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Top Costa Blanca beaches fail the test FIVE of the Costa Blanca’s top beaches have lost their prestigious European Blue Flag awards this year. Local authorities say this could not have come at a worse time, with the tourist industry suffering as a result of the credit crunch. Dénia’s Les Bovetes beach, Playa Levante in Benidorm, Playa Muchavista in El Campello, El Postiguet beach in Alicante and Playa Centro in Guardamar del Segura have all lost their prized flags. Benidorm intends to appeal against the decision, since Levante beach is generally thought to be one of the best-quality beaches in the world. They had recently laid new sand, which was disturbed by heavy rainfall the day before the inspection visit. Dénia’s inspection came as a complete surprise to the council, who found out a water test had been carried out without their knowledge. But Oliva and Villajoyosa are pleased with the results of the inspections, since they have recovered the blue flags they lost in 2008. Prostitutes put drivers at risk of crashes WOMEN of the street working along the edge of the N-332 between El Verger and Oliva are putting drivers at risk of accidents, authorities say. Motorists who slow down and stare, becoming distracted and swerving, as well as those who stop and pull in without warning to take advantage of the girls’ ‘services’ are forcing other drivers to make dangerous manoeuvres to avoid a collision. Local authorities are also concerned the girls may be at risk of being run over, for the same reasons. Throughout the day, anything up to 16 prostitutes tout for business along this stretch of the N-332. A significant number has also been seen on the same road between Gata de Gorgos and Jávea, near the entrance to Gandia, and at the Calpe sliproad. No celeb concerts for this year’s fair GANDIA has been forced to cut its costs this year for the annual fair as a result of the recession. Every year, the fira i festes attracts thousands of people of all nationalities to the town for its Mediaeval markets, fairground attractions, and concerts. But in order to reduce expenditure, the council has decided not to hold paid-for concerts in September 2009. In past years, huge national and international artists such as Amaral, El Canto del Loco, Miguel Bosé and Paulina Rubio have staged performances at the fair, usually in the grounds of the María Enríquez high school at prices not exceeding 20 euros a head. Many local bands will perform free of charge, but this year’s only celebrity will be Labuat – otherwise known as Virginia Maestro – who won this year’s reality show Operación Triunfo, Spain’s answer to Pop Idols. Pego’s new high school under construction A NEW high school is about to be built in Pego after a five-year delay. The much-needed centre was given the green light in 2004, and the then councillor for education said he expected it to be open to students within less than three years. But nothing has been done since. The promoters have since announced that work will start after next weekend. Located in the El Clot area of Pego, near the former Sunday market, the school will have stunning views of the mountains, the coast and the Marjal from its windows. Girl fired for being elected fallera mayor DÉNIA’S newly-elected fallera mayor has been fired from her job ‘in case she asks for time off’. Joanna Pous López, 24, was stunned when, after finishing work in her Dénia shop the day after being elected, her boss told her to hand back the keys and to leave. The young woman thought she was mistaken, and returned to work the following day to be told she was not to come back. Joanna, confused, says she has never asked for a single day off or to leave early in order to spend time on her fallera duties. “My work comes first, I’m very clear on that,” she states. “I have not received anything in writing, nor the payment I would be due for losing my job.” But the shop, when asked, claims Joanna resigned as she wanted to dedicate more time to her work as a fallera. However, when the shop became aware that Joanna’s sacking had become common knowledge in Dénia, she was offered her job back on Saturday. Mains gas for the Marina Alta RESIDENTS all over the Marina Alta district will have mains gas by 2010. The regional government intends to roll out the supply to most householders in Dénia, Jávea, Ondara, Gata de Gorgos, El Verger, Pego and Pedreguer by the end of next year. In total, around 70,000 people are expected to benefit from the move initially. A 23-kilometre pipe is being built at a cost of around 4.5 million euros, of which a fifth will be funded by the regional government. Oliva residents fed up with raw sewage in homes AROUND 30 families in an Oliva apartment block staged a protest outside the government offices on Friday in Valencia. They say they have been putting up with raw sewage leaks into their communal areas for five years. Residents of the five-storey block, on the Avenida del Morer behind the main Paseo in Oliva, say they have to put up with intolerable smells and inhuman living conditions. They have been complaining to authorities since 2004 about the poor state of the sewage pipe. European election email contains false information, council stresses AN anonymous email in English sent to expats in Jávea telling them they cannot vote unless they speak Spanish is a hoax, councillors stress. Thousands of foreign – mostly British – residents received an email saying they could not cast their ballot at the forthcoming European elections on June 7 unless they were able to speak Spanish. It purported to be from Nueva Jávea, a party made up mostly of expatriate councillors. But Nueva Jávea was stunned to hear the news, saying they had nothing to do with it and were unsure where the email had come from. Councillors hinted there may have been confusion, since those manning the polling stations must speak Spanish to be able to volunteer to do so. However, any EU citizen, irrespective of their linguistic skills, has the right to vote in the European elections.
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