Empty buildings a €43m waste

 A STRING of newly built public buildings worth €43 million are lying empty in Malaga province

Cash strapped councils either can not find the money for running costs or are in dispute with each other over who should pay.

A €1.4 million public kindergarten in La Cala de Mijas with room for 300 children was finished a year ago. But its classrooms remain closed as Mijas Town Council and the Andalucian Government argue over who should pay its running costs.

In Torremolinos the €4.1 million MunicipalHistoryMuseum, expected to open by October 2011, is nearly finished, but just one painting is available for display.

Other examples of buildings lying empty include the €11 million Congress and Trade Show Centre in Antequera and the €2 million Valle del Guadalhorce health centre in Cartama.  In Ronda, seven different projects worth more than €5 million, including an Astronomy Centre, are in a similar situation.