CalpeNoticias EN

This week, Calpe Town Council has begun removing street furniture and other items from Las Salinas in compliance with the High Court ruling on the appeal lodged by the company Deborja S.A.

The company had previously lodged an appeal against the occupation of land in the Las Salinas area with the installation of elements such as signposts with explanatory signs, litter bins, benches, walkways and wooden screens to allow bird watching.

The ruling stated that the Town Council had to remove these items as they were installed on privately owned rural land, although it also rejected the claim that the Town Council had to pay Deborja S.A. €61,651,947 in compensation, as requested by the company.

The ruling considered in 2024 that there was occupation by the Calpe City Council of a wooden screen that hides birdwatchers from the lagoon, a vertical signpost, an explanatory sign, a litter bin, a bench and a hiding element, and a wooden walkway. It ordered the City Council to cease this activity and remove these elements. Now that the ruling is final, the City Council has proceeded to remove all the elements.

At the same time, the ruling dismissed the company's exorbitant claims for compensation and considered that there were no other types of occupation of the plots as claimed by Deborja, S.A.

This week, Calpe Town Council has begun removing street furniture and other items from Las Salinas in compliance with the High Court ruling on the appeal lodged by the company Deborja S.A.

The company had previously lodged an appeal against the occupation of land in the Las Salinas area with the installation of elements such as signposts with explanatory signs, litter bins, benches, walkways and wooden screens to allow bird watching.

The ruling stated that the Town Council had to remove these items as they were installed on privately owned rural land, although it also rejected the claim that the Town Council had to pay Deborja S.A. €61,651,947 in compensation, as requested by the company.

The ruling considered in 2024 that there was occupation by the Calpe City Council of a wooden screen that hides birdwatchers from the lagoon, a vertical signpost, an explanatory sign, a litter bin, a bench and a hiding element, and a wooden walkway. It ordered the City Council to cease this activity and remove these elements. Now that the ruling is final, the City Council has proceeded to remove all the elements.

At the same time, the ruling dismissed the company's exorbitant claims for compensation and considered that there were no other types of occupation of the plots as claimed by Deborja, S.A.

Calpe Town Council is completing the award of the contract for lifeguard services, first aid transport and supervised bathing assistance on beaches and the coast. The contract proposal has been formalised, and the service is expected to start shortly.

The successful bidder will be responsible for ensuring safety on Calpe's beaches for the next four years. Their tasks will consist of preventing possible incidents and rescuing anyone in danger. To this end, they will carry out surveillance by land and sea, either on foot on the beach, from proximity chairs or from boats covering the 13 kilometres of Calpe's coastline.

The new contract, with a tender price of €3,155,000 for four years, divides the service into low, medium and high seasons, with different resources allocated at each time. The rescue and first aid service cover Cala de la Calalga, Playa de la Fossa, Cala del Racó del Port, Playa de Cantal Roig, Cala del Morelló, Playa del Arenal-Bol and Playa de Puerto Blanco.

The boats and medical transport must cover the entire coastline. Supervised swimming will take place in the accessible beach areas of La Fossa and Arenal-Bol.

Four periods have been established for the service throughout the year: Easter Week, Mid Season (1 to 31 May and 1 to 15 October), High Season 1 (1 to 30 June and 1 to 30 September) and High Season 2 (1 July to 31 August).

The service and staff are adapted to the needs of each season, so the number of lifeguards, beach supervisors, ambulance drivers, boat skippers, etc. varies depending on the season, reaching 32 people in high season. The ambulance service must be provided at all times and the rescue boat will operate during high season. The timetable will be set by the Town Council.

The material resources, from the basic first aid kit to transmission and public address equipment, amphibious chairs and crutches, defibrillators, cervical collars, immobilization splints, oxygen therapy equipment, etc., will be provided by the successful bidder.

All personnel hired must have at least a lifeguard qualification and be of legal age. Lifeguards working on the accessible beaches of La Fossa and Arenal-Bol will be trained to assist people with reduced mobility and will have at least one year's experience. Before the start of the annual service, the successful bidder will provide a complete list of lifeguards who will be providing the service, including their personal details and qualifications.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of CREAMA (Consortium for Economic Recovery and Activity in the Marina Alta), institutional representatives held a press conference yesterday to commemorate three decades of joint work for the economic and social development of the region.

