Javier Martos said "people have an idyllic idea of what beach sand is
but the truth is that rivers and streams naturally carry soil
the rising and setting winds wash and sediment it" to which he added that "there is no such thing as perfect sand"
It's less than two weeks to go until the main festivities begin and
this weekend the calendar offers a double date with the province's cheeses at two markets where you can find high quality dairy products
The association Quesos de Málaga is organising two markets
one this coming Saturday from 10am to 7pm around the streets of Lagasca
Marqués del Duero and Cordoba in San Pedro Alcántara and another at the Guadalhorce valley food market in Coín on Sunday from 9am to 2.30pm
you will be able to buy quality cheeses of many types
but above all cheeses made from sheep or goats milk or those with a blend of both
Many of them have won awards in recent weeks in both national and international competitions
From traditional fresh cheeses to 'curado' (mature) or reserve cheeses
but there is also a great variety in terms of creativity and originality
Members of the non-profit Malaga cheese association have dared to make everything from these dairy products
like the cheese filled with pistachio and honey (from Santa María del Cerro) to brie-style cheese or a provoleta (Argentinian version of the pulled-curd provolone cheese) which have been made for some time in various cheese dairies around Malaga province
These will be two good oopportunities to stock up on quality dairy products for the festive season and beyond
which already held a Malaga artisan cheese market in November
with cheese-makers such as Agammasur (Montes de Málaga)
El Pastor del Torcal (Antequera) and Santa María del Cerro (Villanueva de la Concepción)
In addition to these La Hortelana from Coín also has a stand at the Guadalhorce valley agri-food market on Sundays
In total there will be eight cheese dairies that are known for the production of high quality products made from the milk of the Malagüeña goat
although there will also be some made from sheep's milk (or a mix of both)
In the case of San Pedro Alcántara it is planned to form part of a Christmas market
as well as cheeses and other products for the Christmas table
those who come to the market will also find a good atmosphere with music and entertainment with a Christmas theme
local producers will also be present at the market that runs every Sunday
such as those who bring seasonal vegetables and fruit from different market gardens in the municipality
It will be a good opportunity to fill the larder with quality
This double date with cheeses from the province is also an ideal opportunity to get to know both towns better
it will be held in the town centre between the parish of the same name and the famous boulevard on the old N-340
Although its centre is very welcoming and full of different options for lunch or tapas before or after the market
it is also advisable to visit some of the places of interest near the beach
such as the Roman baths of Las Bóvedas or the paleochristian basilica of Vega del Mar
which are relatively close to each other (still
it is advisable to check the visiting hours in advance)
Coín also has a historic centre with many places of interest as well as many options to enjoy hiking
thanks to its extensive network of footpaths that offer beautiful excursions through the mountains
Coín has managed to preserve this solitary
the only surviving remains of the convent of Trinitarians in the 18th century
but in 1835 the complex was abandoned during the disentailment of Mendizábal when it passed into private hands
where the Malaga Cheese Market is being held this Saturday
you can visit the main religious building in the centre of San Pedro Alcántara in Marbella
although it was restored after being damaged during the Spanish Civil War
Today it presides over one of the main squares in the town
Although there are several religious buildings
Its construction dates back to the beginning of the 16th century
Where: Access via Calle Compás and Teniente Coronel de la Rubia
you can see the remains of some ancient baths dating back to the 2nd century
as they are located next to the Guadalmina urbanisation near the beach
One kilometre from the Guadalhorce agro-food market
where the Malaga cheese market is being held this Sunday
you will find this restaurant where you can find a wide variety of traditional recipes such as the dish of Los Montes
pork tenderloin preserved in lard or pork fillet with tomato
this restaurant has a large selection of mature (aged) beef
such as sirloin or 'presa' (the marbled part of the shoulder cut just below the tenderloin)
Among its options for the first meal of the day are fried eggs with spring onions
Where: main road from Coín to Malaga (A-7059)
Lovers of good wine can enjoy tapas with excellent food paired with an appropriate wine in this restaurant in San Pedro Alcántara
located just a few metres from the street where the Cheese Market is being held this Saturday
There you will find an extensive wine cellar
where Spain's main wine designations of origin (DOP) are present
This cosy tourist accommodation is a good option for those who want to make a getaway to Coín
as it is very well located within the historic centre of this Malaga municipality and not far from the food market
The association Espigones Emergidos Para Marbella gathered on the city's El Cable beach on Wednesday 12 February to denounce "the damage that the sand removal work is causing to the coast"
"The greatest damage is in Cabopino and El Cable
as the beach has been left bare and full of stones."
