CalpeNoticias EN

Calpe Town Council, through the Department of Environment, and the Institute of Water and Environmental Sciences of the University of Alicante have signed a collaboration agreement by which Calpe Town Council will participate in the Aquasoc R&D project (‘Tools for the prevention and management of the social impacts of floods in coastal areas’) within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific Research (Ministry of Science and Innovation).

The main objective of the AQUASOC project is to identify the social impacts derived from flooding episodes, as well as to establish the necessary social capacities to face this type of natural disasters.

Based on the results obtained in the research process, an open access software tool is designed to allow key actors, such as the technical and political staff of Calpe Town Council, to identify priority areas of action for the prevention and mitigation of the social impacts of flooding.

Soon, the validation and knowledge transfer phase will start, organising a round of meetings where the results will be presented and guidance on the use of the AQUASOC tool will be provided.

The project is led by the team of University of Alicante professors Guadalupe Ortiz and Antonio Aledo. With a duration of three years and funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of €101,640.00, this project will address the analysis of adaptive capacities and social impacts of flood disasters in three Spanish case studies (Tenerife, Huelva and Alicante) and two international ones (Louisiana and Recife).

The Bono Comercio and Bono Consumo campaigns, held in Calpe between September and December through the Calpe Business Association (AEMCO), have managed to inject a total of 1,544,728.96 euros into the commercial, hospitality and service establishments of the municipality.

‘We could not be happier with the way these campaigns have been developed, especially the Bono Comercio campaigns; on the one hand, the participating establishments have benefited with an increase in sales and customer base during the period in which each campaign takes place and, on the other hand, the citizens registered in Calpe have been able to shop in local establishments saving the amount subsidized,’ said the Councillor for Economic Promotion, Paqui Solivelles.

In the two Bono Comercio campaigns, aimed at local businesses, 14,217 vouchers have been redeemed by 5,023 citizens, who could purchase vouchers worth 20 €, 50 €, 100 € and 150 €, subsidised by 50 percent by the Town Hall. In these two calls for applications, €1,163,183.57 was injected into the 91 shops in Calpe where vouchers were redeemed. Of this total amount, €952,910 corresponds to the 14,217 vouchers exchanged and €210,273.57 that citizens have bought more when using the vouchers, as the purchase had to be of an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the voucher.

In the Bono Consumo campaign, financed entirely by the Diputación de Alicante and aimed at shops, hotels and service companies, 381,545.39€ have been injected into these establishments, of which 295,900€ correspond to the 5,175 vouchers redeemed and 85,645.39€ to what citizens have bought more when using the vouchers. 116 establishments and 3,256 citizens have benefited from this campaign.

The president of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Calpe (AEMCO), Santi Ferrer, said that: ‘this type of voucher campaigns are very beneficial to promote trade and local development, because with a limited investment in subsidies by the City Council is injected into the local economy more than double (an average of 150% more than subsidized), ie that for every euro subsidized 2.5 € are injected into the establishments of the municipality, also distributing the aid among many citizens, more than 5. 000, and local entrepreneurs, more than 100, strengthening the circular economy within the municipality’.

Aguas de Calpe is to begin renovation work on the impulsion and distribution pipes between the Mascarat I and Mascarat II drinking water tanks.

In total, 3,613 metres of new pipes will be installed to guarantee the supply of drinking water to sectors J, K and L of the Maryvilla district, leaving 2,268 metres of obsolete pipes in disuse, thus improving the efficiency of the municipal drinking water distribution network and minimising the risk of breakdowns.

On the one hand, a new 1,665-metre-long pressure pipe will be installed between the Mascarat I and Mascarat II reservoirs. The new pipeline will run along a public road and will replace the current fibre cement pipe that runs through private plots. This will take out of service an obsolete infrastructure, made of asbestos cement, which due to the high pressures it withstands and its installation in mountainous terrain with steep slopes has been experiencing breaks that prevent it from guaranteeing the supply to the Mascarat II reservoir and, therefore, the supply to sectors J, K and L of the Maryvilla district.

