The Ministry of Development has turned off the lights on the A-7 as it passes through Estepona after the Council announced its intention to stop paying the electricity bills for the road, saying that the road is the responsibility of the state and not local government.
Estepona Council is quite happy to pay for lighting for urban roads as they agree these are the responsibility of local government but have decided not to continue for something they believe is and should be the responsibility of the state.
Estepona Council has paid around €3 million in recent years to illuminate the motorway. The Mayor, José María García, says that the Council can do nothing with the motorway, such as construct or renovate roundabouts, make access or exit points, add a deceleration lane or even impose an 80 kph speed limit but they are forced to pay for the lighting.
The Mayor added that people in Estepona complain about the high taxes and IBI (rates) in the municipality but what can they do when they are paying for things that do not belong to them.
In September, Estepona, Manilva, Marbella and Fuengirola Councils agreed to ask the central government to reimburse the €11 million paid during the past 15 years by municipal authorities to illuminate the motorways of the Costa del Sol.
Why didn’t someone bring this up in the beginning one might ask?