"Until a few days ago this beach was great for adults and children because of its fine sand and accessibility
residents of the area of another beach - La Fontanilla - are complaining about the methods used in the work
the activity of lorries circulating from 8am to 6pm has caused significant inconvenience to both residents and hotels
The lack of signage indicating the beginning and end of the works
aggravates the situation," said members of the organisation
Espigones Emergidos also criticised the timing of the works
"It makes no sense to do this during the winter
This is not the first time that residents have complained about the state of the Marbella coastline
mud-like sand to San Pedro Alcántara also caused a great stir among residents
As associations and professionals from the hospitality industry have stated before
the main problem is that there is less and less beach area
which directly affects tourists as well as the industry itself
It should be noted that tourism is consolidating as the town's main industry
with the coast being the fundamental business card
The Asociación de Espigones Emergidos Para Marbella announced this week that it will demand the development of infrastructure to stabilise the coastline
with demonstrations at the government office in Malaga
we consider it essential to hold protests against the ineffectiveness of the current solutions
Our aim is to make the problem visible and put pressure on the authorities to take concrete measures and guarantee sustainable management of our coastal resources and a quality environment for residents and visitors," said Lima
dialogue and collaboration between all parties involved," he stated
Lima informed that they have been waiting for a response from the Ministry for Ecological Transition (Miteco) since 15 October 2024 in regard to "the environmental impact reports necessary to speed up the stabilisation of the beaches of Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara and to carry out the necessary sustainability and environmental protection measures"
The project proposed by the general directorate for the coast and sea for Marbella's coastline plans to ensure the quality of the city's beaches
It would involve an abundant supply of sand
estimated at some 400,000 cubic metres of material
which will be extracted from the Serranía de Ronda
specifically from the unprotected area of Genal river
The first part focuses on the regeneration of the coastline between Venus Beach and El Ancón Point
with the aim to restore and stabilise Marbella’s central beaches
This will involve depositing approximately 200,000 cubic metres of sand and constructing two free-standing breakwaters
positioned about 145 metres off the coast between the marina and El Ancón point
Due to the detection of Patellaferruginea - a protected species - the work along area from the west of the fishing port to the marina will consist only of sand and re-profiling of the existing beaches
without demolishing existing breakwaters or new maritime work
The tender budget amounts to 8.5 million euros and has a completion period of 8 months
there is the remodelling of the coastline between the estuaries of the rivers Guadalmina and Guadaiza
The work consists of regeneration through the construction of a system of five breakwaters between 100 and 200 metres in length
in a position perpendicular to the beach; the elimination of 5,000 cubic metres of boulders in the area located next to the estuary of Guadaiza river; and the contribution of some 200,000 cubic metres of sand along the entire beachfront
The budget is 7.4 million euros and the execution period is 9 months
The two parts of the project add up to almost 16 million euros
The project concerning the construction of a breakwater at La Venus beach has been rejected by Costas
the project will be put out to tender in 2025
Marbella mayor Ángeles Muñoz on Friday 8 November presented the municipality's general budget for 2025
which foresees 414.2 million euros in revenue
Accompanied by finance councillor Félix Romero
Muñoz revealed it is the highest figure yet
The council calculates it will have a total 405.2 million euros in expenses next year
"The consolidated expenditure budget increases by 42 million euros compared to 2024
which confirms not only the financial capacity of the town council
but also the continued commitment to public investment
once again we are talking about an absolutely social budget that supports
strengthens and increases these policies," Muñoz said
Muñoz pointed out that investment amounts to 41 million euros
two more than in the current financial year
she included the start of the underground car park at the Africa hostel and the development of a surface sports area
with a total budget of 23 million euros and an allocation of 800,000 euros for 2025
as well as initiatives for road upgrades to the central reservations from the Manuel Haro roundabout to the Marbella arch and between the Puente Romano Hotel and the Centro Forestal Sueco (3.2 million euros)
She also said that 1.3 million euros will be allocated to the revitalisation of roads in San Pedro Alcántara
with work to continue improving the municipality's drainage infrastructure as well as the maintenance of beach plans
A project to implement video surveillance in La Ermita industrial estate is also on the cards
the mayor revealed that 6.5 million euros will be allocated
for the start of the construction of the athletics track and football pitch in Nueva Andalucía
for the new specialised sports centre in Arroyo de La Represa or for a social and sports area in El Ángel
as well as for a municipal gym in Arroyo Primero
as well as to upgrade the facilities in Las Chapas
Muñoz said that the Nueva Andalucía multi-purpose centre will be completed
which will provide the district with a new health centre
to which will be added a multi-purpose centre in El Calvario and a third active participation centre in the southern area of San Pedro Alcántara
A total of 10 million euros is allocated for social projects
The most important allocation is for the home help service
which increases from 5.8 million euros to 7.1 million euros
Subsidies for non-profit organisations are also continued
"The economic activity of the town itself has generated additional resources and
we are able to increase the budget thanks to this economic boom while maintaining the bulk of the tax rebates," Muñoz said
Part of the amounts that town hall plans to receive would come from the 10% of urban development projects which
could result in an income of 6.4 million euros
Marbella town hall also foresees revenues derived from various corruption cases that took place in the town and which for the next financial year are estimated at 11.7 million euros
Following the “great response” to the first rock painting event held last month
Age Concern Marbella will hold another session at its social centre in San Pedro Alcántara on Wednesday 26 February
The charity said that it hopes that this free event
which begins at 4pm and continues until 6pm
will become a monthly handicraft group where its members can enjoy activities where “no artistic skills are necessary”
chatting with others and expressing yourself in a laid-back
