CalpeNoticias EN

A few days ago, the Local Governing Board agreed to request that the Regional Ministry of the Environment, Infrastructure and Territory urgently convene the Governing Board of Penyal d'Ifac, the body responsible for managing the park, which has not met for years.

At the last Local Governing Board meeting, general discontent was expressed about the state of neglect of the natural park, as well as the need to carry out various actions and address the improvement of the natural environment. The Calpe Town Council has conveyed this discontent to the Regional Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure and Territory so that the appropriate measures can be taken to clean and maintain Penyal d'Ifac.

After confirming that the Governing Board has not met for years and that the park currently has no director to whom the needs and complaints can be conveyed, the Calpe Council is urging the Regional Ministry to convene the board urgently so that the problems posed by the Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park, the most visited in the Valencian Community, can be addressed and resolved.

Last September, the Town Council sent an official letter to the Regional Ministry requesting that the Governing Board be convened as the body that debates and decides on issues relating to the operation and maintenance of the natural park. At that time, the need to install signage on La Pobla and authorisation for the MARQ to create a museum/interpretation centre for La Pobla d'Ifac in the building located within the park itself were already raised. However, the municipal request received no response.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, has pointed out that: "the City Council has conveyed the need for greater involvement; the natural park is the smallest and most visited in the Valencian Community. Although its management is the responsibility of the regional government, we are the ones who suffer the complaints and apathy because we have no governing body to turn to. After two years of the legislature without the governing board being convened to address not only complaints but also needs and possibilities for improvement, we believe that it is urgent to convene it."

Friday, 29:

• From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
• From 7 pm to 9 pm - Open-air workshops (painting, ceramics and crafts) organised by Amigos del Arte. Calle Pedro García Ortiz.
• 8 pm - Travelling concert through the historic centre by ClaudeFa Calpe. Starting at Calle La Fuente.
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Exhibition ‘Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land’. Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.
• Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.

Saturday, 30th:

• 8:30 p.m. - Improvisation show ‘Corta el cable rojo’ (Cut the Red Wire) will have the Auditorium laughing with the freshest and most unpredictable humour. Auditorium. Free show.
• 8 p.m. - Bye Bye Summer Party to benefit Capitanía Mora 2025. With DJs Rubén Daza and Jordi Oltra.
• From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
• Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the squares Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition: ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo.

• Exhibition: ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land). Until 31 August. Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’.
• Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.

Sunday, 31st:

• From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach)
• Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the plazas Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
• Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
• Exhibition ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land). Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.

Aguas de Calpe is currently constructing a new sewer that will ensure the correct connection to the sewerage network of the new Les Salines secondary school, which is currently under construction, as well as a new sewer that will run through the grounds of the Gargasindi Special Education Centre.

The planned investment for both strategic actions amounts to more than €107,000. The solution adopted is the rehabilitation with a self-supporting sleeve of a 269-metre section of 400 mm diameter sewer - in the case of the Les Salines Secondary School - and a 170-metre section of 300 mm diameter sewer in the case of the Gargasindi Special Education Centre.

The company Aguas de Calpe has carried out all the preliminary work - such as the inspection of collectors with closed-circuit television (CCTV), measurement and verification of diameters along the entire length of the collector to be rehabilitated - during the summer period to avoid and reduce any inconvenience to residents. In particular, the pupils of the CEIP Azorín school, located next to the CEE Gargasindi works site, given the start of the school year, and for this reason the installation of the sleeve is scheduled for the week of 1 to 5 September, before the start of the school year.

Special features of the technical characteristics

Rehabilitation with a self-supporting sleeve, i.e. trenchless technology, is based on the introduction into the collector to be rehabilitated of a textile sleeve made of polyester felt with an internal polypropylene coating, impregnated with thermosetting polyester resin using hot water or steam.

 The result is equivalent to a new pipe with a service life of over 50 years. Aguas de Calpe, a joint venture formed by Calp Town Council and the Global Omnium group, has been committed to the digitalisation and continuous improvement of service management for many years.

