Shoppers discount

September.

The company is expected to invest €5 million in the project. Marina PortBlanc, as it will be called, will house some 200 moorings from jet skis to boats up to 15 metres in length. There will also be a car park, restaurants and a leisure area.

The mayor, Ana Sala, was pleased with the announcement and said “After more than three years of waiting since the project was awarded, it seems that this emblematic port for Calpe and the province is closer. We also want to carry out the expansion of the access road to Puerto Blanco.”

BENITACHELL has announced a prepaid shopping voucher scheme, where residents are encouraged to support local business. Shoppers can receive money back from the town hall under the Bo Consum campaign.

The vouchers must be obtained from the OAC (office for citizen attention) before going shopping, and will be available from Wednesday, August 16 until Friday, November 10.

For each person over 18 years old and registered in the town as a resident, there are four vouchers in the scheme.

One of €110 for a minimum purchase of €150 (the council pays €110 and the resident pays the rest), one of €70 for a purchase over €100 (the council pays €70) and two vouchers of €20 for a purchase over €30 (the council pays €20).

The scheme is subsidised by Alicante provincial council with a grant of €89,540.

To redeem the vouchers, the consumer must go to the OAC with the invoice from the shop, the voucher to be redeemed and a bank account number to proceed with the refund.

Altea Castle borrowed

THE Moors and Christians festivities in honour of Santa Marta in the Alicante town of Villajoyosa will have to be celebrated this year with a castle lent to them by Altea Council, as the new one commissioned by the town hall of Villajoyosa was not ready for the festivities that began on Monday, July 24.

The neighbouring town of Altea offered to lend the castle to Villajoyosa for its festivities and when the kind offer was accepted, the assembly of the structure began on Thursday, July 20. It was on the beach over the weekend, just in time for the celebrations. Last year, the previous castle was found to be in a state of disrepair following a technical report on the state of the festive structure, which concluded with a recommendation not to use it. A new castle is under construction, but is not yet finished.

Caught up

A SWIMMER had to be rescued off Baladrar beach, Benissa, on Sunday, July 24, when he became entangled in a line of buoys during an early evening swim. Benissa Local Police responded to reports of the man in difficulty, and rescued the individual without incident.

Drug bust

THE Guardia Civil reported on Monday, July 24, that they dismantled a marihuana plantation located inside a villa located on a luxury urbanisation in Calpe. Some 532 marihuana plants, 56 kilogrammes of buds, €6,000 in cash and a car were seized in the operation in June.

Cystitis advice

PROFESSIONALS at Denia Hospital have detected an increase in cases of cystitis during the summer, due to increased sweating and prolonged exposure to wet swimsuits. Maintaining hygiene, increasing fluids, eating healthily and peeing regularly are advised.

Chopped down

A VALENCIAN lady who visited her holiday home in Javea was shocked to find all the pines trees in her garden had been chopped down without her knowledge. On questioning her neighbours, it seemed nobody had seen anything.

Crisis talks

THE Javea mayor has ordered the convening of a crisis cabinet in order to propose a solution to the pollution episodes that have forced the closure of the Arenal beach for the third time in less than a year.

Easier parking

THE use of the smartphone to make payments is an option increasingly used by drivers, especially when it comes to car parking. A survey showed that almost a third of European drivers currently use an app to pay.