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north EDITION Building community bridges Read about local businesswoman’s Maria Jose ambitious plans to integrate foreigners into the decision making in Javea. • p5
Your English Newspaper
Issue 582
10 - 16 dECEMBER 2010
Calpe in corruption crisis by Jack Troughton
Magic of Christmas Join Bay Radio next Thursday as they bring much needed Christmas cheer to children from the Preventorio de Gandia. • p12
Great graphics are key to good business Karla Darocas takes a look this week at how your business can make a lasting impression with high quality graphics. • p29
Are you covered if the sun don’t shine?
More invaluable information from guest writer Michael Rushe about renting your property. This week he takes a look at buildings and contents insurance. • p31
Meet the RTN Golf Club Agents
Introducing the RTN Golf agents, Mike Probert and Dennis Jordan. • p62
Mayor Ximo Tur
See page 17
CHAOS REIGNS at Calpe Town Hall as the crisis grows over allegations of generous backhanders being paid in a multi-million euro scam centred on the resort’s rubbish disposal. Mayor Ximo Tur is clinging to power but faces a stormy council meeting tonight (Friday) as former allies prepare a political onslaught: a vote of no confidence in his regime is expected at any time. The BLOC politician dismissed three Partido Popular councillors – former mayor Javier Morato, Juan Rosella and Fernando Penella – over their alleged involvement in fraud. However, a week ago the remaining five PP councillors resigned from the ruling alliance is what was described as a show of “solidarity”. Mr Tur came to office after a local government coup in October 2008 – when backed by the PP and a social democrat, he overturned PSOE Mayor Luis Serna’s regime, in which he sat as Number Two; an alliance forged following the 2007 elections. And making the situation more complicated, his one time socialist allies are also angered at being denounced over Mr Tur’s claim they did nothing to prevent the ongoing corruption involving the waste disposal company Colsur. The Murcia-based company, its owner Angel Fenoll and others were already being investigated by the anti-corruption prosecutor over the notorious Brugal case said to involve Orihuela Town Hall. Attention turned to Calpe last month and revelations concerning a waste disposal contract signed by the town hall with Colsur in 1998 by the former PP mayor. The allegations centre on the transportation of rubbish to Orihuela and the fraudulent inflation of the weight of the waste being ferried south, along with a system of double invoicing. A new report suggests the inflated figures soared after 2006, when Colsur was said to have “invented” more than 30,000 tonnes of waste, rising to more than 56,000 tons last year. continued on page 3