so please bring ideas for other crafts,” Age Concern representative Steve Marshall said
The charity will supply the rocks and paint pens
and those interested in participating need to “just bring creativity”
Registration can be made via WhatsApp on +34 649 87 98 00
Around twenty mayors from the Serranía de Ronda are met at Ronda town hall on Tuesday 11 March to ask the Junta de Andalucía for "priority" in the repair of the boulder-blocked road between the mountain town and San Pedro Alcántara on the Costa del Sol
The road was severely damaged by a landslide that happened in the municipality of Benahavís on Saturday 8 March due to heavy rains rom storm Jana
The landslide has cut access for a total of 9,000 thousand people who travel for work between the Serranía and the coast
they will have to use the Ardales or Gaucín detour to get to their workplace
which significantly increases their commute
This will cause major economic damage to the area
the mayor of Ronda María de la Paz Fernández announced the institutional manifesto that the municipal bodies of the area have sent to the Junta's administrations
It includes measures that have been put on table to help alleviate the situation for those workers who cannot use the road by setting up additional public transport services direct to the Costa del Sol
that companies such as those on the Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (PTA) in Malaga will facilitate working from home
for the regional government to temporarily drop the toll on the motorway between Malaga and Manilva
They have also clalled for irect aid for the self-employed and SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) affected
As spokesperson for all the mayors that signed the manifesto
Fernández also stated that the Junta has been asked to "definitively fix" the A-397 and to activate the preliminary project already drawn up
which includes the creation of lanes for slow traffic
the widening of verges and the improvement of the road surface
"It is a mountain road that needs major repairs," said Fernández
She also stated the importance for buses to leave Ronda around 6 or 6.30am "to be able to reach the coast at 8am"
The idea to extend the work from home option to more people seeks to reduce traffic on the Ardales connection to Malaga
as well as the one between Gaucín and Manilva
as they are currently used as alternative routes to the A-397
"We all have a common objective: that the road is fixed as soon as possible," said Fernández
A "surprising" majority of authorities stand behind the manifesto
Malaga PSOE (socialist party) representatives joined the demand to fix the A-397 and asked the regional government to include municipalities from the Guadalteba district and the province of Cadiz in meetings regarding decisions about the road
They reminded the public that a project for the work was already awarded in 2021
Malaga PSOE also asked companies to improve public transport connections and for the costs of certain journeys to be covered
The Partido Popular (conservative party) has also echoed the need for the A-397 to be repaired "as soon as possible
(...) as this situation is detrimental to many Ronda residents and people who live in the mountains"
The state of the comprehensive sanitation network on the Costa del Sol and sewerage discharges is one of the major unresolved issues in Malaga province
But now Spain's central government has approved an investment of 120 million euros for works in Marbella and Estepona
A statement from the Malaga sub-delegation of the government said these projects "will address the problems of insufficiency and obsolescence in some of the main collectors that connect to the wastewater pumping stations in these municipalities"
the aim of this initiative is to help eliminate this issue
work will be carried out on the following collectors: Arroyo de las Cañas-EBAR Guadalmansa (Estepona); Arroyo Siete Revueltas-Calle San Manuel (Marbella); Calle San Manuel-EBAR Víbora (Marbella) and the collector Arroyo Las Cabrillas - EBAR Víbora (Marbella)
The sub-delegate of the government in Malaga
"The government continues to take on investment commitments in water-related matters to step in and support the responsibilities of other administrations." In this regard
he added that it is "a response to a municipal responsibility or to entities managing joint sanitation services"
this is the fourth modification of the direct management agreement during the current term of office of the ministry for ecological transition
which will allow the development of 15 new actions in Spain: ten related to wastewater treatment and purification involving an investment of 422 million euros; four supply actions
The incorporation of these new actions represents a total investment of 752 million euros
One of the items on the water bill for residents of the Costa del Sol is sanitation
along with the regional levy established under Law 9/2010 of 30 July on water for Andalucía
This contribution is allocated to infrastructure works for this purpose
are managed by the public water company Acosol and the regional Junta de Andalucía government
European legislation was adopted setting out the necessary measures that Member States must take to ensure that urban waste water is adequately treated before discharge
Although the EU directive stipulated that by 2001 all localities with over 15,000 inhabitants had to ensure zero discharge
the deadline set for the Malaga coastline was the end of 2015
and adequate treatment has not been implemented
Malaga province has accumulated fines that reached 12.3 million euros by 2022
One of the main problems is that most of the municipalities in Malaga do not have separate rainwater and sewage networks
as well as the state of the pipes themselves
which have been badly damaged over the years
These deficiencies are also a major drawback to one of the objectives set for 2025 by Acosol
which is none other than to promote reclaimed water
The more difficulties there are in sanitation
the more difficult it is to achieve the quality of water that can later be used for irrigation
Apart from the lack of separate networks in the region
the intrusion of the salinity of seawater also hinders the process
Regarding the most imminent infrastructure projects related to coastal sanitation
both the provincial authority and Acosol have recently awarded a joint project worth over 3.3 million euros
will take place between the Las Cañas stream and the Guadalmansa pumping station (EBAR) in Estepona
involving a collector with a 90 cm diameter
The second action will occur between Marbesa and the La Víbora EBAR in Marbella
with a collector of the same width and a slightly greater length of just over half a kilometre
it is planned to install a fibreglass mesh as an internal lining
which will reinforce the most deteriorated sections
Storm Jana last weekend may have boosted water reserves across Malaga province but it also caused some major problems on the roads with the peak tourist season fast approaching
Due to the rockslide last Saturday on the main road which connects inland Ronda with the Costa del Sol at San Pedro - the A-397 - this key link will be closed at least until August