On the other hand, a new distribution pipe will be installed with a length of 1,948 metres, which will feed from the Mascarat II reservoir, located at an elevation of 243 metres, the distribution networks of sectors J, K and L of the Maryvilla district, located between the Mascarat II and Mascarat I reservoirs. The new distribution mains will be fitted with pressure regulating valves to guarantee the supply with adequate pressure and flow conditions. In this way, it will also take out of service an obsolete fibrous asbestos cement infrastructure, the current diameter of which does not allow adequate supply to the fire hydrants required at this location, to be taken out of service. This new distribution pipe will make it possible to install eight fire hydrants in an area with a significant forest mass, thus improving the response capacity of the municipal drinking water network.

The distribution pipes in the area around the Mascarat I reservoir will also be rearranged and will be fed from the Mascarat II reservoir, improving the conditions of supply to the plots in terms of pressure and flow.

The estimated duration of the work, which has a cost of 772,355.02 €, is nine months.

The continuous process of renovation of pipelines that Aguas de Calpe has been carrying out allows guaranteeing the sustainability of the supply system to Calpe, since it is one of the main factors, together with the remote control system, the sectorisation of the network and the installation of smart home meters, which affect the improvement of hydraulic efficiency and which has enabled Calpe to exceed 92 percent efficiency, which places it as a national benchmark.

The plenary session has initially approved the municipal budgets for 2025, accounts amounting to 54,911,909 euros, 16.93% more than the previous year.

The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, pointed out that these budgets are intended to ‘improve the quality of life and welfare of our neighbours and undertake necessary investments to improve the municipality’ and explained that these accounts are conditioned by the increase in the rubbish tax ‘as in each and every one of the other municipalities in Spain’ in compliance with a state law that transposes a directive of the European Union.

In her speech, she listed the investments planned for this year, such as the start of the construction of the Fester Museum in the Casa Beltrán (in Plaza España), which will be the headquarters of all the festive associations and will have advanced technology, a project which forms part of the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Destinations within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) financed by the European Union - Next Generation. Also planned is the adaptation of the Civil Protection premises (117,491 euros), the extension of the crossing work in the Barranc del Pou Roig ravine (222,678.38 euros), an accessibility and pavement maintenance project (250. 000 euros), the elimination of reeds by installing opaque coverings and restoration of riverside vegetation in the Quisi ravine (100,000 euros), installation of new solar streetlights (154,275), drainage and rainwater infrastructures (1,074,589.36) and the installation of solar panels in the swimming pool (57,438.87 euros). Also the creation of the Centre for Recovery and Socio-occupational Integration for people with mental health problems (100,000 euros) which will be located in the old Victoria cinemas.

At the same time, the T road to Puerto Blanco and the E Ràfol-Empedrola road will be promoted, a dog park will be set up in La Manzanera and the urban allotments will be extended, among other projects.

On the other hand, the 2025 accounts also contemplate an increase of almost 210,000 euros in the rescue and lifeguard service, which will amount to 835,739.26 euros, and 175,516.51 euros in beach cleaning, which will have a total budget of 633,085.30 euros.

All of this without increasing taxes except for the rubbish tax, and tax relief measures will continue to be applied such as the suspension of the tax on the opening of establishments, the 5.04% reduction in urban property tax, the 95% reduction in capital gains tax on inheritances, the reduction in property tax for the installation of solar panels, the suspension of the tax on the occupation of public roads for hotels and restaurants from November to April, and the exemption from the tax on the holding of events.

In addition, nine lines of aid will be maintained: for permanent housing (40,000 euros), youth rental vouchers (50,000 euros), sports aid (80,000 euros, although an extension to 250,000 euros is planned), cultural promotion (140,000 euros), rehabilitation of facades in the old town (70,000 euros), Bonobaby (20,000 euros), bonuses on the tax on vehicles for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as bonuses on IBI for energy efficiency.

In the Personnel chapter, 12 new posts have been created, while 9 previous posts are to be cancelled. The new positions are local police inspector, school maintenance worker, beach maintenance worker, youth technician, occupational therapist, an architect, two environmental guards, an administrative assistant assigned to municipal brigades, a works supervisor, an intervention technician and a deputy treasurer. In addition, the mayoress announced the intention to approve a plan for the management of the council's human resources.

The budgets were approved with the only votes in favour of the government team (Somos Calpe, PSOE and Compromís), as Defend Calpe and the PP municipal group voted against.

