A new history of the railways in the Levante

Local historians Juan Antonio Soler and Andrew Devey have been working together for the last two years on a massive project to chart the mining development of the 19th century mines here in the east of the province. They have uncovered a huge amount of new detail and original photographs, which are about to be published in a book called The local greenways and the history of the mines, railway and cables etc. in the Continue reading A new history of the railways in the Levante

Los Gallardos – Bédar – Lubrín road to be upgraded

The provincial council is to spend €120,000 improving the AL-6109 which connects the villages of Los Gallardos, Bédar and Lubrín. Almost two kilometres of road surface is to be replaced, with other sections of the road being improved. Additional safety features will be installed on dangerous stretches of the road, road markings repainted, reflective surfaces installed on corners and safety signs replaced. The money has become available due to budget under-runs on the 31 road Continue reading Los Gallardos – Bédar – Lubrín road to be upgraded

El Pinar denounced by environmentalists for dumping sewage into a mine

Ecologistas en Accion has filed a complaint alleging that El Pinar is dumping raw sewage into the campo, with untreated waste entering an old mine nearby. El Pinar de Bedar consists of around 100 large villas. Due to its location, it was impossible to connect the urbanisation to the treatment plant of Bedar, and so a small collection unit was installed. According to the complaint, this has since broken and the water is being dumped Continue reading El Pinar denounced by environmentalists for dumping sewage into a mine

French students map Bedar mines

Geological students from the University of Lorraine in France are undertaking a project to map out some of the old mines in Bédar as part of a project by the townhall to reopen them as tourist attractions. The French university has been sending students to the area on field trips for the last few years now, but this year Professor Christian Hibchs suggested that an interesting project would be the mapping of two of the Continue reading French students map Bedar mines

Two fires in Bedar in three days

A long hot summer awaits, and the first of the forest fires have already come. The first happened over the weekend, and a helicopter was called in to dowse the flames after firefighters found it too difficult to get up the mountain. Todays fire, which started at about 11am, ended the same way with a helicopter again being called in. The cause of both fires is unknown, but Civil Protection is warning that this summer Continue reading Two fires in Bedar in three days

Concern as Sorbas quarries plan another 30 years

Locals in Sorbas and Bédar are concerned over the future of the Sorbas yeso quarries after it was revealed that the Junta may be preparing a “dirty tricks” plan to renew the concession for a further 30 years, despite them being in a special environmental zone. In short, the three yeso quarries in question ( Majadas Viejas I, II & Hornos Ibéricos (Los Feos)) are all sited within sensitive ecological zones. Karst en Yesos de Continue reading Concern as Sorbas quarries plan another 30 years

Bédar has most contaminated air in province

A new study has found that Bédar has, as far as ozone in the air is concerned, the most polluted air in Andalucia. The monitoring station above the village recorded levels above the World Health organisation recommended maximums on no fewer than 188 days last year. The WHO says the maximum should be 100mg per cubic metre of air. Spanish law says the maximum should be 120mg per cubic meter – Bédar recorded high levels Continue reading Bédar has most contaminated air in province

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.

Bedar to get a new well for drinking water

The Diputacion is sinking a new well for drinking water in Bedar. The current one, 145 metres deep, isn’t producing enough water, and the water it is producing is coming out with too many minerals. A thingie to reduce the iron content, installed a few years ago, isn’t doing too well as the minerals continue to increase Well, they’re sucking at the bottom of the barrel… The new one will be 250 metres deep, and Continue reading Bedar to get a new well for drinking water

6 towns in Andalucia are 50% foreign. 5 of those are in Almeria!

In 1998 there were about 100,000 foreigners living in Andalucía. By 2012, this had jumped to 750,000, or 8,8% of the population here. Quite a few forasteros. 6 towns in Andalucía have more than 50% of foreigners resident on the padron. Of these, 5 are in Almeria: Arboleas (68,4%), Partaloa (62,4%) Mojácar (61,5%), Los Gallardos and Bedar. The first two are dumps, the third a fascist run right wing penal colony, the fourth a nice place to live Continue reading 6 towns in Andalucia are 50% foreign. 5 of those are in Almeria!