the regional government estimated on Thursday this week
The carriageway has suffered substantial damage
meaning traffic in both directions would need to be controlled by traffic lights
The full width of the road may not be open for six months
The alternatives for people to travel between San Pedro Alcántara
and Ronda are two much longer routes: via Gaucín and Manilva; or Ardales and Coín
this means that drivers will need nearly twice as long - nearly two hours - to get to their destination
The rockslide happened at the Los Madroños pass around midday last Saturday
covering the entire road and causing damage to a span of the supporting viaduct which the road runs over
The closure is within the municipality boundary of Benahavís between kilometres 13 (Parauta)
"As the landslide has occurred halfway up the mountainside
it is technically impossible to set up a provisional detour as has been done in other cases." Traffic will only be restored fully once the road has been repaired
The non-stop rainfall in recent days - and fear of more slips - has meant that work could not start this week on removing the substantial amount of debris
which has meant that work repairing the road has had to wait too
The technicians have explained that the task in hand is very difficult because that part of the road first needs to be demolished before it can be rebuilt
"But there is the added complication that the [mountainside] slope
has been badly affected and also needs to be stabilised to make it safe to pass through again," said the regional government
The blockage affects around 7,500 vehicles a day
Traffic flow on this road ranges from 4,400 vehicles a day at the Ronda exit to 9,700 upon arrival in San Pedro Alcántara
from Benahavís to the Igualeja junction with the MA-7304
Inspections of the damage have not ceased because of the rainfall
collaborating with a company specialising in vertical work which is working on the ground
The activation of an emergency budget means that the work can be done as quickly as possible
without the restrictions of having to put it out to contract
to say the least: on a 90-metre-high slope
"We are very aware of how this affects the economy of the area," said Patricia Navarro
the regional government's delegate for Malaga province
This Saturday 5 April the Serranía de Ronda is being called to take action
to protest and demand improvements to the area's road network and transport links from the various governing bodies
the association for small and medium-sized businesses in Ronda and Campillos
in collaboration with the platform Autovía Ya
has called for a demonstration that comes after the A-397 Ronda-San Pedro Alcántara road was closed to traffic
The closure followed the collapse of a mountain slope onto a viaduct above the municipality of Benahavís due to recent rains
This vital road link for Ronda to the Costa del Sol has further highlighted the weakness of road and rail connections in the local Serranía area
The protest will demand the "urgent" repair of this key road that links Ronda with San Pedro Alcántara
The Junta de Andalucía's forecasts suggest its partial re-opening in four and a half months and a complete re-opening in six months
The protest will also demand an improvement to this road that is used daily by thousands of commuting workers and tourists
To this will be added the demand for a more "deserving" road network in the area and upping the pressure for a dual carriageway connecting the historic mountain town with Malaga city
On the posters announcing the demonstration
it is made clear that the town is without access to the Costa del Sol because of the closure of the A-397 road which has 365 curves and bends
that the area is the "worst" in all Andalucía for communication links and "the most forgotten"
as well as being the only major town (over 30,000 residents) without a motorway connection
The protest march will begin at 12 noon on Avenida Martínez Astein in Ronda and will then head down the popular shopping street known as Calle La Bola
The organisers have announced that action groups from various fields
business associations from San Pedro Alcántara
Benahavís and Campo de Gibraltar will join the march
they have sent a letter to the local mayors in the rest of the Serranía to encourage them and residents of their municipalities to join the demonstration
The Serranía de Ronda will once again demonstrate for improved communications as it did in April 2018 when a massive protest that attracted around 5,000 people marched through the streets of the town
The hustle and bustle and colour return to the streets of San Pedro Alcantara with the arrival of the Spring Market
The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises of San Pedro Alcántara (APYMESPA) has rescheduled the Spring Market from April and it will now take place on Saturday June 1 from 10am to 3pm
this annual event is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of San Pedro
San Pedro Alcantara shopkeepers are getting ready to showcase their best products and seasonal promotions
From fashion and accessories to household goods and gourmet products
the market offers a wide variety of quality products at irresistible prices
It’s the perfect time to renew your wardrobe
decorate your home or find that special gift
turning the town centre into a lively scene of commercial and social activity
In addition to shopping, the Spring Market offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages
From live performances to dancing by the Marta Alvarez School
there are activities to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day
The San Pedro Alcantara Spring Market is more than a commercial event; it is a celebration of life
Don’t miss the opportunity to live this unique experience and immerse yourself in the charm of one of the town’s most beloved traditions
Marbella town hall has started the new year by giving the green light to three important building licences
The first licence was granted to redevelop the Marbell Center shopping centre
Mayor Ángeles Muñoz said that the 25-million-euro investment
which will revitalise the area "is a facility with a commercial use area of more than 18,000 square metres
to carry out the refurbishment of the entire interior
She went on to say that its is "necessary to modernise the premises
because the initial premises were small and now they are going to be extended," and added that "it will house top level companies
restaurant operators and a wide range of leisure activities
including a bowling alley and a gaming area"
The shopping centre is expected to reopen at the end of 2025
generating a total of 150 new direct jobs and giving new impetus to the whole area
The town hall has also granted a building permit to Samara Marbella for the transformation of a building currently used as holiday apartments on Calle Ramón Gómez de la Serna
which is next to the former urban planning department of the town hall
will see an "investment which amounts to 4.8 million euros and 70 rooms"
"We are talking about a major refurbishment of facilities that will hopefully be up and running by 2026," the mayor explained
"It is a very good project that will create more direct jobs than the current tourist accommodation."
