Big step forward

TORREVIEJA council has allocated a €1.5 million contract to prepare a detailed construction plan to revamp the city's Paseo de la Libertad area.

The tender winner will have six months to produce the draft for a project that could cost up to €20 million. Work could start before the end of the year after over two decades of discussions as to what improvements are needed.

As previously reported by the Olive Press, several streets would become pedestrian-only, while two major attractions, the 'hippy' market site and the city fairground will be relocated. The drafting process is expected to study the practicality of building an underground road tunnel underneath the adjoining Paseo Vista Alegre.

resign after being implicated in the planning case. The former PP politician was also found guilty on a second charge of agreeing to modify the project in order to ensure the town hall kept a €6 million regional subsidy for the development.

The alterations meant that the subsidy would not be reimbursed even if the project was never finished.

Lejarraga was also found guilty, but escaped a prison stint, instead being disqualified from public office for 16 years.