Yesterday, Tuesday May 6th, the Torrevieja government authorised the tender for a new urban transport service contract, which is a 10-year concession for a total of €115,440,005 (plus VAT). Since 2012, the service has been rendered without a contract, and audit reports have been virtually automatic as a result of administrative irregularities in the payment of invoices, which amount to approximately €260,000 per month.

In fact, it has been a commitment of Eduardo Dolón’s since he regained the mayoralty in 2019, but it has not been implemented in six years. These contracts, in addition to two other significant contracts, are currently in progress, including waste collection and street cleansing, as well as park and garden maintenance.

The mayor stated that “a significant stride has been taken in the finals of the major services that remained to be awarded.” This project will entail the modernisation of a service that was previously provided under conditions that did not meet our expectations. We are now proposing a modernised service that will significantly increase the parameters of frequency, punctuality, quality, and user comfort, as well as the digitalisation of the service. Additionally, we are committed to reducing emissions and demonstrating our dedication to the environment.

The deadline for proposals is mid-June, and the bid evaluation period will commence in July, unless appeals are submitted. The bid submission period will be 40 calendar days from the tender announcement. As a result, the mayor expects to award the service this year and start providing it by the end of the year.

Increased fleet and workforce

Antonio Vidal, the Councillor for Transport, clarified that the new service results in an increase in the number of employees. Specifically, the government’s dedication to sustainable mobility through low-emission vehicles, with reduced fossil fuel consumption and a substantial reduction in pollution levels, is evidenced by the fact that the number of buses has doubled, from 16 to 32 units (26 hybrids and 6 electric). A driver assistance system will be installed on all buses to enable the concessionaire and users to access real-time information about incidents, service schedules, and routes.

The number of employees has more than doubled, with an estimated workforce of over one hundred professionals, rather than the current 41.

Three nocturnal lines and nine daytime lines

The total number of lines has been increased to nine, with the addition of six new lines: the circular line, the hospital line, the Torreblanca-La Mata-Quirón Hospital line, and three night lines. These lines will provide coverage for high schools, health centres, weekly markets, and cemeteries in both Torrevieja and La Mata, as well as the northern and residential areas.

In addition, the hours will be extended to 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. during the low season and 7 a.m. to midnight during the peak season. Night services will be available on Saturdays during the low season, Fridays and Saturdays during the mid-season (June and September), and daily during the peak season.

Fees

Until recently, the standard ticket was free for registered residents who requested it, but it now costs €1.50. The incorporation of the CPI has resulted in a 10% increase in comparison to the City Council’s initial fare calculations for 2021. This is a noteworthy point.

Various ticket categories will be available. The Gold Pass provides unlimited free travel on urban transport throughout the year for individuals over the age of 65, pensioners, or those with a disability that exceeds 33%. In both cases, the prerequisite is that the individual has been a registered resident of the city for a significant period of time.

The special multi-trip bus pass is available at nearly 50% discount for young individuals under 26, large families, and the long-term unemployed (more than two years).

The 30-pass is a fare that is applicable for all users and provides unlimited rides on all lines of urban transport for a period of 30 days. It is priced at 44 euros.

The tourist card is a fare that entitles tourists and travellers to unlimited use of urban transport lines for the specified duration: three days for a fee of 10 euros, and seven days for a fee of 18 euros.

The multi-trip bus pass is a reloadable card that is priced at 11 euros for 10 journeys or 22 euros for 20.

All passes include free transfers for a 60-minute period.

To achieve this objective, the City Council will allocate 8 million euros annually.

The councillor declared, “A fare system that is fair, affordable, and tailored to the service to be rendered.”

The successful bidder is required to supply 26 hybrid buses and six electric buses. The successful bidder is obligated to provide all 32 vehicles within a 12-month timeframe, with the initial deliveries occurring four months after the contract enters into force.

The City Council has previously awarded these vehicles through a tender process. The successful bidder is required to deposit €19,820,532 upon the signing of the contract in order for the City Council to proceed with the payment of the vehicle purchase price. This is one of the new features included in this document. In this manner, the City Council can ensure that the vehicles are supplied and the service is initiated simultaneously.

They plan to construct, improve, and maintain each of the 180 urban transport service locations. We will also enhance the shelters at these stops and construct new ones.

Similarly, the service will be digitalised, with an operations support system that will optimise routes, identify potential issues, and provide real-time information to users via a mobile app and at locations.

Furthermore, three offices will be open to offer information and services to all consumers. They will be situated in the town centre, the La Mata district, and the primary offices of the contracting company. The hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The new contract encompasses the draughtsmanship of the project and the completion of the requisite works to establish an operational base (€3.1 million) for depots, workshops, and control centre offices, as well as the charging station for 12 electric buses (€963,243).

It will be situated on a 7,550-square-metre site at the intersection of Rosa Mazón Valero Avenue and Juan Valera Street in Enclave 13, specifically on a municipal allotment. After the concession period concludes, the City Council will assume ownership of the entire vehicle fleet and associated digital equipment.

The Santa-Maria Group facilitates the arrival of the Marriott International hotel chain in Benidorm. The hotel and residences were constructed within the Terra Mítica park, and the complex is now known as Four Points by Sheraton Costa Blanca. It does so with a business focus, while also considering the leisure sector. The Benidorm-based company announced this in a statement on Tuesday: “The Terra Mítica hotel is positioned as a benchmark for both leisure and business, offering a renewed offering and cutting-edge services aimed at the leisure and MICE segments.”