 Aware of the importance of an objective assessment of the sewer network as a starting point for data-based asset management, in 2021 it began a systematic inspection and diagnosis campaign of the entire sewerage network in Calp, which would be completed two years later.

To address this challenge, CCTV inspection of the nearly 100 km of collectors that make up the network was planned, and software for automatic detection of defects in sewerage networks based on artificial intelligence (SEWDEF, from INLOC Robotics) was used. The diagnosis of the network is carried out by the software itself based on the defects identified, following the principles of the WRc protocol. This provides an operational and structural status indicator for each collector. In this way, the costs of inspection and diagnosis operations are minimised, ensuring an objective assessment in determining priorities for action.

The Calpe Town Council, through the Department of the Environment and Forest Surveillance, will launch a new strategy for the prevention of forest fires in the municipality in September. From now on, forest cleaning and management activities will be concentrated in the post-summer season in order to mitigate risks and protect the environment.

‘We have laid the foundations for effective and continuous work based on the premise that fires are extinguished in winter, which will be a crucial step for the safety of our mountains,’ said the Councillor for the Environment, Pere Moll.
In this regard, among the actions that the council plans to carry out is the implementation of the Local Forest Fire Prevention Plan, which will involve the creation of perimeter strips in the Oltà mountains. The project, which will involve an investment of €153,000, is part of the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan (PSTD) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) financed by the European Union - Next Generation. Work is expected to begin in September.

The Calpe Town Council has already drawn up and sent to the Valencian Regional Government the urban-forestry map of the municipality, which delimits a safety strip between urban areas and forest areas to prevent fires or, in the event of a fire, to prevent its spread, a requirement of a legislative decree of the Regional Government.

Likewise, a tender worth €59,900 is being prepared to contract the cleaning and forest management of the green areas of Empedrola I and II. Progress is also being made in the processing of a collaboration agreement for the restoration of the green area comprising La Empedrola and La Rosina, all with the aim of improving the environment and preventing fires.

Furthermore, in September, the Calpe government team will once again present the motion it approved last year to request the declaration of a Forest Health Emergency in the Valencian Community. This initiative is a response to the serious situation of massive pine tree dieback, which increases the risk of fires. ‘We want to make it clear that, although we are taking action, the magnitude of the problem requires a declaration of emergency so that the authorities can act more quickly,’ said the Councillor for the Environment.

In addition to this, the Department of the Environment recalls the actions taken in recent months to improve safety and emergency response, including the adaptation of a road in the Oltamar district, in the Oltà camping area, which will facilitate a possible evacuation, as well as improving access for firefighters on the road on the southern slope of Oltà, in the shooting range area.

The Department, in collaboration with Civil Protection, also carries out water control and replenishment work at the Oltà springs, in order to guarantee the water supply for the goats that live there. In this regard, it should be noted that these animals play an important role in fire prevention, contributing to the cleaning of the undergrowth and reducing the amount of vegetation susceptible to burning. ‘They act as “firefighting goats”, which are more effective than mechanical clearing. In this way, we contribute to the safety of the Oltà mountain in a sustainable manner,’ said the councillor.

Added to this is the ‘Clean Plots, Safe Forests’ campaign, which reminds landowners of their obligation to keep their land in optimal condition to avoid risks.

‘All these actions, together with those that will be carried out after the summer, are proof that the Town Council is implementing a comprehensive and proactive plan. With everyone's collaboration, we will make Calpe a safer municipality,’ said Pere Moll.

Calpe Town Council, through its Department of Social Welfare, has promoted various initiatives at the La Casa Roja family respite centre, which cares for people with cognitive degeneration problems. The improvements include planting trees to provide natural shade for the grounds and plans to widen the perimeter pavement to facilitate mobility for users.

In addition, there are plans to provide the centre with a new minibus, adapted for the transport of users.

The ‘La Casa Roja’ Family Respite Unit runs a Specific Programme for people with Alzheimer's and other similar conditions, managed by the recently renewed multidisciplinary team at Tacte Social. The team consists of a psychologist and centre coordinator, together with two assistants whose job is to adapt the activities to the individual needs of each user.

