On Friday, June 27th, I had the pleasure of meeting with Sr. Manuel Mestre, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Coast, along with his advisor, Héctor. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to both of them for taking the time to meet with me.
Our initial purpose was to address the ongoing issue of fly-tipping along Carrer Ciprés, where the situation has become increasingly problematic. While we were there, several local residents also took the opportunity to speak directly with Sr. Mestre. He listened attentively to their concerns and offered clear, reassuring explanations about planned improvements. The residents left the conversation feeling hopeful and satisfied with his response.
Sr. Mestre was visibly shocked by the scale of the fly-tipping. I informed him that much of the dumped material had been left untouched for nearly four weeks, and that just a day earlier, a van had made multiple trips unloading industrial waste. We also discussed the importance of documenting these incidents with photographs, but I had to share the disturbing truth: some residents have reported being threatened, verbally and physically, even having their phones forcibly taken when trying to take pictures. Sr. Mestre was clearly troubled to hear this.
Our conversation then moved to other pressing matters:
Ravine Cleanup After Recent Fires
Sr. Mestre confirmed that the Department of Coastal Affairs has funded emergency clean-up work in ravines and gullies, especially in fire-prone areas, in collaboration with the Department of Environment. While fire risks remain high in summer, both the Civil Guard and local police have found no evidence that the recent fire in one ravine was started deliberately.
Dámaso Aparicio’s Salary
Dámaso Aparicio has recently been appointed as the manager of the municipal company Servicio de Gestión Medioambiental de Orihuela S.L., responsible for waste collection and street cleaning services in the municipality.
On the subject of his salary, Sr. Mestre clarified that no official figure has been approved. Contrary to rumours, the amount will not be €110,000. It is yet to be determined by the company’s board, and the municipal group has already opposed such a high figure being presented in Plenary Session. He said that transparency and careful consideration will guide this process to ensure fairness and responsibility.
Aguamarina Promenade
Encouraging news: a cheque for the court-set amount of €26,000 will be delivered to the Aguamarina property owners next Monday, allowing for the immediate reopening of the blocked promenade.
Padron Appointments at Playa Flamenca
Staffing issues continue to cause delays, but a formal request has been made to increase personnel at the office to reduce waiting times.
Use of CCTV in Fly-Tipping Hotspots
Sr. Mestre confirmed that 13 surveillance cameras will be installed this year in known problem areas to deter illegal dumping.
Police Presence on the Coast
This summer, the number of local police officers will be increased across Orihuela Costa. Although the Civil Guard cannot commit to additional personnel, they report that crime levels have not risen compared to previous years.
I look forward to continuing these discussions with Sr. Mestre, as many other important topics still need to be addressed.
