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Issue 539
Win tickets to Terra Natura! PAGE 24 NORTH EDITION roundtownnews.co.uk Spain soon to emerge from recession PRESIDENT ZAPATERO stated on Wednesday that Spain “…is on the verge of leaving the recession behind” • p4
Stealth tax fears
February 12-18 2010
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ANGRY COSTA BLANCA residents fear they are being stung with massive and ‘totally unacceptable’ tax hikes on their properties. • p7
by Jack Troughton
QROP-ing the bills
FOR MANY people this is a difficult time of year. The increased expenditure that we all undertake over the Christmas period has hit the latest credit card bill, adding further to the financial pressures we are all under during these continuing difficult times. • p32
Readers recipes READER ANNE Martin shares her wonderfully rich & tasty recipe for
Spanakopita • p49
The Final Whislte ANDY KAY talks about John Terry missing Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff as he takes a few days leave • p70
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Charity volunteers serve food in the soup kitchen
Helping feed the hungry
DESPERATE PEOPLE are reliant on charity handouts and soup kitchens as they attempt to ride out a bitter economic crisis. Expat charities such as the Lions and HELP have joined Spanish organisations like Caritas in supporting families forced to live on the breadline as the recession grinds on. This week, RTN visited a Calpe soup kitchen run by ADIS – Ayuda Domiciliaria e Integracion Social – and witnessed the lifeline being offered to the homeless and needy. David, the charity’s founder and president, said every afternoon he and his team of volunteers were feeding up to 50 Spanish people and expats – including British families – from across Northern and Eastern Europe. Using a sports storeroom as a base, the organisation also handed out clothing and toys for children – while offering changing room showers and washing machines normally used for football strip for people to clean their clothing. He said his project helped people living on the streets begin to integrate back into society – colleagues offer health advice and psychological counselling - but increasingly were offering aid to victims of the downturn. “People come for lunch here and when they have finished we give them food for dinner,” he said, “…normally there are more men than women but there are also children who need support.” Continued on page 3