Defendamos Calpe spokesman Paco Quiles pointed out that: ‘the budgets remain the same as in previous years, there are no transcendental changes, it is because you are not 100% dedicated to this town hall’. He added that the rubbish tax ‘is completely unfair’ and criticised the increase in personnel costs and that a plan to organise human resources is urgently needed.

PP municipal group spokesman Miguel Crespo described these budgets as those of the ‘rubbish tax’, budgets which without this increase ‘would have been unviable’. He also described them as ‘simple and calm’. ‘The planned investments are repairs and patches such as the repair and adaptation of sports facilities or pavements and this does nothing to improve the lives of our neighbours, we do not grow as a city’. Furthermore, he pointed out that both the tax incentives and the planned investments were initiated in the previous legislature under the PP government.

The socialist spokesman Marco Bittner, referring to this intervention, said: ‘Thank you, Mr Crespo, for saying that these are calm budgets, there is no greater aspiration for a politician, for a municipality, than to have calm budgets, a calmness that will be transferred to the people, or do you want these budgets to generate chaos and confusion? No, calm budgets, a calm government, that is good for the economy and for the citizen’.

The spokesman for Compromís, Ximo Perles, mentioned different projects included in the budgets that were not initiated in the legislature governed by the PP, such as the IBI rebates for the installation of photovoltaic panels, aid for cultural training, as well as for access to housing, among others.

For his part, the spokesman for Somos Calpe, Juan Manuel del Pino, has reproached the two opposition spokesmen for using ‘the same phrases as last year’ and added: ‘when we are investing money in social aid, when it comes to improving infrastructure, when it comes to meeting the needs of this town ... aren't we improving people's lives?’

The Diputación de Alicante has granted the Mancomunitat de Calpe, Murla i La Vall de Laguar-Pozo Lucifer a subsidy of 400,000 euros to build a new well next to the Lucifer well - in the Vall de Laguar Valley - which will ensure the water supply to all these municipalities in the event of a breakdown of the latter.

The Boletín Oficial de la Provincia (Official Gazette) has today published the granting of this aid as part of the extraordinary call for subsidies for the construction and improvement of water supply, catchment and regulation infrastructures. The work will be carried out by the Diputación de Alicante and the 400,000 euros will cover the total cost of the works.

It is, therefore, a second well that will work in case there is any kind of incident in the Lucifer well, so this new infrastructure will not involve the extraction of more water. ‘This is excellent news because, in this way, we increase resources and we can guarantee the supply of such a basic service as drinking water to the citizens of Calpe if there is any kind of breakdown in the Lucifer well’, said the mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala.

Calpe Town Council, through the Department of the Environment, has implemented several measures to tackle the overpopulation of wild boars in the municipality.

In this regard, the council currently has a contract with a company specialising in wildlife management and with experience in this area, Gesfauna, a tender that began to be processed on 9 July. In the last few weeks this company has been working on the preparation of the control actions, i.e., it has carried out censuses to determine the wild boar population, has identified the most problematic areas, as well as obtaining the necessary permits from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture.

Soon, work will begin to capture the wild boars, which will be moved to a hunting plot.

In addition to all this, the Town Council is carrying out prevention and awareness actions. Information campaigns have been reinforced through the City Council's social networks in order to remind citizens of the importance of not feeding these animals, as established by the municipal ordinance on citizen coexistence in public spaces, which prohibits feeding any animal on public roads. To this end, it is stressed that artificial feeding alters their natural behaviour and accustoms them to human presence, which can lead to problems of coexistence. The ordinance also provides for penalties for all those who violate this prohibition.

‘Controlling the wild boar population is a necessary measure to guarantee the ecological balance, protect our crops and ensure the safety of all. It is not a decision taken lightly, but the result of an exhaustive analysis of the situation and the search for sustainable solutions,’ said councillor for the environment Pere Moll. It should be borne in mind that the excessive presence of wild boars, as well as altering ecosystems and causing damage to crops and properties, can lead to the transmission of diseases and their behaviour can become unpredictable, putting the safety of the public at risk.

The Town Council wishes to insist on the importance of not feeding wild boars, as artificial feeding is one of the main causes of the proliferation of these animals in urban areas. They also stress the need to respect the rules, such as following the instructions of the authorities and collaborating with the control measures that are being carried out and invite the public to report any sightings. ‘If you see any wild boar in an unusual area, you should report it to the Town Hall,’ says the councillor, who thanks everyone for their understanding and cooperation, adding that: “Together we can achieve a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals”.