The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, highlighted that this year her municipality is the capital of CREAMA, as well as hosting the commemorative events. ‘We are celebrating 30 years since that historic 8th of November 1994, when the agreement that gave life to CREAMA was signed in Dénia, a pioneering project born to unite efforts and strengthen our region,’ she said.
Sala recalled how Calpe joined the consortium in 1998, joining an initiative originally promoted by Benissa, Pego, the INEM and the Alicante Provincial Council, and how over the years other municipalities such as Xàbia, Pedreguer, Teulada, Gata de Gorgos, and now El Verger have joined. ‘Creama has managed to establish itself as a national and European benchmark in local development,’ he stressed, recalling the recognition received from the European Union and the University of Valencia.

The mayor of Gata de Gorgos, Josep Francesc Signes i Costa, recalled that his municipality joined CREAMA in 2005 and highlighted the plurality of the consortium as one of its greatest values. ‘Creama has managed to weave unity out of diversity, generating a sense of region, of shared belonging, of common interests that go beyond administrative boundaries,’ he said. Signes stressed that CREAMA not only underpins the territory through technical management, but also through a ‘sense of community, solidarity and a common project’.
For his part, the mayor of Pego, Enrique Moll, recalled the beginnings of the project in 1994, which was promoted with funding from the European Social Fund, and pointed out the tangible impact of the nearly 20 European projects managed by CREAMA, which have benefited more than 2,500 people in the region. ‘This consortium has not been built on imposition, but on alliance and mutual trust. CREAMA is a tool for regional cohesion that shows that together we are stronger,’ he said.

The three representatives agreed on the importance of the collective effort of all the people and institutions that have made it possible for CREAMA to continue for three decades. ‘Today we pay tribute to the commitment, networking and willingness to build a region,’ they concluded.

For his part, the president of CREAMA and provincial deputy for Economic Development and European Projects, Carlos Pastor Ventura, took stock of the three decades of history with some significant figures: more than 700,000 people served, 73 million euros managed —more than 5 million from European funds—, 85 regional projects developed and an active network of local agencies that once again has nine offices following the reincorporation of El Verger. ‘Creama is one of the best examples of territorial cooperation, institutional efficiency and dedication to public service that we have in the province,’ said Pastor.

He also announced that the institutional ceremony to commemorate the anniversary will be held on 3 July in Calp, with the participation of former officials, technicians, suppliers and collaborators of the consortium. ‘We will continue to work together, as a region, as a province, as a shared project,’ she concluded.
The event served as a prelude to the consortium's General Assembly, where the reincorporation of El Verger into the network of municipalities that make up CREAMA was announced.
In its 30-year history, CREAMA has responded to 706,234 requests, promoted the creation of 5,256 companies in the region and carried out 100,451 employment guidance actions. Another highlight of the report is the raising of 73,209,681 euros to carry out its economic revitalisation actions.

Friday, 23rd:

• • 8 pm - II Calp Piano Festival with a performance by Rubén Talón. Saló Blau. Free admission.
  • End-of-Year Exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura. Until 30th May.
  • Exhibition ‘Personajes’ by the Frax Foundation. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell. Until 29 May.

Saturday, 24

• • 9.30 am - Guided tour of the Calalga-Bassetes Blue Trail. Meeting point: La Calalga car park. Recommendations: Wear comfortable clothing, sunscreen, bring lunch and water. More information: info@ecosilvo.es. Pre-registration: https://forms.gle/AquQFgWLfVnSoyyq9
  • 5pm - Youth Challenge. New challenges. Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).
  • 7.30pm - Spring Concert by the Unió Musical Calp Ifac. Auditorium.
  • 9pm - ‘Pop Legends’ concert by Alejandro Canals - part of the Cultural Week at the Civic Centre. Plaza Mayor
  • 11 pm - Remember Party in aid of the Capitanía Mora 2025. Parc de la Creativitat. Tickets on sale at Bar Nou Mejías, Frutas Calpe, Peluquería Tyffani's or from any member of the filà: 685081032 · 695985720 · 635814499
  • End-of-year exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura. Until 30 May.
  • Exhibition ‘Personajes’ by the Frax Foundation. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell. Until 29 May.

Sunday, 25

• • From 10.30 am to 2 pm - Games day, organised by the Youth Club. Parc de la Creativitat.
  • Solidarity flower offering, organised by the Casa de Andalucia de Calpe in aid of those affected by the DANA flood:
  • 11 am - Rociera Mass in the parish church of Ntra. Sra. de las Nieves with the Sentimiento Andaluz choir
  • 12 noon - Collection of donations and offering of carnations to decorate the Cross, as well as performances by dance groups
  • 2pm - Gastronomic day at the Almogávares kábila (C/ de l'Ermita, 18)

A new edition of FiraCalp, the gastronomy and trade fair of the city of Peñón, is back. It will be held from 29 May to 1 June in the Plaza Mayor, organised by the Town Council in collaboration with the Calpe Business Association.

