Taking a turn for the worse

THERE appears to be little light at the end of the tunnel for the meandering, seemingly endless project to construct an urgently-needed new medical centre in Nerja, as the Junta de Andalucia confirmed they have no plans to fund the scheme.

Speaking at the Balcon de Europa on Monday, November 14, the territorial delegate for Health, Social Policy and Equality, Ana Isabel Gonzalez, told the assembled throng that “the priority” of her department is to polish off the projects that are already in motion or close to termination.

These include expansion of the Costa del Sol hospital in Marbella, raising the CHARE hospital in the Guadalhorce Valley to a fully-functioning state, and opening the new hospital in Ronda, meaning Nerja’s needs are not being discussed at present.

Discussions over a new medical centre in the Costa Tropical hotspot have been ongoing for more than 13 years, with the Junta having agreed to foot half the bill in 2003.

The agreement was annulled in 2008, however, after Nerja Town Hall backed out with the council aghast at having to pay for part of the construction, with a site near the Rio Chillar earmarked since 2010.

 after the original plot at Burrian Beach was dropped.

Accompanied by tourism councillor, Patricia Gutierrez, Ms. Gonzalez could only affirm that the Junta “are aware of the demand for reinforcements and improvements to serve the population,” before the two officials launched into an active gymnastics class alongside local pensioners.