The deputy Councillor for agriculture at Almeria Provincial Governmentl, Oscar Liria, has visited the town of Oria in the AlmanzoraValley.

Almond production drives the economy in this part of the region, and the government representative was keen to endorse the Almond Fair initiative sponsored by the town, and its mayor Reche Marcos

On a national basis Oria has one of the highest proportions of almond tree density per square meter, with nearly 7,500 hectares of the land dedicated to the crop.

Five hundred kilos of shell or kernel are harvested from every hectare under cultivation.

“The area around Oria provides the very best possible growing conditions, which is why the almonds grown in the province are the best in the world,” commented the government minister.

The Almond Fair will be composed of technical seminars for farmers and a dissemination of the benefits of the almond and will boost interest in the product whilst energising the community.

DRIVERS could be given a parking boost in Benitachell

Mayor Josep Femenia attended a meeting with the Provincial Coastal Service Alicante, to discuss a proposed local council project to provide 130 car parking places in the vicinity of Moraig Creek in Benitachell.

The plan would involve the creation of 70 places in I’Infern Ravine and space for 60 cars in the upper linking road.

City council has budgeted around €55,000 for the project which they say would help address the lack of parking near the creek and provide a better service to swimmers during the summer season.

Benitachell Mayor Femenia said the project was favourably received, but must now be submitted to the Hydrographic Confederation of Jucar as the project would affect a public river bank.

A NEW criminal activity has come to light in recent months concerning identity theft of vehicles. Original documents are stolen from the vehicle, and the thief then makes up a new false set of registration plates which he puts on a second (stolen) vehicle matching the victim’s model. The second vehicle is then driven around with original papers matching the false plates.

The second vehicle does not attract the attention of police since the first vehicle, from which the papers were stolen having not been reported stolen.

But, if involved in an accident or caught speeding, the original owner who may be the victim of prosecution.

A conundrum: Spanish law says people must carry their original papers in the car, but if they stolen, it is costly and takes time to replace them. In addition a new ITV is required – even though the authorities have a record of your car passing the test, you have to obtain another – and pay again.

PHOTOGRAPHER Carlos Ortiz from Almeria is European Fine Art Photographer of the Year for a picture taken in Padules and titled ‘River of Life’.

Ortiz was received by mayor Luis Rodriguez-Comendador, who congratulated him on “winning the most prestigious photography contests in Europe.”

Carlos Ortiz has achieved numerous national and international prizes, such as the International Wedding Photographer Award 2010 from the USA. The present award is however the most important so far in his career.

THE end of the dilemma of land contaminated with plutonium at Palomares is "closer every day," says mayor of Cuevas del Almanzora, Jesus Caicedo.

A visit by Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, to land contaminated by waste from atomic bombs which accidentally fell on the area in 1966 after the crash of two U.S Air Force planes was valued highly by Caicedo, and the national deputy of the PP.

“The visit lasted all afternoon and she was interested in both contaminated soils and the permanent office of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) facilitating ' in situ 'updates on progress. Likewise, studies have been reviewed in recent years by CIEMAT and the Department of Energy of the United States for the removal of 6,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil," he said

"This is the first time a person of this rank in the Government has been to Palomares, and that already says enough.

the flame is still burning, he said, and this visit will serve to move awareness of  the situation to higher authorities and members of the Department of Foreign Affairs responsible for maintaining relationships with America  to implement the project of decontamination.

However, Caicedo warned "we have to wait for them to finish the elections" in order to clear up this issue.

Although since it conducted a first nuclear waste clean-up in 1966 Spain and the United States have co-operated to update local residents , it was not until 2007 when Ciemat and the Department of Energy of the United States signed an agreement to draw up a map showing existing pollution that a plan for withdrawal of the affected land was openly discussed.

The Spanish Government confirmed in February "assurances" that the U.S. "will quickly remove the contaminated soil," with this communicated by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel García-Margallo, following a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Picture a typical Spanish village inland called Urcal with a cluster of pretty houses.

Now imagine the shock and horror when Ron Summers and his wife returned home just after the floods to find that their lovely home that they had bought just 5 years ago was totally and utterly destroyed, along with that of their neighbours` whose pool was all but invisible and their vehicles washed out into the sea of mud.

These houses had been built by a Spanish builder slap bang near a river bed, with no more than a metre between the house and the river, where in fact it should have been around 12 metres apart.

The Summers` had been to visit their solicitor trying to solve problems coming from the legal situation of the homes and could not get back due to the storms.

On arriving, they found waist high water had destroyed their furniture and their personal belongings and they were forced to spend two nights sleeping in their car. The insurance agent was helpful but said that the decision on compensation would come, as is the norm, from the Consortium. The approached the Town Hall together with a translator and were issued the documentation needed to present their claim, told they needed to go back and take photos, make a full inventory, which is difficult because everything is under water and mud, and given a period of five days in which to be register the claim.

They had not been able to contact the insurance consortium, they were not offered any temporary help, and they had to rely on the kindness of neighbours who rallied around to offer their help and support. Since going to press the Summers have been kindly given the use of a home and they are so thankful to their neighbours and friends.

Ron has just recovered from a heart bypass and a thyroid operation, so this stress has taken its toll on the couple. Ron`s wife became very emotional during our interview and was deeply distressed at the death of their cat and the loss of a lifetime of photos. They can only hope that the paperwork goes through in time that the problems surrounding the build disappear, and be thankful they were not in the property at the time as they would surely not be here to tell their story.

AROUND 1,000 people celebrated the International Seniors’ Day in Malaga on Monday, the city council has reported.  A march from the Malagueta beach and different activities were organised. These included a visit at the port commercial area Muelle Uno, a dancing session in the Marina square and a cultural visit of the city.

THREE electric vehicles have been sponsored by Malaga city council. The cars were developed by a team of the Industrial Engineering School ETSI and the Ave Maria school. They will take part in the main competition of electric cars of the country SOLAR RACE that will be held from today (Thursday) to Saturday (October 6) at the Cartagena Speed Circuit.