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THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 19th AUGUST TO THURSDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2016 TV GUIDE
EDITION 557
MOVIES AT ...
PAGES 25 -32
FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT F
property p
PAGES 49 -56
guide
LA PALMA FIRE: COUNTING THE COST OF NINE DAYS OF HELL Environmental damage still being assessed U
RGENT warnings are being issued across the Canary Islands to try and prevent a repeat of the fierce forest fire which destroyed seven per cent of the territory of La Palma.
The mountain blaze took more than nine days to put out but there are and will be lasting repercussions for the island. Calls are also being intensified for a permanent fire-fighting plane which can drop huge amounts of water onto the flames to be based in the archipelago. An online petition has been started and has already collected thousands of signatures. At the time of going to press, although the fire is now under control, La Palma still had a team of more than 50 workers based on site to make sure it does not flare up again. This could easily happen if the weather conditions turn to scorching temperatures and the wind picks up. The president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Anselmo Pestana, and the Minister of Security and Emergency, Carmen Brito, have praised everyone who fought the blaze and are helping in the aftermath of what proved to be the fourth biggest mountain fire in the Canaries this century. It was started by a German man who lived in a cave and who decided to burn soiled toilet paper, seemingly oblivious of the repercussions it would cause. One forest ranger died whilst fighting the fire. He was 54 and had three children. Sr. Pestana has urged everyone on La Palma to be very vigilant and this appeal has been reflected across the Canaries. Despite praising all those involved, the island is to look at all means possible to eliminate risks and spreading of fires in the future. Sr. Pestana says people’s safety has to come first. Measures include more dividing walls to act as breaks, more ponds and tanks so there is plenty of water and the creation of an internal road network in the mountain areas. One of the big concerns now is that so much territory was flattened, it could lead to serious floods this winter and the Spanish Government will be asked for aid. The disastrous blaze affected 4,800 hectares, especially pines. More than 2,700 people had to be evicted and the environmental damage is still being assessed. Read more about the fire inside.
ADEJE RUNS OUT OF PATIENCE WITH SCOOTERS
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DEJE council has confirmed that it too has had enough of electric scooters dashing around the streets and is to start a clampdown.
The authority says it has had numerous complainrs and has now run out of patience, describing the situation as intolerable. Councillors are now to ban the use of these scooters by tourists on pedestrian walkways, sidewalks and public spaces to consider, after numerous reports to the local police. They will be responsible for issuing fines, trying to educate people and hire companies and confiscating vehicles where necessary. The new approved regulations state “there has been an invasion
of pedestrian walkways and public spaces” with more than 300 vehicles belonging to ten registered companies. A spokesman for Adeje council said they had taken the decision in view of the many complaints and felt such scooters were being used without any consideration for other pedestrians. Numerous races have also been detected at high speeds, causing not only discomfort to other people but accidents as well. The situation, it says, has now become “untenable”.
Motor circuit costing 23.6 million nearly ready for the off
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ENERIFE’S massively important multi-million euro Motor Circuit is moving yet another step closer to fruition.
The company Onda Rossa S.L. will be responsible for carrying out the work, which will last 21 months. Construction work is expected to start on site on August 29th following processing of the necessary documentation. The huge project involves an investment of 23.6 million euros, approximately 21.2 million of which will go to the construction of the circuit, while 2.4 million will be used for carr ying out the northern access. The Cabildo’s councillor for sport, Cristo Pérez, and representatives of Onda Rossa
S.L. recently held a meeting to discuss the final points. The company earlier this year requested a modified circuit in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona to adapt the initial design to the new regulations.
The modified project was analysed by different services of the coun-cil to issue the corresponding reports and authorise the start of construction. The administrative concession provides for a period of operation of the circuit by Onda Rossa S.L. for a period of 35 years which may be extended
by another five. In that sense, the winning company will invest 4.2 million euros in equipment, which must be added another million in improvements including the control room, security cameras with closed circuit TV, sections of wall and perimetre fencing and stands.