DavidJackson.info

It is worth commenting on a few points that have been raised about the POTALA. There are a number of rumours -correct and wrong- floating around in the English language press about it, and for lack of anything else to do I may as well try to set them right, as based on my understanding from local Spanish press, government bullitins and press releases.

1.- The POTALA is set in stone.

The POTALA is an overall plan. It does not regulate down to the metre. Instead, it aims to classify areas for different uses, in the context of the overall area rather then the individual town. IE, for Turre it sets the mountains aside for natural park and recreational use and allows development towards Mojacar, although the Town Hall of Turre wants (or wanted, under the previous corrupt regime of that b*****d mayor who I can´t stand) to build 54000 homes in the mountains and not join up with Mojacar. Exactly how the town hall decides to develop that land is up to market pressure and the local town hall.

2.- The POTALA is retrospective.

The POTALA is for the future. If, say, illegal homes in Vera are in an urbanisable area, then the town hall has some flexibility towards their legislation, if the town hall wants to. If the homes are outside that area, then whatever legal wrangling is in process will continue, and the judge will not take the POTALA into consideration when ruling on their legality. Instead, the judge or legal authority will take into consideration the legal status of the land and its surroundings at the time of construction / or sale.

3.- The POTALA develops infrastructure.

Again, only future infrastructure. So, for example, with the AVE train, the POTALA has been developed to take the current route into account, not the other way around. The route could still change without having to modify the POTALA: As an example, the disputed high power lines from Antas to Mojacar, the POTALA outlines “electrical corridors” for electric lines which are in a different place from the current lines, but this cannot be used in court as an argument for moving the lines (despite the fact that the lines have been declared illegal by the court in Almeria). The POTALA simply suggests to local planners that all future lines be sent down the same corridor unless there is a good reason otherwise.

4.- The POTALA defines future government budgets.

This is more or less correct. The POTALA regulates a 5 billion euro investment in the area, which will be spent in conjunction with private investors and the town halls. So if the town halls develop the areas designated as industrial zones, together with private investors, then the monies will be released from the regional coffers. This assumes, of course, that the money is left in the coffers – who´s to say what will happen in 2014? Unlikely that any of those 5 billion euros will be left by then! However, the yearly government development budgets will also be included in this overall amount.

If I spot any other rumours that are obviously wrong, I´ll try to correct them here.

Read An Overview of the POTALA:

´Twas Maters birthday. I promised to make no jokes about this year, so that is all I shall say on the annual event.

However, seeing as I had a small win on the Premium Bonds, I thought I´d send her away for a couple of days to relax and recover for her recent hectic period of hard work. (The win was very small, and happened after I had booked the place, but it´s a good line).

A couple of luxury hotels and spas were mentioned, around Malaga or La Manga, but eventually, at their insistence, they settled upon Casa Joya, a small B&B and restaurant located in the hills below Velez Rubio.

Apart from the three apartments, they also have a restaurant called “Simply Eating”. It´s run by a former top London Chef, James Rice, and his wife, Mary. They also have a daughter, “Sponge Bob”, whose name escapes me but I am assured she is a lovely 15 year old who helps out around the restaurant.

All three apartments are apparantly very well appointed, albeit without a/c. Apparantly this is because they are at the end of a 10km electric line and they have quite a few power cuts. However, they do have central heating and it appears the place would be wonderful and romantic in the winter.

The food, I am told (remember, I didn´t go there!) was “most pleasent”, which, coming from the Mater, is high praise.  The restaurant is by “appointment only”; but is busy most days. Despite the 2.5km dirt track you have to traverse to reach the place. Read their blog for some funny stories about picking up clients when it´s raining.

In short, a happy couple of days were spent there, and I was asked to pass on the parents recommendation.

Casa Joya.
http://www.casa-joya.com
El Cabezo De,
La Losilla Nr 26,
Velez Rubio 04820,
Almeria,
Spain
699005024

AENA, the state owned operating company of Almeria Airport, has implemented a new handicapped assistance scheme at the airport for its passengers.

As opposed to the old system, where if you were lucky a stewardess would give you a hand down the stairs to the tarmac.

As long as you book 48 hours before travel, you can now receive 100% assistance from the drop off point to your plane seat, or vice versa. They’ll even put your suitcase on the bus / car / taxi for you.

Despite the glowing promises, the portavoz of the Almeria Handicapped Society “Verdiblanca”, a Mr. Antonio Sanchez de Amo, seemed pessimistic to La Voz – saying that he’ll “believe it when he sees it”.

Summer has arrived along with another bunch of the boys in light green from the Benemérita. Almería gets the lion portion of new Guardia Civil recruits from the current promotion, 81 in all, which brings the total Guardia numbers up to 1100 across the province. Heavens only knows what they’re all doing, surveying up in the Almanzora valley no doubt.

