WORLDS APART: Areas of Marbella in serious risk of poverty

PEOPLE in an area of Marbella, one of the Costa del Sol’s wealthiest cities, are in or at serious risk of poverty or social exclusion according to an official study.

The Junta de Andalucia’s Regional Strategy for Social Cohesion and Inclusion report named the Las Albarizas area as among 14 across Malaga Province facing poverty or social exclusion.

Torremolinos Norte was also named among the areas. Malaga Province came joint-second with Sevilla in Andalucia in terms of the amount of areas at risk.

The report comes as Marbella is set for a roughly €36 million windfall through 95 council projects this year. The money has come from corruption cases.

The Las Albarizas area of Marbella lies just 270 metres from the city’s Calle Norte which runs along its seafront and is eight kilometres from Puerto Banus. Both parts of the city have long been popular with wealthy tourists, residents and expatriates.

Javier Garcia, Marbella Council’s public works spokesperson, said the €36 million spending plan was designed to make the city more “liveable”.

Projects include a neighbourhood plan and funding for investments in sports and cultural facilities, as well as urban conservation. It is unclear if funds will be used specifically to tackle poverty.

The Junta report cited the ongoing effects of the last recession, central government spending cuts and stagnant and falling wages as among the causes of poverty. Malaga Province’s social and welfare services are inadequate to tackle the issue, the study added.