Following the October 2023 announcement of the management appointment of Aimbridge EMEA, a division of Aimbridge Hospitality, Marriott has been included in the hotel initiative. Novotel and Marriott were already part of Aimbridge Hospitality’s global portfolio.

The resort comprises a 300-room hotel and a 102-villa resort. “It preserves the familial atmosphere of the former Grand Luxor Hotel, which includes preferential access to the Terra Mítica and Mundomar parks,” the statement asserts. Additionally, “its extensive selection of indoor and outdoor event rooms and spaces makes it a top choice for corporate clients.”

The facilities have been renovated in accordance with the Marriott Group’s quality standards as a result of the integration of this international brand. It is important to mention that the hotel and the villas are among the most recent additions to the region. The hotel was established in 2016, while the villas were constructed during the pandemic recovery in 2021.

“The transformation of numerous spaces has resulted in the creation of warm, comfortable, and bright environments that are characterised by a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic and abundant greenery.” The company emphasises the culinary offering as one of the enhancements that have been incorporated with the new brand. Four Points by Sheraton has introduced three new restaurant concepts that are influenced by Mediterranean cuisine:

• Sirocco, which is ideal for informal gatherings due to its spacious terrace and contemporary decor.

• Essenza, a restaurant that specialises in antipasti and offers a distinctive interpretation of the Four Points manner.

• Tramontana, a Mediterranean-inspired buffet that prioritises authenticity, quality, and variety.

“Grupo Santa-Maria, the proprietor of the hotel and villas, is broadening its scope with this substantial dedication to the esteemed Marriott International organisation,” they assert. “The complex has undergone a continuous evolution since its inception in 2016 under the Grand Luxor Hotel brand. Currently, it is embracing a new era with a focus on excellence, internationalisation, and the diversification of its tourism and business offerings as Four Points by Sheraton.”

Several weeks have passed, and the persistent proliferation of mosquitoes continues to be a source of complaint for residents of El Altet, Arenales del Sol, Gran Alacant (Santa Pola), and other adjacent Elche districts. Although the issue has been present for approximately three weeks, the discomfort has become even more apparent during the May long weekend, when, as was the case during Holy Week, many visitors chose to rest and decompress for a few days.

The presence of these insects, and particularly their attacks, has been most apparent during the early morning and late afternoon hours. This situation is quite common for people who have lived in these regions year-round for an extended period. Mosquitoes are inevitable after a few days of rainfall, as the overwhelming majority of individuals are aware. They also emphasise that this is insignificant in comparison to the situation that existed decades ago, when there were no fumigation programmes and mosquitoes were a much more severe nuisance in terms of density and duration.

There is a significant number of individuals who have expressed their dissatisfaction with mosquitoes in recent times. This is likely due to the fact that a significant number of these individuals are tourists or owners of second homes who were eager to take advantage of the favourable weather and spend a few quiet days. However, they have ultimately been bothered by these pesky insects.

On May 1st, the mayor of Arenales del Sol, Alejandro García Raduán, also acknowledged that a significant number of mosquitoes had been observed on that day and promptly notified the Elche City Council.

Increased workload

The Elche City Council, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the company CTL, announced on April 15th that they had intensified mosquito fumigation efforts in all municipal districts in response to the recent rainfall. The objective of these efforts is to prevent larvae from hatching in both small and large water accumulations.

Inma Mora, the councillor for the area, stated that the company in charge was conducting an inspection of the various flood-prone areas to ascertain the areas that required the most intensive larvicide and adulticide treatments to prevent mosquitoes from hatching after the rainfall.

Estefanía Hernández, the head of the company responsible for fumigation, stated, “We have commenced inspections and larvicidal treatments with non-harmful biological products in all wetlands, ponds, and any outbreaks that may have developed following the rains.” In particular, these treatments are administered on a weekly basis or whenever adult mosquitoes are observed in a particular area of the reed bed, saline marsh, or vegetation.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to bear in mind that the City Council is prohibited from carrying out treatment within private properties or directly targeting homes, which are frequently used as breeding grounds for the tiger mosquito. This species can reproduce in a small amount of water that can accumulate in saucers, flowerpots, swimming pools, or tarps that cover pools during the winter.

Working together

In this regard, the Health Councillor, Inma Mora, requested that all residents of Elche’s districts collaborate in their efforts to avoid storing water in containers and, whenever feasible, to conduct some form of treatment within their residences.

On March 21st, the Santa Pola City Council announced that flooded areas in various sections of the municipality were being treated and reinforced with biological treatments to control larvae. The announcement was made by Borja Merino, Councillor for Tourism, Health, and Greater Alicante. According to municipal sources, these biological larvicides are unharmful to wildlife and prevent mosquitoes from establishing themselves in these regions and disseminating to neighbouring areas.

The Santa Pola City Council emphasised the significance of mosquito control treatments in residential areas and private residences, as mosquito larvae are able to develop in any area with stagnant water due to warm temperatures. Santa Pola also continued the therapies on April 25th.

Additionally, pharmacies are experiencing an increase in the sale of mosquito repellent products, and mosquito netting companies are also experiencing an increase in demand as a result of the increasing prevalence of these insects.