Torrevieja City Council and the Torrevieja Fair Traders Association (ATIF) released a joint statement yesterday afternoon, Monday May 12th. Federico Alarcón, Councillor for Public Space Use, Openings, and Activities, declared that the fair would remain in Antonio Soria Park for another year.

The prospect of transferring the amusement park to Torrevieja’s waterfront for the months of July and August was discussed. However, the statement clarifies that after considering the feasibility and potential effects, it has been decided to remain in this temporary site.

The fair’s attractions reopened in June 2023, following a more than six-month absence, but at a different location, Antonio Soria Park. Since they are already losing revenue as a result of being away from their typical location, they have contemplated remaining put to ensure their return in 2026.

According to their study, returning during the summer months would disrupt development work on the port’s new recreational area, delaying its completion and, as a result, the amusement park’s return. The decision was made by an absolute majority of the association’s members.

A driver was apprehended by Benidorm Local Police officers (Alicante) this weekend after he fled a breathalyser checkpoint and travelled at a speed of 150 km/h while travelling four kilometres in the incorrect direction on the N-332 highway. The driver tested positive for alcohol and drugs.

The local police force prevented a collision with over 30 vehicles that were required to avoid the now-detained driver. This was due to the fact that the officers were travelling parallel to him in the correct direction, with all of the surveillance vehicles’ light systems operating.

The local police safely removed the driver, a 45-year-old English male who resides in Spain, after he tested positive for alcohol and drugs. He was subsequently arrested. He has been indicted for a violation of traffic safety.

Since December, the Elche City Council has been non-compliant with the monthly lease payment for approximately twenty patrol vehicles of the Elche Local Police, which were acquired in June 2023. The debt would exceed 117,000 euros in total, as the agreement between the Councillor for Contracting, Claudio Guilabert, and the commercial company that was awarded the contract, Transtel SA, required a monthly payment of 23,425.60 euros. The mayor accompanied Carrús to the presentation of these vehicles in order to suggest that the neighbourhood requires additional security, as requested by a variety of social groups.

A municipal spokesman, without providing an explanation for the reasons for the nonpayment, affirmed that the debt will be paid this month. The payment is anticipated to be charged to the 2024 treasury balances after it is incorporated into the municipal budget this week.

The situation is particularly peculiar, as the payment guarantee was acquired on June 21st, 2023, for 1.1 million euros, including VAT, at the time of the contract’s signing. In a recent plenary session, PSOE spokesman Héctor Díez accused the government team of having over 3.5 million euros in unpaid bills in the drawers. He also denied that the surpluses from the previous year were 31 million, as the Municipal Strategy Councillor, Francisco, had assured Soler, as well as the mayor himself, Pablo Ruz, when he assured that he was the “biggest saving” in history. Money that was not actually spent, not only from 2024 but also from previous years.

The local police have continued to patrol with these vehicles, all of which are SUVs and operate on hybrid fuel, despite the fact that the issue of non-payment has gone unnoticed.

They provided explanations for the events that transpired, which is unusual for a city council such as the one in Elche, where the municipal government (PP and Vox) is in charge. They underscored the healthy condition of the accounts and the low level of debt.
Nevertheless, it is possible to owe up to five invoices. Additional sources that were reviewed
The newspaper suggested that the issues may have been the result of an error in the municipal accounting department. However, it is challenging to provide an explanation when not only
Invoices for 2024 are included in addition to those for this year.

One of the initial contracts signed by Claudio Guilabert was the contract that was tendered by the previous government team. This contract was also one of the first presentations of the investment, which the opposition has repeatedly criticised the PP for erasing the image of the previous administration. The vehicles arrived months later, and a four-year agreement is in the works. This agreement will encompass the useful life of the vehicles, which are on the road nearly every day. Although the contract stipulated an annual review, each of them has been subjected to additional requirements due to the requirement to conduct it every 15,000 kilometres. Furthermore, there was an additional one-year warranty, in addition to the two that were already provided, that covered any manufacturing or installation defect or vice, irrespective of the kilometre limit.

The document signed between the parties states that a budget allocation has been applied to item….. dated 1st August 2023 in order to execute this contract. The agreement stipulated that the authorised credit for each fiscal year in the budgets would be prioritised over the credit, as it was a multi-year contract. It is evident that in the current budget, if no payment has been made, he was not present. However, what transpired in December 2024? The amount was required to be paid in arrears, prior to the presentation of the corresponding invoice. The contract was overseen by a local police commander, who was the individual who reported that the invoices were not being paid. Mayor Ruz, who served as the opposition, was highly critical of the Local Police’s inability to perform their duties due to a lack of resources. He publicly criticised the decision to abandon a material contest.