And, no doubt making use of the boot of the lorry they shipped them in, they brought a further five speed traps to catch out unwitting motorists. They have been tossed unceremoniously on to the side of the road at:

• A-334, KM 49,87 (Autovía del marmol, as it goes through Purchena)(Speed limit 60 km/h)
• AL5105, KM 29,8, (between Carboneras and Venta del Pobre)(Speed limit 50 km/h)
• A1050, KM 11, (El Ejido, on the motorway exit towards Las Norias) (Speed limit 90 km/h)
• AL3115, KM 3,4 (Cabo de Gata road via Fabriquilla)(Speed limit 100 km/h)
• N341, KM8,45, Mojacar – Carboneras road.(Speed limit 100 km/h)

There will eventually be a total of 11 speed traps in Almeria, and there are currently 2 working. If you get caught, you get fined. If you don’t receive the fine or don’t pay it, then it slowly accumulates until you sell the car, and then you get done.

I always enjoy flipping through the local periodicals, and one of my highlights is always the “letters” section. I always enjoy spotting the obvious letter extolling the periodical in question which has been written by the editor, or the editors best friend. And a paper that has no letters page is usually returned to the pile in favour of one that does.

However, recently they all appear to have been taken over by a group of small minded little englanders who only don’t put their alias as “disgusted from Denia” because they have no imagination. They seem to whinge bitterly about almost anything, whether it be problems in the UK (hello? I don’t care that you got stopped smuggling cigs into the UK Mr Bennett! (Costa Almeria news this week).), or things they don’t understand in Spain.

Letters about abandoned animals, graffiti, etc I don’t mind. But why do the editors insist upon publishing letters that are, upon occasions, absolute tripe? I may well set up a website where every week we replicate all the letters from the different newspapers, and people can go and rate them. That should show the editors what we want to read. And I shan’t bother including the tripe from the Euro Weekly.

This review is depreciated. John and Ann have moved to Restaurante La Fantasia on Mojácar Playa. La Parata is, of course, still open but now owned by someone else.

Many, many, many years ago, La Parata was the benchmark for expat food in the area. John in the kitchen serving up exquisite delights, Anne out front with the family making you feel at home.

It’s a strange location, as it’s right up in the hills above the playa and (a few inside tables next to the window excepting) doesn’t have any views of the sea. Instead, the outside patio has views of the swimming pool and the mountains. But it’s a wonderful view of the mountains. I like mountains. Give me a mountain any day over the med. Full of interest and wonder. Just watch out for the ants from the olive tree that dominates the outside patio.

When John & Anne took off, enjoying a well earned break and an opportunity to try other things, it pottered along under different owners until, about 10 months ago, it came to halt and closed the doors. Indifferent food, a decaying décor and a long trek to get to it had called a close.

So imagine my wonder when it reached my ears that John & Anne (after being gazumped on a busy restaurant on the playa) had managed to reacquire the premises. And had redecorated in a tasteful and pleasing to the eye style. Didn’t take me long to start sniffing around, I can tell you.

Fair enough, we had just been to a funeral service. So we were (in July) dressed up to the nines with black tie and somber suits. Surrounded by people in shorts.

The head waitress who acts as maitre’d is somewhat formidable. No mucking around with the menu there, I can tell you. You get the menu, you get the explanation, if you behave yourself you get a smile. Fair enough.

The menu is small and well thought out. Lots of homemade stuff, fresh veg and food hot from the oven. The menu would be best described as international a la carte, British pub style. I had the Chicken Kiev, twas delicious and home made. Same went for the cod ‘n’ chips. The garlic mushrooms I had for starters were lovely, but not enough garlic for my liking.

Well worth a visit. The menu is well thought out and well maintained. They do stop serving food at 22.00 which is a bit of pain for late diners like myself. The restaurant can go from an informal dinner for two to a large formal dinner party. I like it, I shall return, and I shall recommend it.

Directions:
Approximately half way along the front (Mojacar Playa) between the Hotel Indalo and the Parque Comercial you will find a new roundabout  opposite the Equestrian Centre.   Take the road leading up to La Parata Mountain for approximately 2 km until you pass a water wheel on your left-hand side. After the water wheel there is a steep incline in the road and 150 metres further you will see Bar La Parata/Restaurante El Cortijo on your left just before the large swimming pool.
Bar Restaurant La Parata.
Mojacar Playa, Mojacar restaurant, Almeria.
950 478 186

Hmm… How to put this?

Well, it’s dreadful. Soggy, over cooked food 100% of the time. Service is atrocious. Last time I was in there two of the staff had a slanging match between themselves in the middle of the restaurant. Food takes ages, which as it tastes as if it’s been heated up in a microwave I can’t understand why. Only reason it’s still going (IMHO) is because they must have rich investors. And clients with no tastebuds.

And it’s not just me who says this. Try it, you’ll agree with me. Worth going just to see if the staff are going to have a fight.

The infamous Nigerian Scammer (those responsable for sending you those “please help me smuggle 202 million euros out of my country” or “you have won the improbable jackpot for which you never entered” emails) have taken a hit as National Police swooped down on a ring in Roquetas del Mar.

28 arrests were made, almost all of them Nigerian or central African. 22 are in jail awaiting justice, the other 6 have already been deported.

