Home Local Politics

Local Politics

Most popular

Local residents were aghast on Wednesday when a team of workmen from the Orihuela Ayuntamiento, turned up without any prior notification, and began to close the 100 metres of paseo linking Aguamarina with Cabo Roig. According to a council spokesman the paseo was closed following a sentence imposed by the Supreme Courts, ordering the gates closing it to all but residents of BellaVista Urbanisation, be reinstated, with a deadline of 15 December. The closure will now reintroduce a 3 kilometre diversion for any pedestrian wishing to walk from Aguamarina to Cabo Roig or beyond, many thousands of tourists and residents alike, particularly during the holiday periods. Despite being contacted by The Leader Newspaper, beyond the short 2 line statement stating that the walkway was being closed because of a judicial order, the council have failed to respond. The dispute between the residents of Bella Vista Urbanisation and the Ayuntamiento, relates to a 35 year battle over the Paseo de Cabo Roig, the 100 yard stretch of coastal walkway that runs along the front of the BellaVista Urbanisation, between Aguamarina La Caleta and Cabo Roig Beach. Having initially been declared illegal by both the Administrative Court in Elche and the High Court of Justice, the wall shutting off access was pulled down by municipal staff in March 2015. As he presided over the demolition, Antonio Zapata, Orihuela Councillor for Planning at the time, declared that opening the paseo was long overdue, but what he didn’t reckon on was the resolve of the Bellavista Residents Association. Led by Community President Brian Honess, Bellavista then went back to the courts where they proved to the Judge, Mr Salvador Bellmont Lorente, and to the courts, that the walkway directly along the seawall and in front of the urbanisation has always been private land, and they were completely within their rights to section it off from access to the general public. They argued that the original walkway was actually located at the bottom of the cliff face and not along the top of the urbanisation, as stated by Zapata. The judge had no hesitation in finding with the Residents and he immediately ordered that the wall sealing off the paseo be reinstated. Although the Orihuela Council then had 15 days to appeal, the judgement papers festered in a council drawer, and it seems as though the deadline was allowed to pass with no one in authority being briefed as to the court decision. Former PSOE Councillor, Zapata, said that “the incompetence, neglect and lack of management by Councillors Almagro and Alvarez meant that at the time the council had lost the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.” He added that he still felt “there were more than sufficient arguments as the pathway fell within the protection of the coastal authority.” Cllr Almagro subsequently issued a press release stating he felt that opening the walkway between Aguamarina and Cabo Roig had been a huge mistake. He further clarified that following the Appeal Court Decision, discussions were held between the Provincial Directorate of Coasts and the solicitor who brought the case, Pau Agulló, to assess the judgment following which it was felt that yet another appeal would just add more expense for the city with there being little likelihood of the judgement being overturned. But of course the question now is where do we go from here? With the wall reinstated and Orihuela councillors shifting the blame wherever they can it seems that once again the elected representatives are failing to serve the public interest of those that they represent and the jewel that was once Cabo Roig is now just a murky piece of stained glass!

Judicial Sentence orders closure of Paseo de Cabo Roig

Kevin Reardon - 15/12/2021

Torrevieja to construct eighteen tower blocks of 29 floors

Torrevieja to construct eighteen tower blocks of up to 29 floors

Cabo Roig Walkway Reopening Confirmed After €3 Million Land Dispute Settled for Just €26,000

Cabo Roig Walkway Reopening Confirmed After €3 Million Land Dispute Settled for Just €26,000

Urbanizador Villamartín S.A. has claimed nearly €3 million from Orihuela's City Council for interest accrued due to the land's occupation.

Orihuela Faces €3 Million Claim Over Public Use of Villamartín Road

Bridge at Last! Orihuela Launches Tender for Long-Awaited AP-7 Pedestrian Crossing

Bridge at Last! Orihuela Launches Tender for Long-Awaited AP-7 Pedestrian Crossing

The chiringuito on Cabo Roig beach

Court cancels Orihuela Costa beach bar contract awarded in 2018

@leadernewspaper - 09/05/2021 0

Torrevieja to Charge Bus Fares after Decades Being Free

Torrevieja to Charge Bus Fares after Decades Being Free

Mark Nolan - 22/04/2022 0

September start for 7,490 homes in La Hoya de Torrevieja

September start for 7,490 new homes in La Hoya de Torrevieja

Kevin Reardon - 30/07/2023 0

Help to set the Priority of Investments in Orihuela Costa 2024

Staff Reporter - 21/04/2024 0

FILE IMAGE: Orihuela modifies use of sports land to build more houses in Orihuela Costa

Orihuela modifies use of sports land to build more houses in...

