Costa Blanca
Mazón announces the renovation of the Ice Factory and new investments in Torrevieja

The President of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), Carlos Mazón, has reaffirmed the Consell’s dedication to the promotion of tourism and culture in Torrevieja by announcing a global investment of five million euros to restore the historic Eras de la Sal complex. This initiative will transform the local patrimony into a cultural and tourist attraction by preserving and enhancing it.
After signing a statement of intent with the mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, Mazón made this announcement regarding the renovation of the iconic Ice Factory. He emphasised that this agreement is “a definitive step towards the realisation of this initiative, which had been stalled for years.”
In 2025, the Generalitat (Catalan Government) will allocate an initial €100,000 to commence the restoration and expansion of the Ice Factory. As the project segments advance, this investment will increase in subsequent years to reach €2 million between 2026 and 2027.
The president emphasised that this project will convert the Ice Factory into a symbolic space that is prepared to host exhibitions, events, and provide visitors with new experiences. The Ice Factory will be equipped with a tourism office of the future. “We are making tangible progress on a project as significant as the Salt Eras,” he observed.
Mazón also mentioned the recent publication of the public exhibition notice for the administrative concession in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), which will facilitate the establishment of the Museum of the Sea and the Eras de la Sal site. He lamented the previous regional government’s lack of support for this initiative, stating, “We committed to unblocking this process in the first quarter, and we have done so.”
In addition, the Council will provide three million euros to the Eras de la Sal complex, of which 200,000 have already been allocated, as a complement to this initiative, which is regarded as strategic for the city.
Infrastructure and education investments
The head of the Consell also announced significant investments in Torrevieja’s educational and transportation infrastructure during his visit, following what he described as “eight years of neglect and historical shortcomings by the previous government.”
Mazón confirmed the construction of schools 14 and 15, the new secondary school number 6, which is presently in prefabricated classrooms, and the comprehensive renovation of the La Laguna secondary school, with a total investment of €19.3 million. He also emphasised the completion of the work on La Inmaculada and Amanecer secondary schools, which had been significantly delayed.
The president announced the procurement for the widening of the CV-95 between Orihuela and Torrevieja before the end of the term in the field of road infrastructure. The project is expected to require a €180 million investment through a public-private partnership. He emphasised that the widening will be free for users, emphasising that it is fulfilling another essential commitment for economic activity, tourist mobility, and the daily lives of citizens.
Mazón also emphasised the project to renovate the port area of Torrevieja, which will involve an investment of 100 million euros to construct a leisure centre, a new parking lot, and restore the Muelle Mínguez, among other projects.
Project for the Ice Factory
The new Museum of the Sea and Salt, the Habaneras Festival auditorium in the former Marina Internacional dry dock, the redevelopment of the surrounding area, and the restoration of the Ice Factory are all components of the comprehensive Eras de la Sal project.
The project entails the incorporation of a new four-story building on the adjacent 303 m² site and the restoration of the original building, which was constructed between the 1920s and 1930s on a 299 m² site. The current heights of the two structures will be maintained as they are connected.
The complex will be equipped with modern and versatile functionality, as the annexe building will house meeting rooms, a documentation centre, and customer service areas, while the Ice Factory will feature an atrium, a Tourist Information office, and offices.
The Generalitat (Government of Catalonia) and Torrevieja City Council are advancing the recovery and revitalisation of local heritage through this investment, thereby fostering a model that integrates economic development, tourism, and culture.
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Costa Blanca
Firefighters rescue a hiker after fracturing her tendon whilst hiking

A 68-year-old woman was rescued by members of the Provincial Fire Consortium at the Albir Lighthouse in Alfaz del Pi (Alicante) on Saturday, April 26th. She was en route to the l’Alt del Governador de la Serra Gelada when she sustained a fracture of the Achilles tendon, rendering it impossible for her to recommence walking.
The rescue helicopter Alpha 01 and the special group of rescue (GER) were deployed to the scene after the notice was received at approximately 12:28 p.m., according to a statement from the Consortium.
The helicopter was activated to provide rescue services with the GER when the woman was unable to reach the ambulance due to the area’s orography.
The firefighters descended to their position after they were located, and the injured joint was splinted.
Subsequently, they deployed a hoist to elevate the woman to the helicopter, which transported her to San Vicente Park, where she was met by a Basic Life Support (BLS) unit. The intervention concluded at 1:35 p.m.
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Costa Blanca
National Police arrest two women in Benidorm for stealing from tourists