Another of the building permits granted yesterday was for the construction of 84 social housing units (VPP) in San Pedro Alcántara
will be undertaken by the Vimpyca foundation
They will have a budget of 8.3 million euros and will consist of two buildings with a commercial area
"The interest of the private sector in continuing to invest is clear," Muñoz concluded
Age Concern Marbella/San Pedro has announced a series of winter activities that will take place throughout November and December
The first of these is a trip to the G-Wine tavern in Nueva Alcántara
five euros of which will go to Age Concern
Reservations can be made via the email address lunches@ageconcernmarbella.com
the association has organised a trip to Cordoba to visit the largest chocolate nativity scene in the world
The cost of the trip is 30 euros; while on Wednesday 4 December
a coach trip has been organised to see the Christmas lights show in Malaga
will leave San Pedro Alcántara at 4pm and will return at 10pm
Reservations for both coach trips can be made at events@ageconcernmarbella.com
the charity will host its traditional Christmas lunch at Hogans Stand in San Pedro on Thursday 12 December
but reservations can be made on the charity’s Facebook page
For further information about all activities, see www.ageconcernmarbella.com
The current drought and the increase in water consumption during the summer are threatening the levels of La Concepción reservoir
although located in the municipality of Istán
is the main source of drinking water for San Pedro Alcántara and the Western Costa del Sol
It is one of the oldest in the province of Malaga
In addition to providing water to a large area
the reservoir is an important ecological reserve
hosting a rich flora and fauna and providing a natural environment for leisure and sport
its current situation is critical due to the lack of rainfall and the increase in demand during the summer months
According to data from the latest Peninsular Hydrological Bulletin, issued by the Directorate General for Water
with a capacity of 62 hm³ (cubic hectometers or 1 million cubic metres)
which represents just 32 per cent of its total capacity
This represents a decrease of 14 hm³ compared to the same period last year
The situation has deteriorated significantly due to the increase in water consumption caused by the influx of tourists and the arrival of visitors between June and September of this year. The increasing demand for water during the summer has put additional pressure on the water resources of the area and
a sixth treatment line has been implemented to further improve its production capacity and meet the constantly growing demand
on July 12 made an appeal to the public to make responsible and efficient use of water
and ordering the prohibition of watering golf courses
the operation of ornamental fountains without a closed water circuit
public fountains and any other non-essential use
It was also ordered to reduce the frequency of watering gardens
The objective was to achieve a saving of 10 percent of the water supplied
Although the decree was accompanied by a series of sanctions
many citizens were unaware of the existence of these restrictions and now
without significant rain in the near future it may impossible to avoid short or medium-term supply cuts
Parts of the A-7 motorway on the Costa del Sol were turned into a lake pool early this Monday morning
where the numerous vehicles that were already on the road were forced to pass through the flooding with water over their wheels
This was the unexpected scene at around 7.30am between Cancelada
according to images that have already been shared by several users on social networks
The videos surfaced as the Junta de Andalucía's Hidrosur monitoring network measured an accumulated rainfall of 27mm in one hour at the Guadalmansa dam (one of the three reservoirs that make up the La Concepción transfer)
This figure is still at the yellow threshold
but very close to the amber warning (from 30mm)
The nearby La Concepción reservoir received almost 14mm in the same hour
the same amount as the municipality of Pujerra
In the rest of the western part of the province it also rained
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Lovers of fried fish have an obligatory place to visit in Malaga province this summer: the Guerra bar in San Pedro Alcántara
This establishment on the western strip of the Costa del Sol has just been proclaimed champion of the Malagueña fritura fish frying contest
organised by the Gastronomic Academy of Malaga
The Marbella bar won the prize by beating 14 other participating establishments from along the coast
The competition started on 30 June and finished on Sunday 15 July with an awards ceremony held at La Pérgola del Mediterráneo
the people's jury prize for the best Malagueña fritura went to La Escollera
Estepona; while the people's jury prize for the best 'boquerones fritura' went to La Parada
These two prizes were awarded by the public who were able to taste the fried dishes
president of the Gastronomic Academy of Malaga Manolo Tornay said the competition was created "with the aim of preserving the authenticity of a dish as authentic to Malaga as a good frying; to reward establishments that are committed to quality frying; and to spread the excellence of the gastronomy of Malaga and Andalucía"
Malaga town hall councillor Jacobo Florido thanked the gastronomic academy for its initiative and invited them to maintain the competition over time
which "highlights the value of the art of making a good frying dish
The restaurants that took part in this first Malaga fritura competition were: Casa El Lebeche (Torremolinos); La Jábega (Torremolinos); Chiringuito María (Málaga); La Familia (Mijas); La Escollera (Estepona); Tropicana (Málaga); Bar Guerra (San Pedro de Alcántara
Marbella); Los Manueles (Torremolinos); La Ponderosa Playa (Fuengirola); El Canarias (Torremolinos); Mediterráneo (Benajarafe
Vélez Málaga); Avante Claro (La Cala del Moral
Rincón de la Victoria); La Parada (Caleta de Vélez