The therapies include innovative ideas such as cooking workshops, in which users participate in preparing recipes. These activities stimulate the senses, such as taste and smell, while improving coordination and procedural memory, which are key aspects in slowing the progression of cognitive degeneration.

This centre, which was inaugurated in May 2023 in the Casa Roja, has a maximum capacity of 15 users, although there are currently up to 18 registered users, as not all of them attend every day. An average of 12 people are attended to each day. It is a free service for citizens as it is fully funded by Calpe Town Council at an annual cost of £49,500. The council also offers a free municipal transport service to these facilities, located in the Cocó district, which are also open to users in summer.

The Councillor for Social Welfare, Itziar Doval, emphasised that: ‘We are committed to the well-being of our citizens, and these improvements at La Casa Roja are a clear example of this’. ‘Cognitive stimulation activities are essential for these people and also represent an important relief for their families.´

It should be noted that the centre also provides support services for the families of sick people and prepares them for the changes they will have to face as a result of the progressive deterioration of these diseases. The centre also provides respite for these families, who will have more time to rest.

The councillor added that this programme has also made use of the Casa Roja, a municipal building constructed some 15 years ago that was only used occasionally as accommodation for volunteers during the excavation campaigns at the medieval Pobla d'Ifac site.

Friday, 22:
•    From 5pm to 8.30pm – Blood donation day. Calpe Red Cross headquarters (C/ María Jorro, 1. Local 10).
•    From 6pm to 1am – Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    8.30pm – Summer concert by the Colla de Xirimiters del Carellot. Plaza de la Villa.
•    Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land’. Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
Saturday, 23rd:
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    8pm - Travelling concert by CLAUdeFA CALPE. Starting from Plaza Colón on the seafront promenade of Arenal-Bol beach.
•    Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land). Until 31 August. Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
Sunday, 24th:
•    From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the squares Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land’. Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
 

Calpe Town Council has published on the State procurement platform the tender for the drafting of the Calpe Housing Plan, with a budget of €48,400 and a completion period of seven months.

According to the documentation, the purpose of the contract is to draft a Municipal Housing Plan that will study the housing situation in the municipality of Calpe, with special attention to the analysis of the population and residential demand, the municipality's housing stock, the housing supply and market, and the impact of territorial and urban planning on the residential sector. In addition, the plan must consider the study of municipal resources and instruments - for example, subsidies, acquisition of housing by the local administration, etc. - at the service of housing policies. The Plan will also propose a suitably scheduled action programme.

The ultimate goal is to address one of the most pressing problems in the municipality: the lack of housing. To this end, an external specialist firm has been hired to draft the Municipal Housing Plan, a document that will study the housing situation in the town and propose a programme of actions to address the problems identified in the assessment.

The aim of this initiative is to facilitate access to decent housing for citizens. The lack of housing in Calpe has become a structural problem in the municipality, aggravated by the increase in tourist accommodation and prices, compounded by the fact that the municipality has a limited and highly urbanised territory. The situation has led to sectors such as tourism being unable to find workers due to a lack of affordable housing.

This strategic plan will be a roadmap with short-, medium- and long-term measures and is intended to have a cross-cutting approach, i.e. urban, social and economic, and to be adapted to the characteristics of the municipality.

In this regard, the study of the housing situation provided for in the plan should include an analysis of the population and the housing needs of families residing in Calpe, especially those used as primary residences, with a specific section on individuals and groups at risk of social and residential exclusion, as well as on the situation regarding evictions. Likewise, an analysis of the housing stock in the municipality will be carried out, reflecting its state of repair, tenure (rental, ownership, transfer of use, etc.), as well as empty or disused dwellings and second homes. Inadequate housing and substandard housing will also be included, and an analysis of the housing market and its supply (volume, regimes, prices, type and location, among other parameters) will be carried out. Special consideration will be given to the situation of social housing.

The proposals for action will include a report justifying and describing the set of actions planned and their coordination with other social, economic and environmental strategies. The Plan must include an economic and financial assessment with a description of the material resources available to the municipality to implement the Action Programme and must define the mechanisms for the implementation, development, monitoring and evaluation of the Plan.

