LOCAL NEWS – THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2012

FLU OUTBREAK CAUSES HOSPITAL OVERLOAD

The winter flu outbreak across the area had already forced the reopening of “mothballed” hospital wards at the Vega Baja hotel, but the addition of these 16 beds is still not enough to cope with the demand and the hospital has already ran out of beds.

All 342 beds in the hospital are now occupied, resulting in patients being transferred to hospitals in both Elche and Torrevieja, in an attempt to maintain medical care for those in need. IN an further attempt to try to control the outbreak, medical experts have reminded the importance of having a flu jab for the vulnerable and elderly which will help prevent the spread.

RUBBISH SERVICE FEELS THE STRAIN

The Orihuela town hall is starting to feel the burden of having taken direct responsibility for the garbage collection across the municipality away from the contractor who had previously been operating the service.

The waste transfer site for the Orihuela Costa has now closed down, due to a dispute with the land owner, resulting in collection vehicles having to transport the rubbish to locations much further away until an alternative transfer depot can be arranged in Orihuela city, causing an increase in running costs and could potentially result in the collection service suffering delays as the strain is placed on the vehicles and crews who would normally be operating on a much smaller area.

The additional running cost will not help the financial position of the town hall, but they are currently working hard to ensure that the service provision is maintained to all residents across the municipality.

CAM SELLS TRAVEL AGENCY STAKE

Troubled CAM Bank has sold its 5.1% of capital share of the German tourism group TUI for 77.54 million euro, which also removes the financial entity from the travel sector.

This move represents a profit in its consolidated accounts of 27.72 million euro, according to a statement released by the market securities commission.

EXTRA CHECKS ON SPEEDING CARS

Local police officers in Pilar de la Horadada have seconded a traffic vehicle from the DGT, which is currently being used to monitor and prevent speeding vehicles on urban roads in the municipality.

The car, which is fully marked and labelled by the DGT is operating in addition to the undercover monitoring being carried out by unmarked Guardia Civil vehicles, is equipped with photographic equipment and snaps vehicles automatically as they pass. So far it has photographed 201 vehicles, of which 5 drivers have already been fined.

OFFICIAL TOWN HALL CAR GETS TOWED AWAY

An Audi A6, parked in a spot reserved for official town hall vehicles on calle Maldonado in Torrevieja, was towed away this week after a novice local police officer authorised the removal by the municipal tow truck for illegal parking in an unauthorised zone.

However, this particular car was one of the official vehicles waiting to take the mayor and councillors away on an official trip. The vehicle, along with a similar Volkswagen Phaeton, was not on the list of those authorised "because everybody knows these are municipal vehicles with their respective drivers".

Observers watched with some joy as the car was taken away, commenting that it may be the ultimate way that the town hall has found of collecting additional revenues, although it is doubtful that any fine was paid before the vehicle was returned.