The PSOE spokesman in Nerja, Luis Peña intends to propose a motion at the next plenary session of the Council (doomed to failure) asking the Central Government to arrange an ‘extraordinary credit’ to enable the tendering process for the sewage plant to begin.
The PSOE spokesman also commented on the meeting in Madrid between the Mayor and Director General of Water in which a ‘commitment’ to try and resolve the problems was forthcoming, dismissing such statements as ‘electioneering’.
Similar, if not more specific, promises and statements were, of course, made by Rosa Aguilar (PSOE) in the run-up to the municipal and general elections.
One gets the distinct impression that there must be some underlying reason why numerous projects relating to Nerja – sewage plant, health centre, golf course, marina, fire station etc – always run into trouble.
The sewage plant project has been rumbling on for four decades, and in the meantime, just about every other municipality, large or small, has managed to build at least one facility.
It was touted that a change in Central Government would ‘unblock’ the project almost immediately, but this has not so far been the case. In fact, the sewage plant project has been ‘in progress’ during central governments of both political persuasions, yet it is seemingly no nearer to completion than it was forty years ago.
EU regulations stipulate a zero discharge into the sea by 2015, which is cutting it fine when the project has not yet been put out to tender. Reading between the lines, it does seem that governments would rather pay a penalty than build the plant for some reason.
Expectations are also high with regard to a possible change of political orientation in Andalucia in March, although holding one’s breath is not recommended as a viable option.
It could, of course, be pure coincidence that Nerja suffers so many setbacks. Other municipalities also suffer the odd setback, but seemingly not to the same extent.
However, we live in hope. Perhaps the project will suddenly be ‘unlocked’ and residents and tourists alike will be able to bathe in a slickless sea without fear of infection.