HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Plenty of changes in the elections around Valencia and Alicante

LOWER taxes, better cleaning and more police…these are the promises of Valencia’s new mayor Maria Jose Catala. Her PP party ousted Compromis mayor Joan Ribo, as her party won five more seats in Sunday’s vote. She will govern alone but will have to seek a ‘consensus’

RESTORE: Works underway

By Alex Trelinski

with far-right Vox as she does not have an overall majority.

Elsewhere in Valencia province, the socialists are expected to remain in charge of Gandia after adding a seat, while the PSOE-Compromis coalition in Oliva was beaten

Grain Of Hope

CONSTRUCTION has begun on a breakwater at the mouth of Molinell river between Oliva and Denia. The 470-metre wall aims to protect and restore sand to Les Deveses beach, which has suffered serious coastal erosion.

Machines are depositing rocks to help retain sand that is carried by the Projecte Oliva group with 10 seats. Meanwhile, the PP’s Toni Perez swept back in at Benidorm, while neighbouring Finestrat saw Juan Fran- away during severe weather. cisco Perez romp home - taking 11 of the 13 seats. The PP also won in La Nucia, while it is also set to take over in Villajoyosa. The PSOE did better in l’Alfas del Pi increasing its majority, but in Altea the socialists will need to form a coalition with Compromis to stay in charge. Benissa and Teulada Moraira stay under PP control but Denia’s PSOE mayor, Vicent Grimalt, needs support of Compromis to keep his job. Javea mayor Jose Chulvi won the election by just 34 votes, but lost his overall majority meaning his PSOE party will now have to work with the two Ciudadanos councillors. In Calpe, Ana Sala’s Somos Calpe party did well, gaining six seats, but her former PP running mate Cesar Sanchez took eight seats, leaving the town hall with days of negotiations ahead.

The regeneration work is why the Denia beach lost its coveted 'Blue Flag' award last month. There have been no official objections to the €14.7 million project, which will see the last 185 metres of the breakwater partially submerged.

FIREFIGHTERS rescued two men rendered unconscious by deadly carbon monoxide fumes in Oliva.

An emergency call was made from a car wash company after the men got into trouble inside an underground wastewater tank. Fire crews from Gandia and Oliva descended into the tank and gave the men oxygen before hoisting them out to get treatment from paramedics.

In Maestre, a couple and their two children, 15 and 17, were poisoned on Saturday by carbon dioxide seeping out of a refrigerator. All four family members had mild poisoning symptoms and were treated at Bunyol Health Centre before being released.