The fair, now in its fifteenth year, will feature 17 restaurant stands, 3 cafés and 5 cocktail bars, and will also strengthen its commercial aspect with the participation of 6 shops showcasing their products.

The restaurateurs will offer four tapas and a dessert per stall, which will be available at affordable prices. The gastronomic offer is very varied, ranging from traditional and renowned Calpe rice dishes and fried fish to exquisite gourmet dishes, all marinated with a selection of wines suggested by each restaurateur.

The 2025 Festival Committee will also participate in FiraCalp to sell drinks: beer, soft drinks and water; the profits will go towards organising this year's patron saint festivities.

Alongside all this, there will be daily activities such as musical and dance performances, book presentations, flamenco classes, reading workshops, children's theatre, face painting workshops, wine tastings, gymnastics classes, natural smoothie workshops, magic for children, salsa exhibitions, Zumba and batucada, etc.

The Orquesta Mondragón with Javier Gurruchaga is scheduled to perform in Calp with ‘Rock&Roll Circus’ on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. In addition, on Sunday at 9 p.m., there will be a musical performance entitled ‘Tribute to Sabina. 500 Nights’. Throughout the four days of the fair, there will also be performances by the Gran Babylon and La Metro orchestras, the Casa de Andalucia flamenco school, Alba Pérez, Calpe Salsea, the Unió Musical de Calp Youth Band and various local DJs.

This year's fair will once again feature a charity haircut event. On Sunday 1 June, starting at 11 a.m., a large group of local hairdressers will cut hair to raise money for an NGO. This year will also see the return of the competition for the best tapa of the fair.

The fair will open its doors on Thursday 29 May at 7pm and will continue until Sunday. In previous years, this event has attracted 12,000 people over its four days. This is a fair where visitors have the opportunity to sample, in small dishes, or tapas, the culinary skills of Calpe's restaurateurs, have a drink, an ice cream... and discover some of the commercial offerings available in the town. Fira Calp is a well-established fair, a great showcase for the dissemination and promotion of two of the town's great assets: its hospitality and commerce.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, pointed out that ‘Firacalp is growing every year thanks to the efforts of the Department of Economic Development and AMECO. I would like to highlight the financial and human effort that goes into making the fair better every year and ensuring that it serves as a showcase for local businesses and restaurants. This year, the Town Council is allocating €90,000 to Firacalp to support Calpe's business community’.

The Councillor for Economic Development, Paqui Solivelles, pointed out that ‘these are four days packed with activities. Highlights include the performance by the Orquesta Mondragón and the Tribute to Sabina, but there are also endless activities for all audiences’.

Santi Ferrer, president of AEMCO, thanked the Town Council for its efforts in preparing the fair and invited everyone to attend and participate.

The Administrative Court of Alicante has ruled in favour of Calp Town Council after declaring the expiry of the licence it granted in December 2017 to the company Sol de Calpe for the construction of a 35-storey twin-tower hotel on a plot of land located on Avenida Juan Carlos I, near the salt flats. It therefore dismisses the appeal lodged by the company and considers the Calp Town Council's decision to be ‘in accordance with the law’.

The Calp Town Council declared the licence expired after verifying that the deadline for its execution had passed without work having begun and following the approval of amendment D14 to the Calp General Urban Development Plan, which included new urban planning regulations with which the building licence granted did not comply.

Sol de Calpe argues in its appeal that the licence should not have expired because it considers that since it was granted, a series of circumstances have prevented the start of the works. In this regard, reference is made to the contentious-administrative appeal filed by the Valencian Regional Government in 2018, which led to the suspension of the licence, which was finally dismissed, as was the subsequent appeal, by a ruling of the High Court of Justice, which became final on 10 September 2021.

The company also argues that it has repeatedly stated, in various letters submitted to the City Council, its intention to start the works and that, therefore, there is no ‘conduct of abandonment or withdrawal of its intention to build’.

However, the Administrative Court states in its ruling that: ‘The plaintiff merely states that it wants to carry out the works, but this is nothing more than an empty statement. Since the ruling of the Chamber was declared final on 10 December 2021, it has not taken any material action to carry out the works’.

Likewise, the ruling refers to the fact that the company did not have the financing to carry out the work, as well as to the modification of the planning to which this project did not comply. ‘As case law indicates, the licence guarantees the right to build, but not the immutability of the urban planning regime,’ it highlights.

This is a first instance ruling, which means that it can be appealed.