@leadernewspaper - 07/12/2020 3

Calle Nicolás de Bussi

Orihuela plans change of Playa Flamenca plot to residential land

Kevin Reardon - 18/08/2022 0

Faced with a lack of action from Orihuela Town Hall, nearly 100 residents from almost all of the coastal area's 40 neighbourhoods have collaborated to document the alarming spread of potholes across the region.

THE ROAD TO NEGLECT – Orihuela Costa’s Streets Crumble While the...

Staff Reporter - 04/04/2025 0

ORIHUELA COSTA ROAD WORKS CONTRACT SCANDAL

PRESS RELEASE: ORIHUELA COSTA ROAD WORKS CONTRACT SCANDAL

@leadernewspaper - 06/02/2021 0

CONTINUED OUTRAGE AT CLOSURE OF AGUAMARINA/LA CALETA PASEO

Continued outrage at closure of Aguamarina / La Caleta Paseo

Contributor - 02/01/2022 0

The EQ-1 plot has been the subject of multiple proposals in the past. In October 2022, the City Council announced plans to establish an ecopark on the site.

New Private Hospital Planned for Lomas de Cabo Roig

Staff Reporter - 02/01/2025 0

“We believe that the large size of Orihuela Costa, its population, and the scattered nature of its neighbourhoods justify a greater police presence than what currently exists.

Rising Crime Rate Overlooked on Orihuela Costa

Staff Reporter - 09/04/2025 0

Orihuela Costa, the worst summer in its history

Contributor - 25/08/2023 0

This morning’s announcement by Mazón is a testament to the years of effort put in by the community.

Second Health Centre confirmed for Orihuela Costa

Staff Reporter - 01/02/2025 0

AVCRL, the Association of residents of Cabo Roig and Lomas - Orihuela Costa, continually denounced the highly dangerous section of this road

Six months on, the infamous Carretera San Miguel de Salinas barrier...

Staff Reporter - 17/12/2024 0

New British Councillor for Los Alcázares

New British Councillor for Los Alcázares

@leadernewspaper - 18/04/2021 0

Orihuela council terminates beach bar contract

Orihuela council terminates beach bar contract

@leadernewspaper - 12/12/2021 0

Pilar de la Horadada distributes 300,000 euros in shopping vouchers

Pilar de la Horadada distributes 300,000 euros in shopping vouchers

@leadernewspaper - 10/12/2020 0

Fatal blow to Cala Mosca unexpectedly avoided

Fatal blow to Cala Mosca unexpectedly avoided

@leadernewspaper - 01/08/2021 0

The Orihuela Council has announced plans to regulate the use and rental of electric scooters along the Orihuela Costa to curb the growing chaos caused by these vehicles.

Orihuela promises to end Scooter Chaos on the Coast

Staff Reporter - 23/12/2024 0

Almagro said that the expropriation process will be taking place in the coming months.

Orihuela loses appeal against reopening of Aguamarina pedestrian walkway

@leadernewspaper - 02/08/2021 1

Councillor for the Coast, Manuel Mestre

Orihuela Costa residents complain to Ombudsman over lack of council transparency.

Staff Reporter - 12/10/2024 0

Three metre hole on busy La Zenia roundabout where sewage blow out occurred

SEWAGE IN THE STREETS OF ORIHUELA COSTA – AGAIN

@leadernewspaper - 15/08/2021 0

Torrevieja suspends New Year’s Eve celebrations

Kevin Reardon - 28/12/2021 0

No Chiringuitos for Orihuela Costa this year

@leadernewspaper - 01/07/2023 0

Cabo Roig Goes Green for St. Patrick’s Weekend!

Staff Reporter - 10/03/2025 0

Partido Popular wins municipal election in Orihuela

Partido Popular wins municipal election in Orihuela

Kevin Reardon - 29/05/2023 1

This long-demanded infrastructure project for Orihuela Costa residents, the subject of over 10 years of council promises

Orihuela: A City of Dreams, a Landscape of Delays

Staff Reporter - 08/01/2025 0

Another development is in Calle Isaac Albeniz VillaMartin, where the developer was allowed to build only metres from the edge of the barranca

Construction without Conscience Part 1

Peter Houghton - 27/11/2024 0

The mayor of Orihuela has reneged on his promises to coastal residents

21 million Euros from Orihuela Costa Land Sales.

@leadernewspaper - 26/09/2020 0

Sinkhole continues to endanger pedestrians on Orihuela Costa walkway

Sinkhole continues to endanger pedestrians on Orihuela Costa walkway

@leadernewspaper - 12/03/2021 0

12 3...22 Page 1 of 22