EVERYBODY OUT

SWIMMERS have been ordered off Arenal beach for the second time in a year due to pollution.

It comes after tests showed the water had been contaminated by bacteria of fecal origin. Police ordered everybody out of the water after samples were confirmed by the Valencian Community. It is not known where the discharges came from, with some suggesting they may have come from a boat.

Swimming was banned for two days at Arenal last July following a similar report. That time, Ecologistas en Accion claimed a broken pipe from a sewage treatment plant was leaking, although this was denied by Javea council.

THE Costa Blanca has been singled out as a key black spot for the ‘chronic cancer’ of environmental destruction.

Ecologistas en Accion has slammed the Valencia and Murcia coastlines for the continuing ‘over-development’ and ‘pollution’ they face.

The green group is particularly critical of one of Alicante’s last stretches of virgin beach, at Cala Mosca, which has been given a black flag alone for plans to develop it.

It comes after the Olive Press exposed the threats made to local politicians in Orihuela in order to force through a licence to build 2,000 luxury homes.

In its annual black flag awards for coastal destruction, a flag was also handed to Javea for the continuing urban problems at Arenal beach.

According to the report - which selected the 48 worst black spots in Spain - Javea has failed to tackle serious pollution and sewage issues at its landmark cove.

In a damning ruling, Spain’s leading green charity, insisted: “Everytime there are heavy rains and storms, the beach ends up being full of sewage as well as sanitary and cleaning products.”

And it is a problem that most of the Costa Blanca faces each summer.

Ecologistas spokesman, Cristobel Lopez, told the Olive Press: “These coastal areas double in population and consequently what were once unspoilt natural areas become nothing

Tel: 952 147 834

See page 5 & 15

By Alberto Lejarraga