As per a parliamentary response to PP senator Agustín Almodóbar, the Government has disregarded the long-awaited second runway for the Miguel Hernández airport in Alicante-Elche, at least for the next few years. Almodóbar emphasised that the airport has experienced a surge in traffic of over two million travellers in a single year.

“Do you not believe that it would be necessary, given the increasing demand, and that the investment would be more than justified, as has been long demanded by Alicante institutions and society?” The Popular Party leader enquired, characterising the work that Pedro Sánchez’s administration had planned as “insufficient”.

Nevertheless, the Upper House’s response is unequivocal: “Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport currently possesses modern, secure facilities, as well as competitive pricing and an adequate capacity to satisfy air traffic demand and ensure the mobility of its residents.”

The government contends that the “airport manager” already conducts “planning” in accordance with “operational needs and expected traffic demand”, and AENA predicts “future behaviour” in the “sizing” of these infrastructures.

At present, the project is anticipated to encompass “adaptation of the terminal and traffic areas”, as stated in the technical description of the works that were tendered in January of last year. This is part of the first segment of Asistencia Técnica de Redacción de Proyecto (Technical Assistance for Project Draughting,) which is valued at €19.8 million.

In contrast, the second runway is “envisioned as the airport’s ultimate expansion in the current Master Plan and will be constructed only when it is deemed necessary to satisfy the anticipated demand, as determined by technical criteria.”

According to sources from the City Council, three squatters were apprehended after the intervention of officers from the Sant Vicent del Raspeig (Alicante) Local Police and the Guardia Civil prevented them from invading a residence.

On Saturday March 15th, the Benemérita requested the municipal security force’s intervention in response to an alleged attempt by multiple suspects to occupy the property.

The main post had been previously contacted to report an additional purported illegal entry on Velázquez Street.

The Guardia Civil assisted the local police officers in the arrest after they made several arrangements with the householder. The police arrived immediately. The suspects were transported to the headquarters of the State Security Forces.

A Benidorm resident has been fined €3,400 for allegedly dismantling and removing barriers installed by the local police to impede traffic on a road leading to an area known as La Cruz up to 25 times. The resident claims that the barriers were obstructing his way to the local coves to surf. The officers identified the 60-year-old resident of Rincón de Loix in Benidorm, who is believed to have been the perpetrator of the damage to the public furniture. The individual is of Eastern European origin.

Yesterday, Thursday 20th March, Quique Tortosa, the spokesman for the Benidorm Local Police, said that officers had been observing the disappearance of these traffic control beacons from their designated locations and their subsequent hurling down an embankment for approximately four to five months. The Local Police deployed a device to identify and locate the individual who was committing these acts of vandalism, and they also requested assistance from the neighbours, as these items were damaged up to 25 times.

The alleged perpetrator of these incidents has been apprehended by local police. According to the same source, he was “bothered by the fences because he would drive his car and surfboards to the coves in that area in the afternoons.” The Local Police will impose penalties of 3,400 euros on the driver for two violations of the General Traffic Regulations, as has been reported.