PROPERTY SALES TO FOREIGNERS IN MALAGA PROVINCE HAVE REACHED PRE CRISIS LEVELS

Property sales to foreigners in Malaga province  have reached pre crisis levels with a 30 per cent increase recorded for the second quarter. There were two and a half thousand property transactions by foreigners, almost 40 per cent of the total number.

NEW EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE OVER 30'S IS OPENED

A new programme aimed at providing employment for the over 30's has been unveiled. The six month programme will give full time employment for three months to eleven people. Those eligible must be aged over 30 and registered as jobseekers. Over 42,000 Euro has been allocated to  Casares for improvement works, including the cleaning and restoration of various areas and work at the public cemetery. The successful applicants will be offered full time employment for three months with a maximum salary of 1,300 Euro. The first phase of the new employment programme will commence in mid November.

MAYOR ANTONIA MORERA INSPECTS WORK BEING CARRIED OUT AT CASARES COSTA

Mayor Antonia Morera has been visiting areas on Casares Costa where work is being carried out by the Ayuntamiento. These include improvement work on the pavement to the north of Marina de Casares which has a budget of more than 68,000 Euro.  The three month project involves a stonemason and 34 labouring contracts of 15 days duration each. Another project involves the expansion of the Jardines del Rosario. This work has a budget of almost 23,000 Euro  and a bricklayer and labourer have been hired by the Ayuntamiento for the job. The project will see the construction of a sports area with minigolf, tennis and a dog park. Mayor Antonia Morera said that work is also underway on the construction of the pedestrian bridge over the Manilva river. 

MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND FAMILIES IN CASARES BENEFIT FROM THE IBI SUBSIDY

More than 1,000 families in Casares have benefited from the reduction in IBI brought in by the Ayuntamiento. There are ten days left for families to apply for the IBI reduction. 1,140 families successfully applied for the reduced IBI which Casares has subsidised to the tune of 115,00 Euro. Councillor Juan Jesus Rodriguez said that there is still time for homeowners to apply for the reduced rate. The measure was brought in to help poorer families and small and medium businesses. Councillor Rodriguez has pointed out that the government team was able to reduce the IBI bill for many people without any loss of services provided by the Town Hall. The IBI subsidy coincides with a 15 per cent drop in the assessed value of property in the Casares area.

MALAGA RECORDS THE BEST AUGUST FOR TOURISM IN OVER A DECADE

Malaga province has recorded the best August for tourism in over a decade. The tourist levels were at a pre crisis peak and show that the tourist sector is driving the economic recovery in the province. The figures show that while August was a record month for visitors , the trend reflects the growth in tourism for the whole year. Recently released figures show that the number of people staying in hotels increased by 2.2 per cent on August last year, while overnight stays increased by 2.4 per cent. The number of foreign visitors also increased by 4 per cent in August, with a corresponding increase in overnight stays by foreign tourists of 5.4 per cent. The Costa del Sol recorded a fourteen point lead in tourists above the average in the rest of Andalucia.

A NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE OPENS IN CASARES

The Department of Education has signed an agreement with GetBrit, an English language specialist group, to provide English classes in Casares. The course will prepare students for the Trinity College exams at the level of B1, B2 and C1. These qualifications are necessary for many jobs and university places. The classes are open to students over 12 and will be available during the next academic year for 25 Euro a month for two hours a week. Tests will be held to assess the existing levels of language skills before the classes are organised into groups.

CASARES DANCE SCHOOL TO OPEN FLAMENCO COURSES ON CASARES COSTA

The Casares Dance School is to offer a  new flamenco dance course at Casares Costa this year following many expressions of interest from local residents. Casares Costa councillor Antonia Pineda said there has been a demand from residents in the area for the course which has been fuelled by the increase in population at Casares Costa. The classes will be held every Tuesday afternoon for children aged between 4 and 12 and in the evening for adults. The course will cost 6 Euro an hour and will begin on October 1st.

MALAGA PROVINCE RECORDS A SLIGHT UPSURGE IN PROPERTY SALES

Malaga province has recorded a slight upsurge in property sales, fuelling speculation that the end of the property slump could be in sight. The boost is in contrast to the picture throughout Spain and the rest of Andalucia where property prices continue to be in negative figures. In July Malaga recorded a 15 per cent increase in the number of property sales. The province came fourth behind Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante and recorded a third of all property transactions in July. Promoters say that the existing property stock will soon be exhausted and there will soon be a demand for new developments.

CASARES RENEWS ITS AGREEMEENT TO SUPPORT THE MUNICIPAL FOOD BANK

The Ayuntamiento in Casares has renewed its agreement with Desvan Solidario to keep the municipal food bank open. Desvan Solidario was the brainchild of a young Casarena Paula Lopez who set it up in June 2013. The food bank manages resources collected and donated by charitable activities to provide relief for disadvantaged families. It works closely with the local authority to manage resources allocated by the Red Cross and charitable donations from supermarkets and individuals. The food bank is open during office hours on Tuesdays and Fridays at Casares, on Thursdays at Casares Costa and at Secadero on Wednesdays. The programme currently looks after more than 107 families. 76 volunteers help the food bank to carry out its activties during the year.

THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN CASARES WITH A SPECIAL DAY TO WELCOME NEW STUDENTS

It was back to school this week for children in Casares and Secadero. A special day was held on Wednesday to welcome the 800 students who will be attending the Blas Infante and Los Almendros schools. There are 350 pupils enrolled at Blas Infante and 162 at Los Almendros in Secadero. Teaching staff were making the final preparations this week for the return to school and all services, including dining and school transport, are ready. Yesterday the normal school schedule resumed from 9 to 2 in Casares and Secadero. A full programme of extracurricular activities will commence in October.

IRISH GANGLAND FIGURE GUNNED DOWN IN HAIL OF BULLETS IN ELVIRIA

An Irish gangland figure was shot and killed by two gunmen who attacked him at a well known Irish bar in Elviria last Saturday. Gerard Kavanagh, whose nickname was Hatchet, was a 44 year old convicted drug dealer who was well known to Irish police. He was drinking outside Harmons Irish Bar in Elviria just before five o' clocl on Saturday when two gunmen dressed in black and wearing black balaclavas opened fire with pistols. Kavanagh was hit nine times before one of the killers fired a final shot to his head. The gunmen escaped in a BMW car which was found burned out five kilometres away. Irish police have been liasising with Spanish police in a bid to discover who was behind the gangland murder. One theory is that Kavanagh, who was a close associate of a well known Irish drugs lord who lives outside Estepona, was in dispute with a Russian mafia gang over drugs money.Four men have been killed this year in suspected gangland linked shootings on the Costa del Sol.

ASHYA KING FROM CASARES DEL MAR WILL BEGIN RADICAL TREATMENT FOR HIS BRAIN CANCER IN PRAGUE NEXT WEEK

Ashya King, the 5 year old boy who lives in Casares del Mar, will begin radical treatment for his brain cancer at a clinic in Prague on Monday. Ashya was the subject of an international manhunt after his parents, Brett and Naghmeh King removed him from a  hospital in Southampton without doctors permission. The parents were arrested by Spanish police on an international warrant but were later freed and reunited with Ashya who suffers from a  brain tumour. The parents and Ashya flew to Prague by private jet from Malaga on Monday and the little boy has already been assessed by doctors at the Proton Therapy Centre. They have given the go ahead for treatment on Ashya to begin on Monday. The Kings other six children were staying at Casares del Mar this week while their parents were with Ashya in the Czech Republic. Mr King has said he is facing huge legal and medical bills after his efforts to get his son lifesaving treatment.

THE JUNTA DE ANDALUCIA HAS FIVEN ITS APPROVAL TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN DRAWN UP BY CASARES TO DEAL WITH WIDLFIRES.

The plan which involves co-ordination measures and escape routes must be renewed every five years. Under the plan all isolated dwellings must have a self protection plan.

LIFEGUARD SERVICE ENDS ON THE BEACHES WITH NO MAJOR INCIDENTS

The summer lifeguard service on the beaches officially ended last Sunday with a virtually incident free summer and greater number of people enjoying the sea. The service reported that there were 195 incidents that required minor medical treatment. These included 61 extractions of porcupine quills, 51 cuts and 17 minor bruises. And compared to last summer when there were over 500 jellyfish stings, this year the lifeguard service dealt with only 15 cases. Theer were no red flag days on the beaches this summer, thanks to the good weather. There were 41 green flag days and 24 yellow flags. The councillor for the beaches Juan Jesus Rodriguez said that although the lifeguard service has ended for the summer, the beaches will continue to be cleaned during the month of September and the showers on the beaches will remain open.

THE JOBLESS FIGURE IN CASARES RISES BY 11 PER CENT IN AUGUST

The jobless figure in Casares took a sharp rise in August, up 11 per cent on the July figure. The number out of work for the month was 502, that's 53 more than the previous month. And compared to the August figure for 2013, there are 85 more people unemployed in the town. The disappointing figure follows five consecutive months of a decline in the number out of work. It contrasts with Estepona where unemployment fell by 2.7 per cent last month, and Manilva where the figure remained the same as July. In Malaga province there was a 0.7 per cent decrease with 1,305 less people signing on the dole. The province now has the lowest number of unemployed since September 2011, with the biggest improvment seen in the services sector, followd by agriculture and industry.

BRITISH FAMILY FROM CASARES COSTA AT THE CENTRE OF INTERNATIONAL BATTEL OVER THEIR SICK SON

A British family who lived on Casares Costa for more than ten years were at the centre of an international police operation this week over the fate of their five year old son who suffers from brain cancer. Brett and Naghmeh King who lived at the Casares del Mar urbanisation for more than ten years were arrested in Malaga last Saturday after they took their son Ashya from hospital in Britain without doctors permission. The Kings spent three nights in police custody while Ashya was taken to the childrens hospital at Malaga. They were finally released on Tuesday night and were reunited with their son in Malaga. The Kings, who have seven children, said they took their son from hospital because they wanted better treatment for him than was available in Britain. British Prime Minister David Cameron was among the many politicians who intervened to get the parents released from prison in Madrid where they were the subject of extradition proceedings. The Kings have said they want to bring little Ashya to Prague for radical treatment for his brain tumour. Officers from the Guardia Civil were on duty at Casares del Mar from Friday night until the Kings were detained at Velez Malaga on Saturday.