Calpe sets the standard in climate adaptation with the certification of its Climate Change Adaptation Plan in accordance with the UNE-ISO 14092:2021 standard

The municipality of Calpe has today taken a firm step forward in its commitment to sustainability and climate resilience by officially receiving the certificate for the verification of its Climate Change Adaptation Plan in accordance with the international standard UNE-ISO 14092:2021. This standard establishes the requirements for local authorities to effectively plan their response to the effects of climate change.

The presentation took place during the 4th #goCalpee Conference, organised by the Calpe Observatory for Resilient and Sustainable Cities, at the iconic Casa Nova. The event brought together experts in urban planning, sustainability, coastal management and climate innovation to discuss the challenges facing cities in a context of increasing environmental vulnerability.

During the event, Mayor Ana Sala emphasised that ‘we at the Town Council are very proud to be part of this initiative and to promote forums where measures that can contribute to improving the resilience of our cities to climate change are discussed’. She also expressed her satisfaction with the certification received by Calpe's Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

The technical development of the plan was carried out by GO2, a strategic consultancy firm belonging to the Global Omnium group. Its director, Juan Luis Pozo, highlighted during the event that ‘Calpe is the first European municipality to obtain certification, which endorses the quality and robustness of its climate planning’. He added that these plans have become ‘a necessary tool to prepare municipalities for the challenges of climate change’.

The certificate was awarded by Bureau Veritas, an international reference entity in inspection, conformity verification and certification services, among others, which has validated that Calpe's plan complies with all the standards established in the ISO 14092 standard.

Calpe's Climate Change Adaptation Plan analyses the specific climate risks affecting the municipality, such as rising extreme temperatures, torrential rainfall, droughts and coastal erosion, and proposes concrete measures to reduce its vulnerability. It includes actions on urban planning, the water cycle, energy, natural spaces and local governance.

The IV #goCalpee Conference featured speakers such as Juan Manuel del Pino (First Deputy Mayor of Calpe Town Council), Jorge Olcina (Professor at the University of Alicante), Celsa Monrós (Climate Innovation Specialist - Climate KIC), Marc García (Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports - Valencian Regional Government) and Nathalie Gidrón (Architect and Landscape Designer at SingularGreen). Participants discussed how to adapt coastal cities, the need to redesign urban infrastructure inherited from the 20th century and the value of collaboration between public administrations and the private sector.

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the report ‘The state of CO₂ emissions in the world. Year 2023’, by Elvira Carles, director of the Business and Climate Foundation.

This internationally recognised document provides an updated diagnosis of the evolution of greenhouse gas emissions at global, regional and national levels. Carles pointed out that ‘the global trend remains negative, unlike in the EU, where emission levels have fallen’. She highlighted the figures for the Valencian Community, where there are 103 industrial facilities — including cement factories, tile factories, paper mills and power plants — subject to the European Emissions Trading Directive, which requires them to calculate and reduce their emissions. These represent 15.9% of all those included in the system in Spain and yet only generate 7.3% of the country's total emissions.

The conference concluded with the official presentation of the ISO 14092 certificate to Calpe Town Council, reinforcing its position as a leading municipality in climate planning within the Mediterranean arc.

The event closed with a common idea: resilience begins at the local level, and Calpe has proven itself equal to the challenge.

Calp creates the Municipal Sports Council to promote participation in municipal sports management

Yesterday, Calp Town Council initially approved the regulations for the Municipal Sports Council, which aims to become a participatory body for all actions to be carried out by the Town Council in relation to sport. The Municipal Sports Council is established as a complementary body for consultation, management and collaboration with the Town Council on sports matters.

To carry out these functions, it is necessary to establish a regulatory framework that allows for active participation and collaboration between the different entities and actors involved in the management and promotion of sport at the local level.

Hence yesterday's approval in plenary session of the regulations establishing that the Council will have the functions of advising the municipal government on matters relating to sport and physical activity, proposing initiatives to the City Council in the field of sport, promoting and facilitating the practice of sport by the population in all areas; amateur, popular, school and federated sports, promoting and supporting sports associations and organisations in the municipality with the aim of stimulating sporting activity and achieving a varied offer for citizens, promoting local sports and encouraging citizen participation in sporting events.

Other functions of the Council include promoting participation in activities organised by the Marina Alta Sports Network; Mini Jocs Esportius de la Marina Alta, Tradijocs de la Marina Alta and competitions organised by the Network. It also promotes coordination between public and private initiatives in the field of sport, coordinates and participates in the annual sports programme and participates in the preparation of the Bases de Ayudas a la Promoción al Deporte (Sports Promotion Grant Guidelines).

