New home

Betty Henderson

ORIHUELA’S tourist information office successfully relocated to its new home, within the City Hall building, a more central and convenient location for tourists and authorities.

The city’s tourism information services department made the move on Tuesday, February 8 and authorities visited to check out the new services that will be on offer to tourists. The new location within the City Hall means it will be easier for the council to run a smooth and efficient service to visitors and residents.

Speaking at the launch of the new offices, local councillor for Tourism, María García explained that the new tourism information office, “is located in an important space, near to the old town. We need modern, accessible facilities that meet our visitors’ needs.”

The new office has two entrances, one through Plaza del Carmen and one through the

ORIHUELA City Council has now issued the last step for the granting of the building permit for the extension of the Vega Baja Hospital. The Municipal Technical Board of Activities issued a favourable environmental report, which is mandatory prior to the granting of the building permit requested by the Generalitat for the extension of the Vega Baja Hospital. Orihuela’s mayor, Carolina Gracia, confirmed, “the collegiate body, having seen the corresponding technical reports, has given the go­ahead to the granting of the environmental licence and the building permit.

“The step that has been taken brings closer the start of some long­awaited works, not on­ main entrance of the City Hall, making it more accessible to disabled visitors and families.

As well as being more accessible, the new office also features modern interior design with interactive features and information on the city’s fascinating heritage.

Hospital extension

ly for the residents of Orihuela but for the whole Vega Baja region.”

The mayor confirmed that the works that are the subject of the licence “will mean the extension of the hospital’s surface area by 40 per cent, thanks to an investment of €62.5 million by the Generalitat.

“This is an administrative procedure that will end with the granting of the building permit and the environmental permit after the 15­day period established by law in which the applicant can make allegations.”

RUNNERS grab your running shoes as Alicante is all set to host its Half­Marathon and 10kilometre race known as Aguas de Alicante on Sunday February 19.

With 2,500 participants covering 37 different nationalities expected to take part, the two distances of the course are approved and controlled by the judges of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, so all the marks achieved will be official.

At the moment, international participation is led by athletes from the United Kingdom, followed by France, Poland and the United States.

This year the number of prizes has increased and the total amount of prizes is worth €1,500.

All participants will receive

20storey building, 60 metres is the height of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down by the US.