With all this, strategies will be established to carry out an action programme aimed at achieving access to decent and adequate housing for all citizens. The Councillor for Housing, Mireia Ripoll, has stated that "the Calpe Town Council is pleased to announce that the service for drafting the Strategic Housing Plan for our town is now available on the contracting platform. This plan stems from an urgent need to find effective mechanisms to improve access to permanent housing in Calpe. We know that it is a major challenge for many families to find a home to live in all year round, which is why we are committed to a cross-cutting approach that not only seeks urban planning solutions, but also includes social measures and the promotion of long-term rentals so that there are more homes available to buy or rent all year round".
 

Last Saturday, the Auditorium of the Casa de Cultura in Calpe became a musical epicentre for film and soundtrack lovers, thanks to the concert ‘Made in Spain 3’, the highlight of the seventh edition of the prestigious SONAFILM festival.

 The evening, featuring the Universal Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro José Martínez Colomina, offered an unforgettable experience to an audience that completely filled the auditorium.

The programme included some of the most representative scores of contemporary Spanish cinema, performed with great sensitivity and artistic excellence.

The most emotional moment of the evening was the presence in the hall of the composers themselves: Arturo Cardelús, Iván Palomares, Isabel Royán, Josué Vergara and Óscar Araujo. In total, seven pieces were premiered worldwide during the concert.

The performance also featured the participation of multi-instrumentalist Fernando Mosquera, a specialist in ethnic instruments, who brought a unique sound dimension to the show. Another highlight was the attendance of French composer Ludovic Bource, winner of the 2012 Oscar for the soundtrack of The Artist, who received a warm tribute from the audience.

The Councillor for Culture of the Calpe Town Council, Guillermo Sendra, closed the event by highlighting ‘the Town Council's commitment to promoting audiovisual music made in Spain’ and emphasised that Made in Spain ‘has established itself as the most important event of its kind at the national level’. With a ‘sold out’ sign, the concert ended with a long - standing ovation from the audience, who celebrated the artistic quality and talent of the guest composers.

The mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, has sent a directive to the Human Resources department to draft technical and administrative specifications for hiring a service to monitor and track sick leave recorded at the Calpe City Council. The document also establishes that the service will be for two years, with the possibility of extension.

 The aim of this measure is to reduce absenteeism in the local administration as much as possible. The document states that the Human Resources department has found that the level of absenteeism in the Calpe Town Council is 10%, which is above the average for the sector. For this reason, the mayor's office has considered it necessary to improve the management of the sick leave monitoring process. The council has a workforce of around 500 employees. The mayor, Ana Sala, has pointed out that "we have been aware for some time, thanks to the reports provided by the Mutual Insurance Company, that the level of absenteeism exceeds the average for the public administration sector and that there is no way to reduce these rates.

 The time has come to remedy this situation. Obviously, there will be justified absences and there will be those that are not justified, but all we want to do is monitor and check that these absences are real and effective. We need to optimise the Council's resources; we cannot afford this level of absenteeism. I have tried, through the Mutual Insurance Company, to monitor and verify that these absences are genuine, but the Mutual Insurance Company is doing what it can, the Social Security does not have the necessary mechanisms to prevent this, and a public administration, which manages public money and resources, cannot afford these levels of absenteeism".

The mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, has sent a directive to the Human Resources department to draft technical and administrative specifications for hiring a service to monitor and track sick leave recorded at the Calpe City Council. The document also establishes that the service will be for two years, with the possibility of extension.
 The aim of this measure is to reduce absenteeism in the local administration as much as possible. The document states that the Human Resources department has found that the level of absenteeism in the Calpe Town Council is 10%, which is above the average for the sector. For this reason, the mayor's office has considered it necessary to improve the management of the sick leave monitoring process. The council has a workforce of around 500 employees.

The mayor, Ana Sala, has pointed out that "we have been aware for some time, thanks to the reports provided by the Mutual Insurance Company, that the level of absenteeism exceeds the average for the public administration sector and that there is no way to reduce these rates.