The contract for the regulated on-street parking service in Calpe ends today, Monday 30th December, so that from tomorrow onwards parking will be free in the municipality. Calpe Town Council plans to launch a new tender for the concession shortly, once the modification of the municipal ordinance that regulates this service, the Municipal Traffic Ordinance with time-limited parking regulation, has been definitively approved. This point will be taken to the plenary session to be held on 7 January, as allegations have been presented in this regard.

The modification of the ordinance has a double objective: on the one hand, to adapt it to the current road safety regulations and, on the other, to introduce changes in the distribution and timing of the areas set aside for regulated parking in order to increase the rotation of vehicles in the summer season and to better meet the needs of residents.

The Town Hall reminds residents that there are various car parks available to them, such as the Pla Senieta car park with 215 spaces, located on Avenida del País Valencià next to the Domingo Crespo pavilion, as well as the one next to the Azorín and Gabriel Miró schools.

Calpe Town Hall held an emotional ceremony yesterday in which a time capsule was placed in memory of Josep Pineda Valles, the young Calpe architect who was murdered last April. This is an initiative in which Josep participated along with Rubén Córcoles, Cristina Martínez and the Culture Councillor Guillermo Sendra himself during the period in which this young man worked in the Culture Council.

The event brought together family, friends and acquaintances of Josep who wanted to pay tribute to this 32-year-old whose tragic death, in the words of his mother Josefa Valles, ‘erased your future, your hopes and projects and your loved ones have been deprived of your love and presence; in your place has left us with a huge void and an insurmountable pain’. Likewise, in the letter that he read in his speech, and which was then placed in the capsule, he wanted to explain to future generations who his son was, a young man ‘full of life, with great values and a whirlwind of ideas and projects, with a strong character but tolerant and open to dialogue.

"In 20 years‘time, if everything goes according to plan, this time capsule will be opened and we hope that these will be good times for our beloved Calpe and that tragedies like yours will not be repeated,"he added. The tombstone that closes the capsule, donated by Salvador Cardona Fornalí, was then unveiled.

The mayoress Ana Sala highlighted the initiative of the time capsule, "a simple, sentimental and emotional idea that began to take shape at the beginning of the legislature with the help of Josep to commemorate what has happened in 2024, and what better than for this capsule to bear the name of Josep Pineda Valles in honour of his person".

The capsule, buried next to the Casa de Cultura, contains significant documents of this 2024 as the act of reconsideration of the works of the CEE Gargasindi and the new secondary school, the program of festivities of Easter, the festivities of August and the Moors and Christians, of the Centenary of the Fishermen's Guild as well as posters of other events such as the 25th anniversary of the Colla de Xirimiters el Carellot, the 50th anniversary of the Unió Musical Calpe Ifach or the opening of Banys de la Reina after the refurbishment works, as well as two daily newspapers, among other documents. In addition, Josep's mother and partner placed photographs and other mementos of the young Calpe architect in the capsule.

The Town Hall of Calp plans to place a time capsule next Sunday 29th December in memory of the young architect Josep Pineda Valles, who tragically passed away last April. Pineda, who worked in 2023 in the Town Hall of Calp, and specifically in the Culture Council, actively participated in this project, so now they want to pay tribute to him by dedicating this time capsule that will be installed next to the Casa de Cultura.

The capsule will contain several newspapers of the day and publications related to events that took place in Calp in 2024 (Easter Week programme, Centenary of the Fishermen's Guild, the book of festivities of the August patron saint festivities, the Moors and Christians, among others). It will be accompanied by a commemorative plaque commemorating the figure of this young architect.

This capsule, which will be buried this Sunday 29 December at 12 noon in an event open to all citizens, is expected to be opened in 20 years' time.

The plenary session of Calpe Town Council has finally approved the modification of the ordinance regulating the rate of household rubbish collection with the votes against of the municipal groups of the Partido Popular and Defend Calpe.

The updating of the rubbish tax is carried out in accordance with the new state law on waste - in application of a European directive - which requires that waste management in each municipality is not in deficit, that is, that the municipalities have to collect with the rubbish tax 100% of the cost of the service.

For the modification of the ordinance, an economic-financial study was carried out to analyse the costs of the service and set the fee considering criteria of economic capacity and waste generation. The distribution of the fee has been carried out by creating nine Areas (based on the cadastral valuation).