The Council is composed of a president, who is the mayor or a councillor delegated by the mayor, and a plenary session made up of the president, the secretary, who is a municipal official, and representatives of local sports organisations registered in the Calp Town Council's Register of Associations. It will also include four members representing the families of local athletes (chosen by public lottery), one representative from each political group and a technician or representative from the Sports Department.

The election of representatives shall take place each time the Municipal Corporation is constituted. The Plenary Session of the Council shall meet at least twice a year, once every six months, and on an extraordinary basis when convened by the President or at the request of at least one third of the members. The headquarters of the Municipal Sports Council shall be the Domingo Crespo Sports Pavilion.

Through the Sports Council, the different groups related to the sports sector in the municipality will have a forum to channel their opinions, suggestions, needs, problems and proposals so that these can be taken into account when municipal decisions are made.

The Councillor for Sports, Ximo Perles, said yesterday in the plenary session that ‘we must create this Council to try to give a voice to the clubs and parents of children in sports schools, to modify sports subsidies so that they are increasingly better and to monitor their implementation, while at the same time creating a feedback mechanism for needs’

What to do in Calpe this weekend, 16, 17 and 18 May

Friday, 16:

• • From 2 pm - 25th anniversary of IES Ifac. Music, games and lots of fun. Plaza Mayor.
  • 5 pm. Blood donation. Local Red Cross Assembly. Calle María Jorro, 1 (local 1).
  • 8 pm - 2nd Calp Piano Festival with a performance by István I. Székely. Saló Blau. Free admission.
  • End-of-year exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura. Until 30 May.
  • Exhibition ‘Personajes’ by the Frax Foundation. Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell. Until 29 May.

Saturday, 17:

• • Event ‘Tarjeta de Embarque Berberiscos’ (Berberiscos Boarding Pass). Purchase tickets from members of the filà. In aid of Alférez Moro 2025. Plaza Mayor:
  • 2.30 pm – Lunch
  • 5 pm – Afternoon concert with Xaranga
  • 9 pm – Performance by DJ Incógnito
  • 5 pm. Gardening workshop. Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).
  • 6.30 pm – Guided tours of the old town. Registration required on 965836920 / 965838532 / 677912754 / turismo@ajcalp.es. Maximum 25 people per group. Meeting point: Casa de Cultura.
  • End-of-year exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall at the Casa de Cultura. Until 30 May.
  • Exhibition ‘Personajes’ by the Frax Foundation. Exhibition Hall at the Ajuntament Vell. Until 29 May.

Sunday, 18:

·       5pm – Table football tournament. Youth Club (Punt Jove – Plaza de la Constitución).

The Town Council puts out to tender the pruning service for the next four years for €612,040

Calpe Town Council is putting out to tender the pruning and maintenance service for the central reservation in the municipal area for a period of four years, until December 2028, with a total tender price of €612,040.

The contract is divided into four lots: 1) old town and urban expansion, 2) southern area (Avenidas Masnou and Valencia and residential areas), 3) beach area (Avenidas Ejércitos Españoles and Juan Carlos I and beaches) and 4) northern area (access roads, school and sports areas and residential areas).

The purpose of this contract is to prune the trees on public roads and green areas in Calpe, including the comprehensive maintenance of the vegetation on the central reservations of various avenues and streets in the municipality.

The document details the content of each lot: work to be carried out, spatial scope (parks, green areas and roads contained in each lot) and tree species. The specifications also include plans detailing the areas of action.

The specifications also specify the types of pruning allowed, the pruning seasons, the specific requirements for the removal of plant debris to authorised landfills, etc. It also establishes that the comprehensive maintenance of the shrub species on the central reservations of the avenues will be carried out four times a year and that this action will include pruning, weed control and maintenance of the irrigation network.

In addition, the successful bidder will provide the City Council with a series of GIS layers showing the location of trees and hedges on the central reservations, along with their location, pruning date, code and name, etc.

Calpe will have a Municipal Housing Plan

Calpe Town Council plans to tackle one of the most pressing problems in the municipality: the lack of housing. To this end, it will hire an external specialist firm to draw up the Municipal Housing Plan, a document that will study the housing situation in the town and propose a programme of measures 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 people 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 Calpe 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 assessment will also include an analysis of how urban and territorial planning influences access to housing and whether it really meets the housing needs of the municipality.

With all this information, strategies will be established to carry out an action programme aimed at ensuring that citizens have access to decent housing that is suitable for their needs, in economic conditions that are proportional to their household income.

‘We are particularly excited to begin this process. It is only the first step, but it is a very necessary one to guarantee the right to decent housing for families and young people in Calpe,’ said Housing Councillor Mireia Ripoll, who is committed to implementing “an innovative and sustainable management model that goes beyond new construction, taking into account that Calpe is a municipality with limited land and highly developed urban planning”.