 The time has come to remedy this situation. Obviously, there will be justified absences and there will be those that are not justified, but all we want to do is monitor and check that these absences are real and effective. We need to optimise the Council's resources; we cannot afford this level of absenteeism. I have tried, through the Mutual Insurance Company, to monitor and verify that these absences are genuine, but the Mutual Insurance Company is doing what it can, the Social Security does not have the necessary mechanisms to prevent this, and a public administration, which manages public money and resources, cannot afford these levels of absenteeism".

Friday, 15:

•    Exhibition ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land) at the Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ throughout August.
•    Calpe Pop Festival 2025. (doors open at 10 pm) 10:30 pm – Gava i Nico, followed by Figa Flawas. Closing act: DJ Capde
•    From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).

Saturday, 16:
•    9 a.m. – Free Zumba class. Plaza Colón (Arenal-Bol beach).
•    Exhibition: ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ (Paint and you will paint) by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    SONAFILM VII Marina Alta Film Music Festival presents ‘Film Music. Made in Spain 3’ with the Universal Symphony Orchestra conducted by José Martínez Colomina. 8 pm in the Auditorium.
•    Calpe Pop Festival 2025. (doors open at 8:30 pm), 9:30 pm – Nacha Pop. Followed by: El Drogas. To close: DJ Abraham Pla & DJ David
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).

Sunday, 17th:
•    Exhibition ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30th December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
 

This week, Calpe's Department of the Environment has begun cleaning up the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines, specifically in the area around the Casanova bridge towards the sports area. The aim is to have the ravines clean before the autumn rains and prevent possible flooding.

Excavators are currently working on the ground as part of this preventive emergency action. The aim is to remove the Arundo Donax reeds that are proliferating in the bed of this ravine and thus prevent possible obstructions that could lead to the river overflowing.

The Councillor for the Environment, Pere Moll, stressed that: "we are carrying out the clean-up of urban ravines, clearing the riverbeds so that we can have peace of mind this autumn, with clean riverbeds and water that can flow easily. It should also be noted that, in the part of the river known as the Casanova bridge towards Benissa, through the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, solarisation tarpaulins are already being installed to prevent the growth of reeds. The strategy is to reach the end of Benissa. In addition, we have applied for funding from the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and in September we will know whether or not we have been awarded the funding requested for the naturalisation of the ravine, although the strategy is already defined and we are working in phases".

Last June, the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation carried out renaturalisation work on the Barranc del Quisi, specifically the section between the bridge and the treatment plant. This part of the ravine is considered non-urban and is therefore the responsibility of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation. The work consisted of removing the invasive reeds, then covering their roots with an opaque tarpaulin and soon planting native species.

This step responds to constant requests from the Town Council, which is currently tendering for the renaturalisation project for the urban section of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines. This will involve the removal of invasive species and their replacement with native vegetation in order to increase the biodiversity of the environment and improve and guarantee the safety of the ravine. The technical project has a base budget of €30,000 and the planned work has a budget of €170,000.
 

This week, the tender for the reconstruction works for the access road to the Balcón de Bernia residential area has been published. This is the road whose retaining wall collapsed because of the rains in 2022. The road is currently completely undermined in the area where the wall collapsed. Although a reinforced concrete wall has been built by the community of owners of the residential development, the services are in a precarious state, with temporary connections and completely exposed to the elements.

The works will consist of demolishing the road surface affected by the collapse of the wall, filling in the wall, compacting the fill, aligning the kerbs and replacing the existing services. Subsequently, the asphalt layer will be laid, the pavements will be rebuilt, and the road will be painted.

The supply network, which is currently laid provisionally, will also be replaced, a new drainage grate will be installed at the lowest point of the road to improve drainage in the area, and work will be carried out to channel the underground low-voltage line.

This work has a base tender budget of €219,404 and a completion period of three months. This is one of the projects that will be financed with the surplus from last year's budget.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, said that "it was always my intention to tackle this project and carry it out as soon as possible, but circumstances such as the lack of technicians in the infrastructure and projects department have delayed us until now. The project was finalised just a few months ago, we have had a shortage of qualified technicians in the department, and the time has come to put it out to tender. We hope that reputable companies will submit bids so that we can carry out the work as soon as possible and return that area of the Empedrola development to normal. The owners were very concerned about the rain, which caused a lot of damage and forced residents to be evacuated. I hope that everything will soon return to normal".