Two women have been apprehended by the National Police in Benidorm for stealing wallets and luggage from tourists, which are believed to contain their most valuable possessions, near their vacation rentals.
The investigation commenced in late 2024, although officers were already aware of the actions of these individuals as a result of numerous other incidents that had occurred on the same premises, including thefts from travellers who were preparing to arrive or depart from their accommodations.
The consistent modus operandi facilitated the investigation, enabling the discovery of the individuals after nearly half a year.
Both suspects were travelling from Alicante to Benidorm in a vehicle and were observed loitering in the city’s tourist areas. They concentrated their attention on the entrances of hotels and public transport stations for the purpose of observing tourist arrivals and pickups.
They selected these locations where tourists are waiting with their luggage, either to be served by reception staff or to be picked up by transport, as these are the times when they give the least attention to their belongings.
The two women also did not hesitate to follow elderly individuals who had departed from these tourist accommodations to wander around, with the intention of exploiting their negligence and stealing their belongings from their purse or knapsack.
The robbery was consistently executed in the same manner. One of them monitored the area and provided cover, while the other perpetrated the larceny of the property. They then fled in the vehicle they frequently used.
In this manner, the investigation was able to identify the actions of the two suspects, who made Benidorm their preferred location, in at least five specific incidents that took place between September 2024 and March 2025. Each of these incidents revealed evidence of their involvement.
The judicial authority deprived both women of their right to access the restricted area of Benidorm, which includes the area where they conducted their criminal activity, as a preventive measure to eradicate their criminal activity in the city, following their arrest.
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Kirsty Maxwell Benidorm balcony death to be probed in new series

A new series expects the five men who last saw Kirsty Maxwell alive to provide answers in a podcast that investigates her mysterious death in Spain.
After a night out on a hen do in 2017, Kirsty, a newlywed, plummeted to her death from a balcony at a hotel in Benidorm.
Before her death, Kirsty, 27, of Livingston, inadvertently entered a 10th-floor flat that was occupied by five British men: Joseph Graham, Ricky Gammon, Anthony Holehouse, Callum Northridge and Daniel Bailey.
In July 2020, they were cleared of being homicide suspects after judges determined that there was no “strong evidence” of criminality and no indication that she had not fallen to her death.
Nevertheless, Kirsty’s mother and father, who are devastated, are adamant that she did not leap of her own volition. The case and an appeal for information are the focus of the six-part podcast, “What happened to Kirsty Maxwell.”
True Crime podcaster Naomi Channell, who narrates and produces the series, says, “I do not believe it was a tragic accident.” All the evidence suggests that she was fleeing from something.
“There are still numerous unanswered questions.”
“It is my sincere hope that this will exert pressure on the authorities and on those who were present in the flat but have never been adequately investigated.”
Naomi met Kirsty’s family at a UK Crimecon convention in 2023, where she was present with Sue Horan, the wife of Stuart Lubbock, who passed away under suspicious circumstances at the residence of television personality Michael Barrymore in 2001.
In her podcast, she recounts how upon Kirsty’s arrival at the apartments with her friends, “a shirtless man” approached them at the elevators and enquired, “Who wants to get f*** tonight?”
Kirsty returned to the apartments early in the morning after a night out, during which she consumed alcohol but did not have any narcotics in her system.
It is unclear why she awoke, proceeded to the 10th floor, and knocked on the door of room 10E. The room was shared by five men, including the shirtless man, who were all from the Nottingham area.
One of them informed the authorities. Before jumping over the Juliette balcony to her demise, Kirsty attempted to climb through a small window in the bathroom and then ran through the apartment window.
Naomi stated, “Kirsty died instantly after falling at 7.51 a.m.” One of the men reported to the police that he had observed her fall. This individual was the sleeveless man, and his name is Joseph Graham.
Adam, Kirsty’s spouse, received a call from the Spanish police informing him that she had passed away. He was compelled to inform her mother, Denise, of the tragic news. The couple had married only eight months prior.
Brian Curry, her father, expressed his disbelief, stating, “Even to this day, it is extremely difficult to accept.”
The podcast delves into the process by which Kirsty’s family travelled to Benidorm to initiate their own investigation three months after her death, as they encountered a “wall of silence” from the police.
Naomi, a podcaster from Essex, stated, “No parent should ever be required to investigate the death of their own child.”
“Brian requested 12 hours of footage that encompassed the period prior to and following Kirsty’s death; however, the police provided him with only seven minutes of edited footage.
Kirsty’s fall is not depicted in a traumatic three-second footage captured by a camera at the poolside, which captures her impact with the ground. Brian is of the opinion that the footage was edited by an individual.
“According to investigators, the remaining CCTV footage has disappeared.” The police were compelled to acknowledge that they had disposed of the garments the day following Kirsty’s death. Her attire would have served as indispensable evidence.
“They claimed that the reason was that the clothing was stained with blood.” They acknowledged that the only method of examination was visual.
David Swindle, the retired Strathclyde detective who established Victims Abroad, was astounded by the deficiencies of the investigation.
He stated that the Spanish Police failed to conduct thorough investigations into the evidence, including independent witnesses, and did not advance forensics or CCTV footage.
“These men were not separated and were not interviewed properly.” DNA issues were encountered, samples were not collected, and Kirsty’s clothing was incinerated.
“Throughout my tenure as an investigator, I was unable to comprehend it.” “If we had all of that, we would be better equipped to understand what transpired with Kirsty.”
The podcast, which will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon on April 29, commemorates the eight-year anniversary of Kirsty’s passing.
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