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DEMO: Protest in Malaga
Halt demand MALAGA’S’ provincial council has approved a motion to demand that the Junta de Andalucia and the Spanish government delay approval for dozens of photovoltaic projects proposed across southern Spain. The move follows a spate of recent protests by residents in towns across Malaga province as well as neighbouring Cadiz as proposals for widespread solar farms have come to light. The Olive Press recently highlighted the issue that is raising concerns among residents in some of the most sought-after villages in the hills above the Costa del Sol. Objections have been raised against the sheer number of large-scale projects planned for rural areas across the region, which many fear will be approved without due concern for environmental impact or damage to the rural tourism sector.
Campaign
This newspaper backed a campaign to halt the solar farms until full environmental impact studies could be conducted. Only those projects which exceed more than 50MW need authorisation from the Ministry for Ecological Transition. “But it is common practice for huge projects to be divided up (into smaller proposals) in order to bypass state controls” insisted the motion. The number of photovoltaic parks under consideration across Andalucia exceeds 650 individual projects. Politicians and town mayors joined protestors on a demo in Malaga to protest against the plans. “We need all mayors to join forces so that together the municipalities show a united front against destruction of our province,” said Franciso Martinez, mayor of Alora. Speaking at the demo he added: “The towers and panels will destroy tourism and the whole caminito del rey project.’
Vol. 15 Issue 372
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June 30th - July 13th 2021
Plonkers! British Dad discovers teenage guests used his prized wine (worth €3,000) to make tinto de verano at daughter’s party EXCLUSIVE By Fiona Govan in Madrid
Pete Jones is one hell of an understanding father. When he woke up to discover that his daughter and her friends had imbibed his most treasured bottle of wine during a party, he didn’t hit the roof. Rather, he blamed himself for leaving the bottle of Petrus, 1999 vintage, in plain view with a bunch of teenagers in the house. “I am just gutted that after saving it for 17 years, I didn’t even get to taste it,” he told The Olive Press, shaking his head. “And the tragic thing is, neither did they, well not properly. By all accounts it was used to make a tinto de verano”. He refers to the typically Spanish summer drink of red wine mixed with casera or lemon Fanta and poured over ice as a refreshing tipple. Usually the cheapest red wine is used, often from a carton.
HAPPY FAMILY: Despite the loss of his treasured wine dad Pete and daughters Lara (left) and Sele are putting on brave faces
“I got home and the party was in full swing, I had a drink with them, did some embarrassing dancing in the kitchen, then headed up to bed to leave them to it.” He also, stupidly, left the bottle from Bordeaux estate Château Pétrus in the fridge. Party The famous wine maker only proThe British father, 56, who has lived duces about 30,000 bottles of wine in Madrid for more than 20 years, had a year, and its product is consistently gone out for the evening to allow his ranked among the most expensive in youngest daughter Lara, 19, to host a the world. The 1999 vintage can be party for her friends at home near the currently sourced from vintner for a price tag between €2,500 - €3,000 Fuente del Berro park. “They are all a sensible bunch and “I don’t know why it was there realwere at school together so this was a ly,” he admitted. “It used to be hidden reunion because many were back in away in the cellar, but I got it out rethe city after the end of their first year cently to show a friend, showing off at university,” said the Welsh restau- that I was waiting for the right occarateur behind The Dough Thrower in sion to open it. And I hadn’t got round to putting it back.” Cardiff. During the evening, Lara texted her The story of how he came to have the father to insist he come home earlier bottle is a good one. “It was Christmas than planned as ‘all her friends wanted Eve in 2004 and I suddenly realised to see me’, that I hadn’t got potatoes so dashed J o n e s out to this very expensive gourmet said. vegetable shop that was still open nearby,” Jones recalled. “There was a long queue and when I got to the front on a ALL AREAS COVERED whim I asked the chap behind 4G UNLIMITED the till to add a bottle of wine INTERNET from the top IDEAL FOR shelf behind his STREAMING TV head. I couldn’t see the price tag ALSO IPTV, but thought it SATELLITE TV would be someSee page 11 thing special to tel: (0034) 952 763 840 drink at Christinfo@theskydoctor.com mas.” www.theskydoctor.com “The man
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looked pleased as punch over the purchase and then added it up and I gave him my card. It was only when I looked at the receipt that I realised the potatoes cost €1,20 something and the wine was over a grand. But everyone was waiting in line behind me and I felt too embarrassed to say anything,” he confessed. “My wife, Silv, was furious of course but I explained it away by insisting it was a vintage from the year of our eldest daughter’s birth and so we could keep it to drink with her on a special occasion,” he said. But after 17 years, no occasion had yet seemed quite special enough. This meant he also had to break the news to Sele, who is now 21, that her birthday vintage had been opened without her. “She was very understanding and did her best to mollify her little sister, who has been distraught about it.” Continues on Page 4