Vélez Málaga); Hermanos Alba (Málaga) and Ramos (Caleta de Vélez
All of them received an anonymous visit from the jury throughout the duration of the competition
The popular roadside diner Venta El Madroño, located on the winding, mountain road between Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara, will remain open despite the major landslide that has caused the closure of part of the A-397 route
As a result the establishment will still be accessible for motorbike enthusiasts approaching from the Ronda direction
Owner María Gonzáles said that there was a risk of temporary closure due to the uncertainty that the road reconstruction would bring
the venta will remain open during the work which is likely to take many months
which will help her avoid economic hardship
who have made the Malaga province road one of their favourite routes
as Venta El Madroño has always been the designated spot for a coffee
That the Costa del Sol suffers from severe traffic congestion is well known
but also to the tourists who also suffer from it every summer
which is responsible for the main road network (the A-7) has been slow to react
but it is now openly admitting that there is a problem on the roads along the coast of Malaga and the Campo de Gibraltar
has commissioned the state roads demarcation in eastern Andalucía to study possible alternatives to improve traffic
The area that has been delimited for the investigation is from Torremolinos to Torreguadiaro (100 km)
and a period of 12 months has been given for a report with proposals
the resolution of the directorate general for roads approved the order under the title "Preliminary study of alternatives for improving the state road network between Torremolinos and Torreguadiaro"
with the exception of the sections which share the same route as the AP-7 (Torremolinos-Fuengirola
Marbella and Estepona bypass) and its connections
a large part of the route of the A-7 road between the two municipalities comes from the widening of the old N-340 road
"This fact has meant that this road has poor characteristics
which is aggravated by the existence of numerous accesses as a consequence of the very strong urban pressure on the Costa del Sol"
and adds: "Between Estepona and Torreguadiaro
the A-7 does not even meet the conditions to be considered a dual carriageway
as the junctions are resolved with roundabouts at level
the A-7 carries a high intensity of traffic
particularly on the section between Fuengirola and San Pedro Alcántara
where it exceeds 65,000 vehicles per day on average
reaching 93,945 vehicles per day at the gauging station near San Pedro
This implies a deficient level of service many hours of the year due to the fact that the A-7 has only two lanes in each direction of traffic and the strict characteristics of its trunk and junctions"
This high level of traffic is due to the fact that the population of the western Costa del Sol
which is close to 600.000 inhabitants (to which must be added a not inconsiderable unregistered and tourist population)
"depends for its daily mobility on the A-7
which can channel mobility between population centres located along the coast; taking into account that the capacity of the AP-7 is limited because it is a toll road (making it unattractive for the daily mobility of residents on the Costa del Sol)"
outside the sections where they share the same route
the connections with the A-7 are scarce and require long journeys on roads with poor characteristics
the document warned: "It is complex to act to resolve or improve the problems described in the A-7
The urban pressure on the margins means that actions to increase capacity and/or create service roads or collector roads to reorganise accesses may
be unfeasible due to the economic and social cost of the expropriations that would be necessary"
which would have sufficient margin to absorb a large part of the long and medium-distance traffic under optimum traffic conditions
is an infrastructure operated under a concession with direct tolls to users
The current reversion date is 2046 for the Malaga-Estepona section and 2054 for the Estepona-Guadiaro section
it is proposed that a preliminary study be drawn up to examine the area as a whole
taking into account all the possibilities for action
with a study of solutions such as increasing capacity or improving the A-7 motorway
including the reorganisation of accesses by building collector roads
"The fundamental objective must be to improve road safety in the area and
Other proposals to be considered are: the construction of bypasses in areas of high population density; building new connections between the A-7 and the AP-7
and measures to promote the use of the AP-7
it is worth recalling the ministry's recent commitment to study discounts so that workers and students can use the motorway at a lower cost
Gather the basic data necessary to diagnose the current state of the A-7/AP-7 corridor (geometry
the territory where the alternative actions are proposed
in order to determine the carrying capacity of a new infrastructure or the extension of the existing one; to be aware of the initiatives and plans of other administrations with competences in the field of the study
in order to be able to act in a coordinated manner and establish synergies; to design the possible alternatives for action; quantify the costs of construction
and subsequent maintenance and operation of each alternative; carry out a traffic study of the current situation and the possible alternatives for action
to assess their potential for improving the level of service on the A-7
a macro-simulation model with the necessary extension and zoning should be carried out
with 'big-data' mobility from mobile telephony activity
"the preliminary study should determine which is the best possible alternative
ensuring that it is socio-economically profitable and that it has technical and environmental viability
so that in a subsequent phase the development of the necessary road studies can continue"
