The Nerja History Museum remains closed to the public and continues to be a major subject of rhetoric between the two main political parties in the long run-up to the municipal elections.
In some respects, it seems a little strange that in a country renowned for bureacracy and the dotting of every ‘i’, at least fourteen times, no-one really seems to know why the museum isn’t open.
According to the Nerja Caves Foundation (PSOE), it cannot open without an opening licence. The opening licence, they say, is dependent upon a licence of first occupation and this, in turn, is dependent upon all the occupants of the area (Plaza de España) having paid their dues.
According to the Council, there is no objection to businesses in Nerja opening while the licencing procedure is ‘in progress’ but not officially issued, something they say is a regular occurrence.
According to the Council, the problem lies with the fact that the Nerja Caves Foundation forgot to hire staff and set entrance prices for the museum.
The Museum/Nerja Caves saga has now expanded to include car parking after the manager of the Nerja Caves Foundation and leader of the PSOE Ángel Ramirez, criticised the new paid parking scheme in Los Huertos de Carabeo as illegal.
This brought a response from the Council that the Los Huertos de Carabeo parking conforms to legal requirements, has the necessary licences and favourable reports of the municipal technicians and it would therefore be difficult for the Council to close it down.
The response was also an opportunity to accuse Ramirez of double standards for the authorisation of the paid parking in the grounds of the Nerja Caves, for both visitors and residents, and the installation of a souvenir shop, neither of which apparently has the necessary municipal licences.
The only losers, as usual, in these party political squabbles are the ordinary people.