A prestigious law firm, López Graña, has been hired by the ‘Platform for People Affected by the Regulations for the Occupation of Public Roads in Shops in Guardamar del Segura’ to defend its interests against the new municipal regulations that affect the installation of terraces in the town. In comparison to neighbouring municipalities like Torrevieja or Santa Pola, the platform believes that the measure imposed by the City Council is a response to political interests and jeopardises the viability of its enterprises.

According to the portal, 55% of the terraces have not yet processed their licence, and the mayor of Guardamar is allegedly utilising his social networks to exert pressure on industry business owners. They also take issue with the City Council sending representatives to measure and take pictures of the terraces and the announcement that signs will be put up right away in the impacted locations. In addition, they assert that “they have documented how the mayor has ignored their allegations and that the technical reports used to justify the regulations do not conclude a real benefit for the citizens.”

With López Graña’s help, the platform has chosen to take legal action in response to what they perceive to be “harassment by the City Council” in an effort to halt the ordinance. “We will not willingly dismantle our terraces. Those impacted believe a judge will need to issue an order if they wish to remove them. It is important to keep in mind that this new rule forbids the use of any signage or protective element after business hours and mandates the instant removal of platforms and fixed enclosures with no chance of reinstallation.

Hoteliers have organised weekly protests against the proposal, which comes soon before Easter. They will call for protests at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 12:00 on Friday 7th March and every Friday after that to voice their disapproval of the rules. The platform, which unites over 70 local businessmen, feels that the action jeopardises the life of many families and has a significant impact on Guardamar del Segura’s hotel industry.

“For decent and safe terraces, yes to platforms” is the slogan that the hoteliers are using to express their will to keep protesting until the City Council makes the necessary adjustments.

The Alicante Court has sentenced a 42-year-old man to seven and a half years in prison for trying to kill a 33-year-old foreign man.

After arguing with him about money and certain possessions, he stabbed him in the temple with a machete.

Given that it was demonstrated that the accused was the one who carried out the attack based on the viewing of a video of the minutes following the attack that was recorded by witnesses, the court of the Tenth Section imposed the punishment, holding the accused accountable for the crime of attempted murder.

On November 11th, 2023, shortly after noon, the incident happened in Alicante’s Orán Square.

According to the verdict, the defendant disappeared for ten minutes following their argument and returned with “a large machete.”

He then approached the victim, “who was not expecting him,” and struck him in the left temple with the edge of the machete “with the intention of killing him” before the victim could react and avoid the blow.

At that point, the accused was attacked by a group of individuals in the same square who took away his machete and convinced him to cease acting in that way.

The trial took place between January 27th and February 19th of this year. The accused was initially detained on December 1st and remanded in custody two days later.

The verdict stated that the victim’s seven-centimeter blunt cut “could have caused his death,” necessitating medical attention.

In his statement before the court, the defendant maintained an exculpatory version and rejected the facts, even going so far as to claim he was not involved in the altercation that resulted in the attack. The court, however, disregarded his account and granted credibility to the police officers who responded to the attack scene and were able to get a recording and images of the aftermath, which were taken by multiple eyewitnesses.

Nevertheless, neither the victim nor the witness who recorded the video attended the trial.

Along with the prison term, the sentencing stipulates that the accused will compensate the injured person with 2,060 euros and impose an 8-year, 6-month requirement to keep a minimum distance of 300 meters from the victim. In a decision that can be challenged within ten days before the High Court of Justice, the supervised release provision is also extended for an extra five years.

Following the Generalitat Valenciana’s declaration of a flood emergency, Benidorm City Council has mandated that all outdoor activities and schools be suspended this Tuesday, March 4th. In order to protect civilians, transportation has also been stopped in ravines and gullies.

Unlike other towns in the Marina Baixa region, Benidorm was not initially under a state of emergency of zero. However, the Generalitat prolonged the city’s alert due to the growing potential of floods as the weather turned unstable throughout the afternoon.

Actions taken in Benidorm

The City Council has made the following choices in light of this situation:

• Today, Tuesday March 4th, lessons will not be held at any educational institutions.
  
• Cancellation of the municipality’s planned outdoor events.
  
• Traffic restrictions for cars and pedestrians in slopes and ravines.
  

While the notice is in effect, local officials advise the public to take extra measures and refrain from needless travel.