The enormous one-day event will feature six themed stages hosting more than 30,000 attendees, and a lineup of more than 50 DJs providing entertainment for more than 12 hours with uninterrupted music. In addition, more than 300 acts will participate in immersive themes, guaranteeing a surprising, immersive and fun experience for all Elrow fans
Different stages include the newly introduced ‘Rowsmic Carnival’ with an immersive LED psychedelic light show experience
video mapping and pyrotechnics which are said to ‘transport the audience to an imaginary world where reality fades away and fantasy comes to life.’ The theme revolves around ‘Gia’
the goddess of celebration who awakens from her slumber during the Rowsmic eclipse to celebrate a carnival filled with extravagant animals
eccentric characters and surreal sculptures
Next up is Industrial City, a Techno / Trance zone with fire cannons in an industrial setting. Or there is the ‘Nomwads’ area filled with diverse rhythms and experimental, innovative sounds in a bohemian and creative environment. Then, the ‘Rowcio’ zone dedicated to folkloric genres with Paella and Flamenco, and topping the billing, The Gypsy Kings
In the ‘Pink Cathedral’ there will be everything LGBT
An intense and packed line up at this colourful one-dayer. Info and VIP bookings can be made at the elrowtown.com website
The motorway pooled with water on Monday morning at around 7.30am
A major motorway on the Costa del Sol flooded due to extreme rainfall in the early hours of this morning
Parts of the A-7 motorway between Cancelada in Estepona and San Pedro Alcántara in Marbella were submerged in water at around 7.30am today
Videos from the scene show vehicles struggling as they waded through the water
causing waves on the road in the aftermath of Storm Berenice and Hurricane Kirk
one of three reservoirs making up the La Concepción transfer
the Junta de Andalucía's Hidrosur monitoring network recorded an accumulated rainfall of 27mm in one hour between 7am and 8am while the La Concepción reservoir received almost 14mm in the same hour
recent hurricane activity and a ridge in the central Mediterranean will affect the polar jet stream
leading to “unstable atmospheric conditions” in Spain this week
It comes as former Hurricane Leslie makes its way across the Atlantic Ocean and towards the Iberian Peninsula
It’s expected to reach the peninsula on Tuesday but will likely be demoted to a tropical storm by the time it hits Spain
Storm Berenice will weaken by the end of Monday as it heads for Morocco but will continue to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Canary Islands as well as the Alboran Sea and Ceuta
Heavy rainfall is expected throughout Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday
with meteorologists expecting Andalucia to be the most affected region
are on alert today for up to 120 litres of rain per square metre
Aemet has warned that the coast could even see torrential rain over the next few days
while the Balearic Islands could see instances of ‘blood rain’
which occurs when mud particles are blown into the air and carried back to the ground by rainfall
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Tailbacks are stretching out like a plague along the access roads to the main municipalities in Malaga province
the local economy doing well and the increase in population
road connections around the province are simply becoming too busy
Besides the access roads into Malaga city from the surrounding suburbs
the limited road network is having to deal with a dozen other rush-hour hotspots
The worst traffic jams build up on the access roads into Marbella
but there are also queues in the Guadalhorce valley
In addition to the increase in road traffic following the pandemic
there is a lack of high-capacity public transport to ease the load
There is no train service in most of the large towns and the metropolitan bus lines are insufficient
then maybe more drivers would leave their cars at home
This is the difficult scenario that thousands of Malaga residents in the province have to deal with every day when they have to travel to their place of work or study
One of the most problematic spots for traffic jams in the province is the stretch of the A7 between Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara
There is not a day that goes by without traffic jams forming there; more than 100,000 vehicles use the road every day with an increase in high season
What is unusual about the problem around Marbella is that the jams are not just in one direction as is often the case in many towns and cities
Traffic builds up to the same degree on the Malaga-bound and Estepona-bound carriageways
Although peak times are early morning and late afternoon
in this case slow-moving traffic is always present on this road
Another of the most congested areas in Marbella is the main road into Puerto Banús
The roundabout is jammed on a daily basis and long queues of vehicles form
Queues build up from Elviria as well as in the vicinity of Los Monteros and the Costa del Sol hospital
From approximately 7.30 to 10am queues form in the direction of Estepona
while they build up in the opposite direction (towards Malaga) in the late afternoon
It is clear that these are mainly road users who live in the nearby residential developments and commute to work in Marbella and the surrounding area
the road that connects Malaga city with the Guadalhorce valley
has become a critical point of congestion in the province
with a daily traffic tally of more than 45,000 vehicles according to DGT data (Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic)
This saturation affects both workers and local residents who use this road to travel between Malaga and inland areas
Among the most problematic stretches of road are the access points to the city
especially the junction with the A-7 where traffic builds up at peak times
and despite the improvements that the Junta carried out in the previous term of office
