Los Gallardos mining row

A row has erupted after people woke up this week in Los Gallardos to discover their land had been seized for a quarry without them being told. A company from the Pais Vasco called Minera de Órgiva has been issued prospecting rights over 240 ha in Los Gallardos and Antas. They’re searching for alabaster (used to make windows), serpentine (used in the steel industry) and marble. The Junta de Andalucia has issued prospecting rights to Continue reading Los Gallardos mining row

Firemen rescue fox trapped in Antas reservoir

A fox that had fallen into a balsa in Antas was rescued over the weekend by firemen after local police failed in their efforts to help him. The bushy little chap had snuck in through a hole in the fence and had slipped into the murky waters. The owner of the reservoir, checking up on his land the next morning, was surprised to see him swimming around in it, and realised there was no way Continue reading Firemen rescue fox trapped in Antas reservoir

Antas ex-Mayor jailed for a year over illegal homes

The previous Mayor of Antas and three of her councillors have been jailed for a year for allowing 18 homes to be built illegally on a plot of land in the town, along with the builder and his architect. Judge Manuel Rey decided that Ana Joaquina García (PSOE) with the support of three town councillors connived back in 2005 in the granting of building permits for Inversiones García Aute S.L. which applied to build 18 Continue reading Antas ex-Mayor jailed for a year over illegal homes

My photo wins a prize in the Antas photo competition!

Fame at last! This little photo of mine won silver prize in the Antas photo competition, awarded at the feria last weekend. For those of you who are interested, it was taken from the big cliffs over the river. It was almost the end of me – fumbling about through the thorn bushes in darkness, with only a small torch, I suddenly realised the tripod was about 30cm away from the drop. Quite a surprise, Continue reading My photo wins a prize in the Antas photo competition!

The Cabezo Maria hermitage in Antas

It’s the famous hermitage you can see on top of the hill outside Antas from miles around. The hill is actually the remains of the central lava column of an ancient volcano. The rest of the volcano has eroded away, leaving only the central lava spike, on top of which a shrine was erected. The lava flow from this hill can actually be traced all the way down to the sea – it can appears Continue reading The Cabezo Maria hermitage in Antas

Local water declared drinkable

The Department of Health (sanidad) has issued a unified declaration of potability for the water of Galasa across the Levante. It comes after an extensive period of government testing of water at 83 urban centres across Carboneras, Mojácar, Turre, Antas, Arboleas, Cuevas del Almanzora, Garrucha, Huércal-Overa, Los Gallardos, Pulpí, Zurgena & Bédar.

Antas bridge to be rebuilt

The bridge at Antas that collapsed during the Sept 2012 storms is finally going to be rebuilt. Four out of the 15 spans of this bridge were washed away in the flood. The new section of the bridge will replace these with just two spans, which will allow 167% more water underneath, it seems. It’s being built by Progall (surprise!) at a cost of €358.000. Mayor Isabel Belmonte reckons a thousand lorries are having to Continue reading Antas bridge to be rebuilt

Carboneras desalination plant FINALLY connected to the network, but I bet you still can’t drink the water

150,000 people will start to receive desalinated water from the Carboneras plant, after the Minister for the Environment opened the taps to allow water to flow from Carboneras to the Levante water network. The desalination plant was built several years ago in Carboneras, because that’s where the power plant is. But it was never connected to the Levante, because the water pipe that existed was designed to take water from Mojacar to Carboneras – and Continue reading Carboneras desalination plant FINALLY connected to the network, but I bet you still can’t drink the water

Junta backtracks and authorises 10,000 new houses in La Ballabona, Huercal Overa

The Junta de Andalucía has had a spectacular volte face and has declared the “La Ballabona” luxury city project “in the Interest of Tourism” (de interés turístico). 10,000 houses, a golf course, associated services and even a casino are part of the plans according to La Voz de Almería. The La Ballabona project (which is that vast amount of citrus trees between Antas and Huercal Overa – look for the petrol station of the same Continue reading Junta backtracks and authorises 10,000 new houses in La Ballabona, Huercal Overa