The tax rate in each of the Areas is as follows:

Area 1-Pou Roig: 162,03€.

Area 2-Diseminados: 223,98€.

Area 3-Casco/Ensanche: 223,06€.

Area 4-Mascarat: 171,84€.

Area 5-Urbanisations: 235,15€.

Area 6-Manzanera 257,14€.

Area 7-Coastal Port: 176,85€.

Area 8-Coastal: 177,17€.

Area 9-Salinas 185,33€.

All commercial or industrial premises are exempt from the increase in the rate and a 95% discount is established for the family unit whose members, the declarant and spouse, are pensioners or retired persons, the discount must be requested with the corresponding accreditation.

Law 7/2022 of 8 April on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy, obliges all European Union member states to improve waste management and to legislate in such a way that those who pollute the most pay the most, so that the tax collected by local councils for the collection and treatment of solid urban waste is not in deficit.

The spokesman for Defendamos Calpe, Paco Quiles, has indicated that ‘Europe is not asking us to raise the price, it says that whoever generates more waste should pay more, you have not worked on this proposal. The fairest thing would have been to reduce the IBI to the residents. The chosen method is unfair because you focus on the economic capacity of the area where we live, but you forget about the generation of waste. This point required more effort on their part to make the rate fairer’.

Miguel Crespo, spokesman for the Popular Party, criticised the rubbish collection service ‘this tax is not well worked out, it punishes the citizens, the citizens are going to pay. 2.5 million more for the same service, they will pay more for the same thing. The European Commission points out that it is not forcing us to raise the rate, what it is asking of us is that the service be sustainable’.

The Compromís councillor and government spokesman, Ximo Perles, also stated that ‘I disagree with what the members of the opposition have said, it is about resolving an allegation that if it had not been presented, we would not even be here’.

Defendamos Calpe councillor Juan Manuel del Pino said ‘the opposition is taking advantage of the resolution of an allegation to repeat that this is a robbery, nobody likes to raise taxes and we have already justified it’.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, closed the speeches stating that ‘the popular group is trying to convey to the citizens that this is a tax heist, obviously citizens are going to pay more, this increase is not to the government's liking but I have already committed to modify the rate in 2025 so that the tax burden is less for those who recycle, I do not know how we are going to do it but we are already working to achieve it’.

The X Fira de Nadal reaches its halfway point, the Fair started in early December with a new location, since instead of the streets of the Old Town the Fair is concentrated on the Plaza Mayor, and will continue the next weekends of December.

The first two weekends of the fair saw the participation of 30 associations and businesses distributed in booths provided by the Departments of Economic Promotion, Creama-Calp, Citizen Participation, Revitalisation of the Old Town and Culture for the exhibition and sale of their own products and manufactured goods.

Along with the offer of associations and businesses, visitors to the fair were able to enjoy children's entertainment, musical performances, exhibitions and the visit of Father Christmas and the Paje Real. The Fair is rounded off with numerous leisure and entertainment activities, with musical performances, parades and concerts, dance performances, workshops, exhibitions, etc.

The first part of the fair mainly involved trade and service companies and non-profit associations. The second part of the fair, the weekend of 20 to 22 December and 27 to 29 December, will be attended by 24 companies from the hotel and catering and commercial sector.

The councillor for Economic Promotion and Creama, Paqui Solivelles, expressed her satisfaction with the development of the first part of the fair and said that ‘I want to thank the associations and businesses that have participated in the first weeks of this event, which this year presented a new format, and encourage everyone to visit the fair over the coming weekends because we continue with new activities, performances and surprises’.

This event is an opportunity to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere as well as to collaborate with numerous associations with charitable and festive purposes in the town, as well as to get to know the commercial and hospitality offer of the municipality.

Calpe Town Hall was the venue for the awards ceremony of the 2nd #goCalp Contest, an initiative promoted by Global Omnium's GO2 through the Observatory of Resilient and Sustainable Cities, in collaboration with the Calpe Town Council. The ceremony was presided over by Juan Luis Pozo, director of Global Omnium's Sustainability Area, who highlighted the importance of this competition as a platform to encourage creativity and the commitment of young people to sustainability.