there are still problems on the access roads to Malaga's TechPark (PTA)
a business park and hi-tech centre with 25,000 employees
The TechPark generates a high volume of traffic during the early hours of the morning and at the end of the working day
especially between 7 and 9am and again between 4 and 6pm
residential growth in towns such as Cártama and Pizarra has also increased the demand on this road
as many inhabitants use it to access Malaga
Another factor contributing to congestion is the volume of HGVs transporting goods to and from the industrial estates
These vehicles slow down traffic on several stretches
especially at the exits to logistics areas like the Guadalhorce industrial estate
the municipality Alhaurín de la Torre has its own problems
One of the main entry and exit roads for this town is the A-404 with a high volume of traffic (the town hall estimates that 35,000 vehicles use it daily)
The road has been widened between the exit to the Hiperronda (outer ring road) and the roundabout on the Churriana road
from there into the town it is single lane in each direction
which generates traffic jams and slow-moving traffic at practically any time on weekdays
This means that the road through the district of Zapata has become an alternative route out of town for city traffic without having capacity to handle the traffic burden
Alhaurín de la Torre council is calling on the regional government to widen this section to two lanes as soon as possible and to undertake other projects
such as the Vial Metropolitano Distribuidor Oeste (a new road to the city through its industrial estates) or the link road to the TechPark
Currently the local council is also demanding that work start on the new northern access road to the airport and a link to the Guadalhorce local train line (C2)
Its final demand is that bus services between towns and the city be increased
Other Costa del Sol towns also have their own problems
Torremolinos suffers bottlenecks on roads linking with the motorway junctions
While the roundabout for motorway traffic at this point has sufficient capacity
and there is no alternative other than to take the narrow road to Pinar de los Manantiales
Improvements are being held up by the courts' halting of the last Torremolinos PGOU (town masterplan) and the lack of progress in the Intu retail and leisure centre project for this area
The plans announced in 2018 included the construction of new roads as well as the widening of the existing access road from one to three lanes
the Marcha Verde roundabout in El Pinillo represents another headache
both because of the accident rate and the heavy traffic that it is subjected to
given the growth of the population in this district
Avenida Clemente Díaz is a regular bottleneck
mainly at school and work start and finish times
but also for any event taking place in the town centre
The stretch between Muebles Benítez roundabout and the train station is the most contentious due to the long tailbacks
This is where vehicles coming from the A-7 converge with those coming from the northern part of the town
which has grown substantially in residential terms in recent years
This generates a bottleneck several times a day
the road communication problems between the Axarquía and the city are already chronic and getting worse in the absence of road and public transport alternatives
Despite being only a short distance from Malaga
getting there by car from Rincón de la Victoria is a daily ordeal for thousands of drivers who live in this town and work or study in the city
This situation is a source of constant complaint
concern and political confrontation over much-needed infrastructure and urban planning
Rincón council has already approved several motions
addressed to central government and the Junta
demanding urgent measures to relieve congestion on the A-7 motorway
while the long-awaited project for a rail or metro connection is being implemented
attempts are being made to promote the use of public transport
in the midst of growing pressure from members of the public who are directing their anger towards both private operators and the town hall
as well as sharing the traffic congestion on the A-7 from Rincón on the way into Malaga
the main problem area is on the A-356 ring road along the six-kilometre stretch from its junction with the A-7 to El Trapiche crossroads
In recent months it has worsened as a result of the work under way to remodel the road to Torrox
which has eliminated the other exit from Vélez to the coastal area of Torre del Mar and Caleta de Vélez
The traffic jams stretch for kilometres between the roundabouts
Added to this is the flow of lorries heading to the Parque Tecnoalimentario
where some 20 companies have already set up
and to the head office of the largest subtropical agro-food cooperative in the country - Trops - also in El Trapiche
The project to widen this section of road has been delayed for over a decade and has not even been started
Responsibility for its completion rests with the Junta de Andalucía but
despite promises from both PSOE and PP when leading the regional government
the process was restarted for a project valued at almost 30 million euros
Inland there is no escaping the traffic queues
In Antequera the trickiest part of town is the old Malaga-Granada road between the site of the dolmens and the access to the town centre
a road with only one lane in each direction
plus workers entering and leaving the logistics area
can add up to 2,000 vehicles in a matter of minutes
causing tailbacks from the Lozano roundabout to the roundabout at the entrance to the town centre
This is compounded by the residents of La Quinta or those going to the cemetery
who have to cross this road and this worsens the traffic jams
with vehicles using the hard shoulder and even the pavement to continue straight ahead
This problem is intended to be improved with a roundabout to enable traffic to flow to all four exits
but the years go by and it is still pending
like so many other road improvements throughout the province