Removing unwanted invaders

They launched an investigation at the end of December after a representative from one of the well­known firms affected by the rip ­ offs informed them that counterfeits were on sale at the La Cala market.

Earlier, the Benidorm shopkeepers’ association AICO had tipped off investigators about the increase in bogus designer labels at different open­air markets in the area.

MARC GARCIA, Confederación Hidrografica del Jucar (CHJ) executive, visited Altea on Thursday January 26 to supervise cleaning the Barranc dels Arcs stream.

The CHJ is collaborating on the €110,000 operation with Altea Town Hall, which will be responsible for ensuring that the stream is kept clear of invasive common reeds over the next two years.

At the end of this period, the area will be sown with native species, Marc Garcia explained, as he inspected the €110,000 Les Arcs operation accompanied by Altea’s mayor Jaume Llinares and Environment councillor Jose Orozco.

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

Police were accompanied during the recent swoop by a court expert specialising in detecting imitations who confirmed that the items on sale were fakes.

All those arrested were released after making statements, while the goods, which included clothes, watches, computer products and accessories, will be sent to courts in Benidorm and Villajoyosa.

“We are restoring the riverbank vegetation by removing reedbeds and covering the banks with tarpaulins for 18 months,” Garcia explained.

“This produces a greenhouse effect affecting the roots, after which the next step involves replanting the banks with native plants as we gradually lift the tarpaulins,” he said.

Jose Orozco stressed the importance of the CHJ’s operations, first in La Olla and now Els Arcs. “This is very necessary as it improves biodiversity and at the same time reduces the risk of flooding for the many homes adjoining the streams,” he said.

A boost for licence holders

SPEAKING exclusively to the Euro Weekly News at an event held by the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain on Tuesday, January 24, British Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott said that the next announcement from the embassy on driving licences will be to set the date when a new agreement will come into place.

The British and Spanish governments have been in negotiations over whether UK nationals living in Spain can exchange their driving licences after Brexit or have to take a test like other third party nationals since the of 2020.

Hopes of reaching a swift agreement initially saw extensions on an agreement to allow Britons to carry on using their UK licences in

Spain while an agreement was hashed out.

In 2022 though, these extensions came to an end and the two governments have been negotiating ever since; a source of much difficulty for many expats who been left without the ability to drive in the meantime.

Now, Hugh Elliott has told the EWN that his most

THE mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, has confirmed that new bus routes have been introduced in the city.

The new service incorporates two circular lines along Gran Vía and between Cabo de las Huertas and Hospital de San Juan. In addition, the network has been extended to PAU5 and line 7 has been split to improve service to the industrial areas of Pla de la Vallonga and Las Atalayas.

These are some of the main new features which have been implemented from Wednesday, February 1, together with an improvement in frequency on all routes and a 50 per cent discount on all transport passes.

Luis Barcala explained that “Alicante is launching its new public transport model based on intelligent, more sustainable and efficient mobility. All routes now en­ recent meetings with the Foreign Ministry took place on Tuesday, January 24, and that a date from which UK nationals will be able to exchange their UK licences for a Spanish one will be announced in the following weeks.

He told the EWN: “I’ve been talking only today to the Foreign Ministry about driving licences. The next announcement will be the date.

“Right now we are in the final stages.

“I can’t claim that I am as keen to get this through as those who have been unable to drive during negotiations because I haven’t been affected by this in the same way as them, but I am super keen to get over the line, in force, and to allow Brits to drive again.”