According to a police spokesman, the nerve centre was outfitted with letters, falsified official logos and stamps, computers and 70 mobile phones. The Nigerians arrested in the apartment all denied any knowledge of the equipment (they had all popped in for a coffee with a friend who was not there, no doubt) but when one of the phones rang they all lept on top of the phone to stop the police answering it.

The nigerians scammers are believed to have conned at least 63 people out of a million and a half euros. The arrest was part of a wider ranging operation against these sorts of scam (a lot of them are based in Spain), although this particular arrests was after a tipoff from the FBI.

For a couple of websites about the 419 scam:
http://www.419scam.org/
http://www.419eater.com/ (Scambaiting, or the art of annoying the scammers. Quite funny!)

The Potala
A quick overview and analysis

UPDATE: Here’s the link to the very latest plans as published on the Junta de Andalucia website: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/web/menuitem.a5664a214f73c3df81d8899661525ea0/?vgnextoid=15bf5f4eecac9110VgnVCM1000000624e50aRCRD

What is the POTALA?
The POTALA (Plan de ordenacion terretorial del levante almeriense, or plan for the territorial planning of the Almeria levante) is a macro plan developed by the Junta de Andalucia that intends to bring order to the overall development of this region over the next 10 years. It affects the town halls of Mojacar, Garrucha, Turre, Los Gallardos, Bedar, Carboneras, Cuevas del Almanzora, Huercal Overa, Pulpi, Antas and Vera.

The local development plans (known as the PGOU, Plan General de ordenacion urbanistico, or General Plan for Urban Planning) which each town hall is required to develop, are subordinate to the overall POTALA. Town halls are required to develop and publish their PGOUs every five years, although so for only a couple of town halls have bothered to have theirs approved.

Within each PGOU are defined the Planes Parciales of each sector within a municipality, which are often modified to the request of local residents and developers.

Got that?

The POTALA is basically an attempt by the regional government to bring an overall cohesion to the local PGOUs published by each town hall. It’s a fantastically complex project that, according the reports in the Spanish media, has never been tried on such a scale before. It regulates everything from greenbelt land to transport and energy infrastructure (local, regional and national). So,  it contemplates everything from the AVE station to new roads to local gas distribution.

The POTALA, which has just been signed by the bureaucrats in Seville, contemplates a 5 billion euro investment in the Levante area, the creation of 131000 jobs (of what sort is not specified), several industrial zones and the amplification of Carboneras as an industrial port and hub.

Where is it all going?

The space between the Los Gallardos – Garrucha road and Vera is known as the “Llano Central”. It’s a vast, desolate, waterless region that typically has not been used for very much, with exception of some agriculture and the water treatment plant.

Under the new plan the whole area is designated to be an “area of exception tourism”, which los politicos take to mean 3 new golf courses (all of which will be “of public use”, not associated to any particular urbanisation), 32000 hotel rooms, 25000 new homes and up to 95000 jobs.

The regional towns and villages get permission for a further bunch of houses, of which at least 9000 will be VPOs, or the Spanish equivalent of council housing.

Problems?

Well, first off nobody seems to have thought about what lunatics in the current climate are going to match the government subsides to build there. Ignoring the fact that we are currently, year round, in a loss making situation for many hotels in the area, and that local hotel groups have had their fingers burnt before by the Junta and Diputacion in schemes of these types (remember El Toyo?), and the fact that most of the large promotors and builders that previously would have jumped at the offer to build there are either bankrupt or going under, until there’s an upturn in the credit and housing markets nobody is really going to be too interested. And three years down the line, no doubt the public money will have been frittered away on other white elephants.

I do applaud the continuing trend towards quality, low density tourism. Safeguards are supposed to be in place to ensure that the place doesn’t turn into another “Costa del Sol”. However, I doubt that the current infrastructure can support this many people. Water supplies will be dependent upon the desalination plants, and the current polluting power plant in Carboneras is going to be working overtime. However, the planners have given some thought towards road infrastructure, planning several new roads and bypasses and talk is afoot of developing a generic public transportation system here.

Call me a depressed old raven, but I feel that this plan, while generally needed, is too much too late. The overall concept is good, the development of light industry and other businesses is desperately needed in this area to reduce reliance on construction and agriculture, but Llano Central is going to be an eyesore for some time to come. We’ll probably end up with some scruffy housing estates and a golf courses sinking into the mud.

An Overview of the POTALA – Annex 1

Even the government seems unable to muster much enthusiasm about the building, the official press release is quiet on the subject of the facade, simply muttering about the new improved space and the modern office with all mod cons.

A recent check of the front revealed that, unlike most office buildings, there is no happy little plaque announcing the name of the architect. No doubt he is either in hiding or committed to an asylum.

In fact, 10 mins on the net doesn’t even reveal who is responsible for this atrocity. Just a bunch of local residents complaining about the eyesore in their street. Can’t even find out how much it cost.

But what really gets me is that the expansion next door is in almost the same design. Only they changed it slightly so that you don’t confuse the two buildings. So instead of one large building, ugly as sin, we have two jarring eyesores that, frankly, are so ugly they will cause accidents as people stare openmouthed at them as they drive past for the first time.

Who comes up with these things? More importantly, how dare they spend our money on this crap?