THE JUNTA APPROVES AN ALMOST ONE AND HALF MILLION EURO IN NEW SCHOOLS IN MANILVA

A new investment of almost one and a half million Euro for The Vines in Manilva has been apporved by the Junta de Andalucia. The refurbishment programme will include the construction of a six classrooms for the High School, two classrroms for secondary education, three refreshment rooms, toilets, and a walkway to the existing site. The project has been allocated a budget of 1.48 million Euro. The new project will benefit students from Casares, Manilva, Sabinillas and other areas of the Campo de Gibraltar. It will also mean removing the eight pre fabricated classrooms which were built in 2007 to cater for the increased number of students. The new building will have an area of almost twelve hundred square metres and is financed by EU funding.

PILOT DIES WHEN HELICOPTER CRASHES NEAR CASARES

A pilot was killed when his helicopter crashed into an electricity pylon in Casares during a night flight last Saturday. The crash started a fire which was dealt with by the local fire brigade. The man's body was recovered from the scene by the Guardia Civil mountain rescue group. The alarm was raised at eight o' clock when Endesa workmen in the area noticed damage to a high voltage mast on the road between Casares and Manilva. They found the helicopter's door nearby and it appeared that the machine had crashed into power lines. Firemen, local police and the Guardia Civil rushed to the scene where they found the remains of the helicopter which was partly destoryed by fire. 

A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATIONS LIE AHEAD AS CASARES CELEBRATES ITS PATRON SAINT

A weekend of celebrations gets undeway tomorrow when Casares celebrates its patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario del Campo. Two full days of devotion will begin with residents accompanying the Mayor and the patron to the chapel where a mass will be held at 12 noon. There will be a procession at four o' clock tomorrow where the Virgin in her carriage will be accompanied by pilgrims on foot, on horseback and in floats. The chapel stays open all night and there will be a special choral recital at midnight. Throughout the weekend there will be dances and musical performances during the weekend. The festivities continue on Sunday with the Holy Rosary, a meal and the return of the Virgin at seven o' clock in the evening. 

CASARES VOTES FOPR LEFT WING PARTIES IN THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

The voters of Casares gave overwleming support to the two parties of the left, the Socialist and the United Left, in last Sunday's European elections. Both parties won 457 votes each, that's 34 per cent each of the total vote. The United Left won 142 more votes than in the 2009 elections , while the Socialist Party share also increased by 52 votes. The Partido Popular saw its share of the vote decline and they are now in third place with 176 votes, a 50 per cent drop in support. The bid surpise of the elction was strong showing of the recently formed Podemos party which won 84 votes , maing them the fourth largest party in Casares. The other new party, UPyD won 46 votes, again a good showing for such a new organisation. United Left spokesman Guzman Ahumada said the strong turn out for his party showed popular support for its policy of opposing cuts in local services. Socialist Party spokesman Antonio Munoz welcomed the strong level of support for his party in Casares and throughout Andalucia. The Partido Popular said the results showed it had failed to mobilise its voters to turn out in the elections. 

A FILM festival in Casares will celebrate the best of new Andalucian cinema.

Rolling out the red carpet in Casares

Featuring screenings, exhibitions and a closing gala night, the Festival de Nuevo Cine Andaluz will run from June 2-7.

Barcelona-born film director Mariano Barroso will also be teaching a course on film direction.

A jury of industry professionals – led by Barroso – will choose the film best films submitted by the region’s budding filmmakers for public viewing.

A number of prizes will be awarded including ‘Best Andalucian feature’ and ‘Best short film’.

The collaboration between Casares Town Hall and local tourism operative EcoTourCasares aims to support Andalucia’s thriving film industry.

NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED TO TACKLE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Casares is taking part in the Youth Employment Decree of the Junta de Andalucia aimed at tackling youth unemployment in the 18 to 29 year old age group. The Ayuntamiento is studying how to incorporate the plan which has a budget of 114,000 Euro into the municipality. It is planning to hire young people who are registered with the Andalucian Employment Service to carry out social and community work. There is a two months deadline for applicants to prepare their applications. Prospective applicants must be registered with the Andalucian Employment Service and priority will be given to those registered in Casares.

ECOTOURCASARES RECORDED OVER 5,000 VISITORS TO ITS RECEPTION CENTRE IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION

Ecotourcasares has recorded more than 5,000 tourists at its visitor reception centre in its first full year of operation. The tourism co-operative provides detailed information in different languages on hotels, restaurants and entertainment in the area. A total of 5,038 people visited the reception centre. Ecotourcasares also aimed to provide more than just information and to this end it also organised walking trips through the most spectacular natural beauty spots in the area. The co-operative is also hsoting along with the Ayuntamiento the first festival of new Andalucian cinema next July.

CITIZENS VOTE FOR MORE THAN 90,000 EURO TO BE SPENT ON WORKS AT CASARES COSTA

Citizens have voted for more than 90,000 Euro to be spent on a number of projects at Casares Costa. More than 50 residents who attended a public meeting as part of the Citizen Participation Plan voted in favour of a number of works projects in the area. The proposal were put to the meeting by the councillors for the Costa, Antonia Pineda and Juan Jesus Rodriguez. It was proposed to carry out work in three areas - Marina de Casares, Arroyo Parilla and Dona Julia and Majestic at Bahia de Casares. The meeting also apporved a 75,000 Euro budget for repairing lighting in the northern area of the Marina.

WORK BEGINS ON PREPARING THE BEACHES FOR THIS YEAR’S SUMMER SEASON

Work has begun on moving sand and earth to prepare the beaches at Casares Costa for this year’s summer season. The Ayuntamiento has given approval for the work between Playa Ancah and Piedra Paloma and to recover the beach once the chiringuito La Sal has been relocated to its new site. Work was carried out this week to move 7 cubic metres of sand from Playa Ancha to the beach at Piedra Paloma. Work will also be carried out soon to recover the beach at Playa Chica once the chiringuito has been relocated. Councillor Juan Jesus Rodriguez said that once the work is carried out bathers will have an extra 300 square metres of beach area.