Calle La Niña marks the end of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines until they flow into Arenal-Bol beach. The riverbed is uncovered and remains dry in the absence of rainfall. However, the prefabricated frames installed after the 2007 floods are at a lower level, causing water to rise from the water table and accumulate at the end of the riverbed.

At the same time, sand accumulates at the mouth of the frames due to the effect of the waves, and this sand concentrates inside the frames, causing rainwater runoff to stagnate and, at high temperatures, generating biofilm and bad odours.

To prevent these bad odours, but also to minimise the possible arrival of pollution in the bathing area, it is necessary to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water in the last section of the frames on Calle La Niña. For this reason, Aguas de Calpe has a manhole at the frames, at the level of the road between the Rio and Costa Blanca buildings, to allow access with the hoses of the self-priming tanker trucks. This morning, company workers carried out this operation to remove stagnant water from the channel.

Aguas de Calpe also has a facility for connecting various portable pumps inside the frames and transferring the accumulated volume to the sewerage network. It should be noted that the low water level inside the frames prevents the installation of high-flow submersible pumps.

Last Friday, a meeting was held at the Town Hall in which municipal technicians and technicians from Aguas de Calpe studied various measures to prevent possible odours or spills. After the meeting, it was decided that in order to maximise pumping capacity, Aguas de Calpe will install a Godwin pump on the surface and install suction pipes from inside the frames to pump the water into the municipal sewerage network. The capacity of the Godwin pump, which exceeds 100 m3/h, and the diameter of the pipes to be installed, 110 mm, will minimise the time that water remains stagnant inside the frames.

The measures indicated, together with continuous monitoring for the accumulation of water in the last section of the frames on Calle La Niña, will minimise both the possible generation of bad odours and the possible arrival of pollution in the bathing area.

The Calpe Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Unit (UVIM) carried out another rescue this morning in the same area of Penyal d'Ifac where on Wednesday it assisted a man who fell into the sea while trying to access a cove. On this occasion, a couple of tourists who were paddle surfing called for help from officers who were patrolling the area after a wave swept one of them against the rocks, causing injuries that left him unable to leave the area on his own.

One of the officers jumped into the sea to rescue the two swimmers and take them to the boat, while the other officer remained in control of the boat due to the rocky nature of the area. The injured tourist suffered bruises to her legs from the collision with the rocks.

This week, the expansion works on the municipal cemetery have been completed, a project that represents an investment of €196,976.59 and adds 111 new niches and substantially improves the existing facilities.

The project, which was awarded to Vías y Obras Aitana, involved the construction of a new level with capacity for 111 additional niches distributed across four modules, all on a plot adjacent to the newest part of the cemetery. The project also includes significant aesthetic and functional improvements, such as the creation of green areas with dry stone walls and the installation of a new irrigation system.

This project, which responds to population growth and the current needs of the municipality, is part of a broader improvement plan. "This project is only the first step on a longer journey. We have new phases planned that will shape our vision of a cemetery that is more than just a place of farewell. We want to create a space where serenity and beauty invite reflection, where gardens and traditional stone walls help us feel at peace," said Marco Bittner, councillor responsible for the Parque del Descanso Eterno.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, accompanied by councillor Marco Bittner and municipal technicians, visited the works yesterday to check on their progress.

Today, installation of beach hammocks and sunshades began on Arenal-Bol beach after the Town Council awarded the contract to SEAWOLF TEAM, S.L. for an annual fee of 280,000 euros. This week, the areas where these services will be located are being marked out and will be operational on both beaches on 12 August. The installation of these beach services has been delayed by several administrative appeals filed by different bidding companies.