The tender for the drafting of the Municipal Housing Plan is expected to be published shortly.

Calpe will have a Municipal Housing Plan

Calpe Town Council plans to tackle one of the most pressing problems in the municipality: the lack of housing. To this end, it will hire an external specialist firm to draw up the Municipal Housing Plan, a document that will study the housing situation in the town and propose a programme of measures 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 people 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 Calpe 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 assessment will also include an analysis of how urban and territorial planning influences access to housing and whether it really meets the housing needs of the municipality.

With all this information, strategies will be established to carry out an action programme aimed at ensuring that citizens have access to decent housing that is suitable for their needs, in economic conditions that are proportional to their household income.

‘We are particularly excited to begin this process. It is only the first step, but it is a very necessary one to guarantee the right to decent housing for families and young people in Calpe,’ said Housing Councillor Mireia Ripoll, who is committed to implementing “an innovative and sustainable management model that goes beyond new construction, taking into account that Calpe is a municipality with limited land and highly developed urban planning”.

Calpe will renaturalise the urban section of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines

Calpe Town Council will soon put out to tender the drafting of the project to renaturalise the urban section of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines. This is the first step in a project that is highly desired by the current government team, which will involve the removal of invasive species and their replacement with native vegetation to increase the biodiversity of the environment and improve and guarantee the safety of the ravine.

The draft of the technical project has a base budget of 30,000 euros and is expected to be carried out within nine to 11 months. The project will include the removal of Arundo Donax, an invasive species that proliferates in the ravine bed, to prevent possible obstructions that could cause the river to overflow in the event of heavy flooding. It was precisely during such an incident that local police officer Juan Manuel Policarpo Moll lost his life in the line of duty in September 2022. To eradicate this invasive species, the solarisation technique will be used, involving black tarpaulins to reach high temperatures that kill the plant's roots, after which native species will be planted.

The project now out to tender only covers the urban section of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines, which is the responsibility of Calpe Town Council, although the council's aim is for these measures to be carried out along the entire length of the Quisi ravine, much of which runs through the municipality of Benissa. For this reason, the Calpe Town Council, together with the Benissa Town Council, have formed a group to apply for grants in the latest call for proposals from the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and have committed to working together to obtain authorisation from the CHJ, which has jurisdiction over the non-urban section of the ravine, and thus make this project a reality.

This first project, which will be put out to tender shortly, will also include the renaturalisation of the Saleta park, a municipal park located next to the Quisi, which is also invaded by many Arundo Donax reeds, with the aim of converting it into a riverside forest.

Once the project has been drawn up, Calpe Town Council will carry out the planned work, for which it will have a budget of £145,000.

‘We estimate that by the end of the legislative term we will begin to see the results of a much-needed project in Calpe that will benefit the health of our environment and improve safety in the event of torrential rains, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change and can cause the ravines to overflow,’ said the Councillor for the Environment, Pere Moll.

Calpe wins 12 medals at the 15th MiniJocs de la Marina Alta

Athletes from Calpe won 12 medals —three gold, three silver and six bronze— as well as two diplomas at the 15th edition of the MinniJocs Olímpicos de la Marina Alta held this weekend in Dénia. Calpe participated with a delegation of 103 athletes who competed in football, basketball, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, tennis, indoor football, volleyball, chess and sailing.

In rhythmic gymnastics, Radmila Kondenko and Milans Kasian won gold in the duets category, while Liubov Fedkova, Noa Bote and Milana Pushkar took first place in the trios. The third gold medal went to Claudia Fernández, who shone in the freestyle swimming event.

As for the silver medals, Sergio Murenko took second place on the podium in sailing, Ginés Estupiñá did the same in freestyle swimming and Claudia Fernández repeated her success with a second place in backstroke.

The bronze medals went to the men's and women's basketball teams, Andrei Daniel Chira in chess, and Ginés Estupiñá, who added two more medals in the butterfly and backstroke events. Lorena Andrea Romanesi also took bronze in rhythmic gymnastics.

In addition, the Calpee men's football team finished in fourth place, earning them a diploma, as did gymnast Shopie O'Reilly, who was also recognised for her performance.

The Councillor for Sports, Ximo Perles, said that he was ‘proud of the incredible level of grassroots sport in Calpee’. He also pointed out that the council ‘will work to encourage more children to take part in the next edition of the MiniJocs, as it is not necessary to belong to a club or be enrolled in sports schools to take part in this event’.

