Costa Blanca

Orihuela Councils displeasure at ‘forgetfulness’ of the Ministry of Transport

The governing team of the Orihuela City Council has reiterated its dissatisfaction with what it perceives as a new oversight by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, which continues to overlook the longstanding request of residents and visitors of the Orihuela coast for a free service on the AP-7 section between Los Montesinos and Villamartín-La Zenia, particularly during the peak season.

Víctor Valverde, the Councillor for Infrastructure, noted that “we have lost count of the number of times we have requested a response from the Ministry regarding this matter, yet we have still not received any reply.” Valverde views the Government’s recent decision to extend the free toll on the El Campello-Monforte section as a positive development, indicating that such measures can effectively alleviate congestion on overburdened roads. This criterion, which has justified free tolls in Alicante, should similarly apply to the Vega Baja, where the N-332 and the CV-95 experience persistent traffic congestion, particularly during the summer months,” he stated.

The Orihuela councillor noted that the AP-7 motorway in this segment averages only 6,000 vehicles daily, primarily attributed to the high toll cost, which exceeds 9 euros for a distance of 7 kilometres. Valverde emphasised that the N-332 accommodates over 40,000 vehicles daily and experiences traffic congestion extending for kilometres during the summer months.

The Ministry of Transport, led by Óscar Puente, acknowledges that the removal of the toll in El Campello has yielded significant benefits, including reduced congestion and enhanced road safety. Consequently, this measure should be implemented in the section traversing the Vega Baja region, where conditions are similarly severe, particularly during specific months of the year, as stated by Valverde.

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Costa Blanca

Consumer Affairs Ministry has blocked 65,000 Airbnb listings it considers “illegal”

The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda has blocked over 65,000 listings on Airbnb that it considers “illegal.” According to a statement, the ministry, led by Pablo Bustinduy, has ordered the multinational’s Irish subsidiary to remove 65,935 listings because they violate advertising standards for this type of tourist accommodation. These listings are said to violate the rules of the autonomous communities where the Consumer Affairs Department found them. In all cases, the advertisements are for complete tourist homes; there are no listings for individual rooms.

Recently, the government claims to have issued Airbnb up to three resolutions informing it of the more than 65,000 unlawful tourist accommodation listings discovered on its platform, “resolutions in which this company was urged to block this advertising,” according to the Ministry. It should be mentioned that Airbnb filed an appeal with the courts to prevent the ban, and the High Court of Justice of Madrid has finally ruled on the initial resolution, issuing an order that supports the actions of the Consumer Affairs Department. In response to the ministry’s first order, the High Court of Justice has urged Airbnb to remove 5,800 tourist flat listings immediately.

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Firefighter from the Benidorm fire station dies in a climbing accident in the Pyrenees

A Benidorm fireman died in a climbing accident in the French Pyrenees on Saturday, May 17th, according to sources from the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium.

Although they could not specify his age or place of birth, they established that the firefighter, F.Ll, worked at the Benidorm fire station and was originally from the province of Alicante.

The Consortium’s official Twitter account, which does not provide information about the accident, has stated that it greatly laments the loss of its “companion and friend Fran Llorens, in a climbing accident in the French Pyrenees.”

They also stated that he is “an example of professional behaviour and treatment of others” and that he “honoured the uniform, leaving an indelible mark on the Benidorm park and #cpba (Aicante Provincial Fire Consortium).” RIP.

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National Police dismantle a house in Elche from which cocaine and marijuana were sold 24 hours a day

The National Police arrested three men and a woman in Elche for allegedly being part of a familial clan that sold and distributed drugs from a residence in “la puñalá.”

The drug sales point was open 24 hours a day, and the detained individuals had another residence that served as a warehouse for the drugs they would later sell.

During the operation, National Police officers discovered 350 grams of cocaine hidden inside a cement mixer, 10 grams of marijuana, a huge knife, a high-end car, and paraphernalia used for drug sales.

In addition, a marijuana plantation of 158 plants was discovered in one of the examined flats, illegally connected to an electrical outlet.

The detainees’ ages range from 35 to 60. All have been charged with alleged drug trafficking, membership in a criminal group, and electricity fraud.

After submitting a statement to the court authority, the person believed to be the group’s head was imprisoned.

According to the National Police on Sunday, the family clan intercepted had a clear separation of roles, with some in charge of selling the material and others in charge of carrying out surveillance activities around the residence under investigation.