The first prize of 5,000 euros was awarded to the Biodiversiteam project, led by Daniel Negre of the Asociación Valenciana de Apoyo a las Altas Capacidades (AVAST). This innovative work proposes the creation of urban micro-parks with native flora, green roofs and recycled marine plastic materials to improve biodiversity and create ecological corridors in the city.

The second prize of 3,000 euros went to the BiFields project by the Convenius school. This design presents two sustainable modular solutions: Bio-placa, for self-sufficient vertical gardens, and Bio-estor, a biological curtain that protects facades and mitigates the heat island effect.

The #goCalp Contest invites young climate urban planners over 14 years old, students of ESO, Bachillerato or FP to submit innovative proposals to address the critical climate risks facing our communities.

Juan Luis Pozo congratulated the young winners and stressed the importance of projects like these, especially in the wake of recent natural disasters such as the Valencia hurricane. ‘People like you are what we need so that you not only promote the fight against climate emergencies but also provide ideas; therefore, congratulations because with your ideas we can possibly save lives, and I encourage you to continue this work’.

For his part, Juan Manuel del Pino, first deputy mayor of Calpe, said: ‘it is a great pride and honour for Calpe to lead a project like this in which we reward and value the ideas of the new generations who see things differently, with less prejudices, and who contribute with these ideas to the creation of more resilient and prepared cities in the face of climate change’.

The Town Council has received the resolution from the Directorate General of Coasts, Ports and Airports authorising the installation of the sculpture of the Mare de Dèu del Carmen in the port area. This sculpture designed by the artist Arturo Serra Gómez is intended to be a tribute from Calpe to the seafaring family during the celebration of the centenary of the Brotherhood, but it will be impossible to install it before the end of 2024.

In 2022, permission was already requested from the General Ports o Directorate of f the Department of Public Works for the installation of the sculpture of the Mare de Déu del Carme in the area of the port where a group of containers are now located.

In January and March 2024, authorisation was requested again to install the sculpture in the year of the centenary of the Confraternity. In April, the response from the Directorate General was that it was not possible to cede land but it was possible to authorise its occupation, so in June the Consistory sent back the definitive project and the awarded sculpture, once again requesting authorisation for the installation of a sculpture of the Virgen del Carmen at the access to the port area.

Now, at last, the City Council has received the communication of the administrative authorisation to carry out the work and actions necessary for the installation of the commemorative sculpture in honour of the Mare de Déu del Carme. In order to install the sculpture in the public maritime domain, the Town Council has had to cede the temporary use of the sculpture to the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Infraestructures i Territori de la Generalitat Valenciana, for a maximum period of 30 years.

The area to be occupied according to the project is 19 m2 of developed land in a landscaped area where there are containers (some of them underground) that must be dismantled prior to the start of the works. In addition, the City Council will close the surrounding access to the sculpture around the perimeter.

The sculpture was created by the sculptor Arturo Serra at a cost of 155,000 euros. The work represents the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors, according to the traditional iconography, that is, with the child in her arms and the scapular in one hand, on the base of the offering of flowers, and accompanied by three costaleros/carriers (anonymous) and a child, representing three generations (grandfather, father, young man and child).

The mayoress, Ana Sala, pointed out that ‘although our intention was to install the sculpture in 2024 to celebrate the centenary of the Brotherhood it will not be possible, but we will try to place it as soon as possible as a tribute to the fishing sector which is going through so many difficulties’.

From tomorrow, students from Calpe studying outside the municipality will be able to apply for the transport subsidies for the academic year 2023/2024. This year the amount allocated to these aids is 150,000 €.

The purpose of these grants is to provide aid to help defray part of the transport costs for students who have been enrolled during the school year of the call in an educational centre of public education, private education or private education located outside the municipality.

To apply for the grants, interested parties must be registered in Calpe for at least two years, be up to date with their tax obligations with the Town Hall, the Tax Agency and the Social Security, submit the application and other relevant documentation in due time and form and have passed 50% of the subjects enrolled.

The maximum amount of the grants will be in the case of intermediate or higher vocational training up to 264 euros if the distance is less than 20 kilometres and up to 396 euros if it is more than 20 kilometres, for professional artistic education up to 264 euros if the distance is less than 20 km and up to 396 euros if it is more than 20 km, for higher artistic education up to 396 euros if the distance is less than 20 km and up to 528 euros if it is more than 20 km.