The SGAE headquarters hosts the presentation of SONAFILM 2025

The Marina Alta Film Music Festival, SONAFILM, will present its 7th edition this week in Madrid. The presentation will take place on Friday 23 May at 12 noon in the ‘Manuel de Falla’ room at the SGAE headquarters in Madrid.

During the event, the main theme, the complete programme and the guests of this new edition of the only festival dedicated entirely to the music of the seventh art held in the Levante region will be revealed.

The event will be opened by Antonio Onetti, president of the SGAE, and will feature the participation of Javier Gil Pérez, director of SONAFILM and manager of the Universal Symphony Orchestra, the festival's resident orchestra, Pedro Mérida, producer of SONAFILM, and Isabel Royán, composer.

Also participating will be Guillermo Sendra Guardiola, Councillor for Culture in Calp, Raquel Mengual Bisquert, Councillor for Tourism in Ondara, Rosana Marí Blasco, Councillor for Culture in Ondara, Raúl García Reina, Councillor for Culture in Dénia, Mario Ortiz Fuentes, Councillor for Festivals in Beniarbeig (representing Ana Gallart, Councillor for Culture), Mavi Pérez Font, Councillor for Culture in Xàbia, Ricardo Sendra García, Councillor for Tourism in Pego, and Maite Serrat, manager of the Teulada Moraira Auditorium.

The presentation will be accompanied by a musical performance on the piano by Jorge Gil Zulueta.

The Sonafilm festival has established itself as a musical benchmark dedicated to the great soundtracks of the seventh art. The idea emerged in Ondara seven years ago and captivated the public. Its format as a major cultural event encouraged other municipalities such as Dénia, Calp, Teulada-Moraira and Beniarbeig to join the initiative. In 2025, Xàbia and Pego have also joined the project.

The Local Government (Somos Calpe, PSPV and Compromís) has today approved in plenary session to allocate 1,775,108.25 euros from the Treasury surplus from the settlement of the 2024 budget to a total of sixteen initiatives. The council has drawn up a report on the works and investments that will be financed from the surplus and which must be carried out by 2025.

Among the investments, the Empedrola - Balcón de Bernia road project stands out with a budget of €220,000, the accessibility works on the Banda and Social Services building with an investment of €150,458, and the asphalting of roads in the Bassetes, Calalga and La Fossa residential areas for a total of €650,000.

In terms of sports, €126,757 will be allocated to the creation of an outdoor municipal gym, €71,984 to lighting for the football pitch and €15,262 to lighting for the Benítez sports courts and the Frontón area.

There are also plans to allocate €90,000 to LED lighting in the Old Town, €48,000 for acoustic improvements to the Civic Centre and €40,000 for lighting and sound in the Auditorium.

Other projects included in the surplus are the Local Police hut in La Fossa for €35,000, the installation of the Tourism Department hut on Arenal-Bol beach for €60,000, the installation of railings and ropes in Las Salinas for €80,000 and on the beaches for €20,000.

In addition, €60,000 will be allocated to fencing the El Saladar pet park, €7,645 to the purchase of a vehicle for Civil Protection and €100,000 to continue with the installation of video surveillance cameras.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, stated that ‘the Economic Plan requires us to be cautious and, although it allows us to spend up to €8 million in 2025, we are not going to do so. What we will do is implement a series of projects that are already prepared, representing investments worth €1,775,108.25’.

The Popular Party spokesperson, Miguel Crespo, pointed out that ‘the numbers do not add up. We are concerned that they are patching things up and conditioning future budgets. We have detected shortcomings that we do not know how to solve in the future and that may limit Calp's progress. I want to raise the alarm because this is a paradoxical situation: either we break the spending rule again or the investments are not made’. Councillor Ximo Perles replied that ‘this is not the case, the surplus is more than 8 million, we can spend up to that 8 million and for the moment we are going to spend 1,700,000 euros’.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PLAN

According to the government team, Calp Town Council currently enjoys a healthy economic situation, with no bank or financial debt, €46 million in cash in its bank accounts and a treasury surplus of €26,825,247.80.

However, current fiscal rules require the City Council to present a Financial Economic Plan (PEF) 2025, due to a breach of the spending rule. This breach is temporary, not structural, and is directly related to the readjustment to state fiscal rules, following their suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Plan was approved today in plenary session, with the votes in favour of the government and the abstention of the opposition, with the aim of controlling and limiting spending.

Statements

The spokesperson for Defendamos Calpe, Paco Quiles, pointed out that "Calp has exceeded its spending by 6 million. Defendamos Calpe has been warning that the spending limit was being exceeded. To say that Calp Town Council is in good financial health is not accurate. We would like to know what the money has been spent on and we would like to see an investment schedule. The money should not be in the bank; it should be used to provide public services".

