Calpe’s old hands give advice on the Costa Blanca

CALPE’S Advisory Committee met recently at the town hall of the Costa Blanca municipality. The committee, composed of ex-mayors and created in 2009 to complement the mayors’ advisors, is routinely presided by the current mayor. According to the committee’s rules of procedures, its members are informed of the local government’s plan of action, its budgets and progress made on projects. The ex-mayors are also given the power to express opinions, make suggestions, promote cooperation and coordinate initiatives. The latest meeting was attended by Francisco Camañez, Violeta Rivera, Javier Morator, Ximo Tur and Ana Sala although some of the corporation’s existing councillors also sat in on the meeting. All the mayors agreed that lack of local autonomy was an ongoing problem, as was the town hall’s inability to make decisions or take action on essential aspects including roads, the coastline, ports and watercourses. There was consensus on repairing the damage that Storm Gloria inflicted on the promenades and beaches last month while the former mayor commented that the seasonal nature of the town’s tourism inevitably determined municipal services. Plans for a second high school and the progress Vial J was also on the committee’s agenda, given the future importance of the road which will Avenida Generalitat Valencia with the school’s district and Avenida Rumania.