Following the resolution of the appeals for reconsideration filed by the various bidders in the award procedure, an initial award proposal was made. However, the bidder proposed as the successful tenderer did not provide the required documentation or the final guarantee, so it was understood that it was withdrawing its bid due to failure to prove its technical solvency, and the Contracting Department proposed a new successful tenderer, which is the one that will finally provide the service.

Seawolf Team will provide sunshade and sunbed services for four seasons. As a new feature, this company offers environmental education staff to carry out awareness campaigns on the beach.
In addition, this year the appearance of the services will change so that the sunbeds, a total of 900 units, will be sand-coloured, more in keeping with the environment, and the sunshades, a total of 700 units, will be made of natural fibre.

A 60-year-old man was rescued yesterday at midday after falling into the sea while trying to descend to a cove from a rocky area of Penyal d'Ifac. The new Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Unit of the Calpe Local Police (UVIM) took part in the operation. After receiving a call from 112, they headed to the area around Penyal and managed to locate the injured man.

Once the boat was anchored, one of the officers jumped into the water to rescue him, while the other remained on board directing the manoeuvre. The victim, who suffered blows to his back, chest and head, said he had fallen approximately five metres while trying to descend to a cove.

In addition to several officers from the Calpe Local Police, firefighters, medical services, a lifeguard from the EULEN company and even a paddle surfer who was in the area took part in the evacuation of the injured man.

As is traditional on Fadrí Day, Calpe has a new mayor. This morning, 18-year-old festival-goer Salva Femenía became the town's first councillor after Mayoress Ana Sala handed him the baton in front of the members of the festival committee, who cheered their new municipal representative.

Although he will only be in office for 24 hours, he has prepared a programme of measures that will be in force throughout the day. After thanking the “festeros”  for their trust, the new mayor said that his goal is to work for a more ‘festive’ Calpe.

The young mayor addressed those present - members of the committee and citizens - from the balcony of the Town Hall and presented several of his proposals, such as extending the hours of the festival shows, banning controls and making it compulsory to have fun during the festival days.

This event marks Fadrí Day, a day when young “festeros” take charge of the municipality. In his speech from the plenary hall, Salva Femenía also called for more days of festivities.

The Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports, Marc García, chaired the first meeting of the Calpe port round table, which was attended by Calpe Town Council, the Fishermen's Association, the Royal Yacht Club of Calpe, Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar, the company that manages the fish farm in Calpe.

This is the first meeting between the Director General and the various port stakeholders to hear their concerns and worries. The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, criticised the slow response to the requests submitted by the Town Council to Ports and the fact that the Regional Government returns little of the fees that Calpe pays them every year to the local port. She also took the opportunity to reiterate the Town Council's opposition to the fish farm installed off the coast of the municipality.

Similarly, the head of the fishermen's association, Paco Catalá, and the association's secretary, Santos Pastor, called for greater speed in the processing of files and more support from the regional government in improving the port's infrastructure, ‘one of the most visited in the Valencian Community in both winter and summer’. They cited as an example the importance of improving the fish market, a building that is over 30 years old. The fishermen's association also warned of the lack of space in the port due to the presence of boats from other ports and the increase in tourist activity.

Representatives of Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar also highlighted the delay in resolving applications and raised the possibility of establishing access control on Avenida del Puerto - from the Royal Yacht Club to Cala del Racó - to avoid traffic jams on this road.

The president of the Royal Yacht Club, Juan Belliure, explained to the director general the sporting successes achieved by the club and the educational work carried out in schools to promote water sports, and informed him of the 50th anniversary of these facilities next year.

The director general invited all those present to submit detailed proposals in relation to the demands made.

 He also reported that the Ports budget has increased by 15% this year, in addition to the intention to reinforce the service with 11 people, which he hopes will enable a more responsive service to be provided in relation to requests and enquiries concerning the 35 ports managed in the Valencian Community. He added that the Calpe fish market is the only one in the region built and paid for by the fishermen of Calpe themselves, ‘something that must be taken into account’, and assured that it ‘will be a priority’ for the Regional Government.

In addition to Mayor Ana Sala, the meeting was attended by the Councillor for the Sea and Land, Mariola Mulet, and the Councillor for Territory, Juan Manuel del Pino.