Miguel Crespo of the Popular Party stated that ‘the economic and financial plan is a political document because it derives from political management. In our opinion, they have mismanaged the economy. They have broken the fiscal rules and spent 6 million euros more than they could have. This plan will condition the Town Council's management for the coming years and represents a 30% failure to execute the budget.’

Ximo Perles, government spokesperson, has indicated that ‘The plan has no adjustments because it is not expected that the budget will be executed 100%, but it is impossible to execute the budget 100% for various reasons, whether in chapter 1 or in the reductions in contracting. It is not fair to talk about disastrous management; what we disagree on is what to spend it on.’

The mayoress, Ana Sala, has indicated that ‘We did not comply with the spending rule because 2023 was an election year, and in an election year, especially if there is a change of government, it is impossible to execute the budget. In 2023, spending was reduced, and in 2024, which was a full financial year, the budget was spent as planned’.

The National Police will now issue ID cards and passports immediately in Calpe thanks to the new mobile units recently incorporated. These are Integral Documentation Vehicles (VIDOC), launched by the Directorate General of the Police to improve the efficiency and accessibility of digital public services for citizens and businesses.

This morning, the new VIDOC vehicle arrived in Calpe to issue and renew ID cards and, for the first time, passports, as until now this document could only be issued at police stations, meaning that Calpe residents had to travel to Dénia or Benidorm. In addition, they have been able to obtain these documents instantly, which is a complete novelty, since the Mobile Unit that came to Calpe to issue ID cards from time to time had to return a second day to deliver the National Identity Document to its holder.

The VIDOC vehicle is scheduled to visit Calpe every month from 9.30 am to 1 pm. The next session will be on 12 June and anyone interested should go to the Citizen Service Office in advance to make an appointment. Citizens should also bear in mind that card payments will not be available, as the vehicles are not equipped with card readers, so fees must be paid in cash.

"The arrival of the VIDOC vehicle is a major step forward for Calpe. Our residents can obtain both their ID card and passport without leaving the municipality and, what's more, in a single visit, which is particularly beneficial for the elderly and those with mobility difficulties. We would like to thank the Directorate General of Police for launching this service, which brings the administration closer to the public," said Paqui Solivelles, Councillor for the Citizen Services Office.

The Calpe Town Council has begun the tender process for the installation of photovoltaic panels for self-consumption at the municipal swimming pool, with a budget of €57,438 and a completion period of three months.

The project consists of installing a hybrid photovoltaic system for self-consumption on the roof of the municipal swimming pool, with 50 kW of surplus energy fed into the grid and the possibility of energy storage. A generator consisting of 104 modules or panels with intelligent monitoring will be installed.

The solar panels will cover the facility's own energy needs with renewable energy, reducing the electricity bill and carbon emissions. This installation will complement the municipal swimming pool's biomass boiler and LED lighting, which are designed to maximise energy efficiency and savings at this sports facility.

 The Councillor for Sports, Ximo Perles, pointed out that ‘the City Council is committed to renewable energy, and this is a measure of sustainability and energy efficiency. We aspire to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The installation of photovoltaic panels at the municipal swimming pool to reduce consumption is the first of other investments along these lines to reduce pollution’.

Friday, 9:

• II CalpPiano Festival with a performance by Carla Gómez. The renowned pianist from Alicante will perform pieces by Chopin, Albéniz, Falla, Granados and Piazzola, among others. 8 pm. Saló Blau – Free admission

• End-of-Year Exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura.

• Charity exhibition ‘Arte por la DANA’ (Art for the DANA Flood). Masía Casa Nova de Calpe.

• Exhibition ‘Personajes’ (Characters) by the Frax Foundation. Until 29 May in the Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell.

Saturday, 10:

• Geek Pride Day! With workshops, games, dancing and much more. From 4pm to 9pm. Parque de la Glorieta – Youth Club

• Borja Montón's Magic Show. 7pm. Casa de Cultura Auditorium. Advance tickets €12 (on sale from members of the 2025 Festival Committee) and €15 at the box office one hour before the start of the show.

• End-of-year exhibition by ADA (Friends of Art) students. Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Cultura. Until 30 May.

• Exhibition ‘Personajes’ by the Frax Foundation. Until 29 May in the Exhibition Hall of the Ajuntament Vell

• 10 am to 2 pm. Charity exhibition ‘Arte por la DANA’. Masía Casa Nova de Calpe.

Sunday, 11th:

• Walk of the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of #Calp. At 11 a.m. From the Plaza de la Constitución.

• 5 p.m. – Pasapalabra contest. Youth Club (Punt Jove - Plaza de la Constitución).