In the case of undergraduate, master's and doctoral university studies, up to 396 euros if the distance is less than 20 km and up to 528 euros if it is more than 20 km, and for UNED and online university studies, up to 198 euros.

The application can be completed online or in person at the OAC through the electronic office (‘SUB18 - Solicitud ayudas transporte estudiantes’) of the municipal website. The deadline for submitting applications is from 17 to 26 December.

The Department of Social Welfare, Equality and Family has launched again the campaign ‘Línies amb il-lusió’ with which aims to bring letters to people living in the residences of the elderly in the municipality or elderly people assisted from the Home Care Service.

This campaign, which consists of sending handwritten letters full of good Christmas wishes to our elderly, has once again demonstrated the transforming power of a simple but meaningful gesture.

After the success of the previous edition, this year the initiative has counted with the participation of fifteen associations of the municipality have actively collaborated, in addition to individuals who, without belonging to any group, have joined with enthusiasm to write letters. A total of 200 letters were collected.

To carry out the initiative, the Department has contacted several local associations or entities such as Centre Cívic de la Tercera Edat, Asociación Alicante contra el Cáncer, Mujeres por la Igualdad Calpe, Asociación Fibromialgia Calpe, Cruz Roja, Asociación de Amas de Casa, Escola de Formació de Persones Adultes, ADICALPE, COLISEE, DOMUSVI, De Amicitia, Amistades Belgas de Levante, Asociación del Amigos del Arte Calpe, Cáritas Calpe, Les Amities francofones-Marina Alta and Agrupación Filatélica y Numismática.

The idea is that, through these associations, the interested parties write personalised letters with the aim of sending a few lines of encouragement and congratulations for the Christmas holidays. The letters are also addressed to foreign residents, which is why foreign-language associations have been contacted. No logos will appear in the letters; this is an action of solidarity and citizen participation in which the City Council will be a mere facilitator.

A highlight of this year's edition has been the participation of the third cycle students of the Azorín School. The children decided to join the project in a special way: they made 50 cards with Christmas motifs that will accompany some of the letters that will be delivered. The Municipal Corporation has also contributed, delivering 30 handwritten letters. All this has been possible thanks to the coordinated work of the staff of the Social Welfare department, the directors of the homes for the elderly have also played a key role in facilitating the letters to reach their recipients.

The councillor for Social Welfare, Itziar Doval, pointed out that ‘this is an initiative at almost no cost that can make many people happy, we are targeting particularly vulnerable groups who live these dates in solitude and for whom receiving a few lines is a real thrill. I would like to thank all the people and organisations that have made this initiative possible. From the local associations to the children who contributed their creativity, to all the people who generously collaborated to fill these dates with illusion’.

As part of the campaign, next week some users of the senior residences will be able to enjoy a special ride on the train to admire the Christmas illumination of Calpe.

Friday, 13th:

• Theatre ‘La estrella de belén’ by the Centro Ocupacional Maite Boronat. At 12 noon in the Auditorium.

• Christmas Fair in the Plaza Mayor. From 5 p.m. entertainment activities, gastronomy, crafts, local trade products...

• Exhibition of the municipal nativity scene in the Casa de Cultura.

• 29th edition of EXFICALPE, commemorating the centenary of the Fishermen's Guild and the 25th anniversary of the Casa de Cultura. Philatelic collections, exhibition ‘Postal Cartography’ and photographic exhibition dedicated to the world of the sea and fishing in Calpe.

• Photographic exhibition on the Centenary of the Fishermen's Guild of CALPE. In Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

• Exhibition of the nativity scenes of the parishes Nuestra Sra. de las Nieves (timetable: 10:30h - 13:30h / 17:30h - 20:00h) and Nuestra Sra. de la Merced parishes (Monday to Saturday from 18h- 19h. Sundas: from 9h- 13h

Saturday, 14th:

• Christmas Fair on the Plaza Mayor. From 11 a.m. entertainment activities, gastronomy, handicrafts, local trade products...

• 11 h - Itinerant Christmas concert by the Colla de Xirimiters El Carellot de Calpe. Starting at La Fuente street.

• II Homage concert to María Ferrer by Xaranga La Xarlotà. 8 p.m. Saló Blau.

• Exhibition of the municipal nativity scene in the Casa de Cultura.

• 29th edition of EXFICALPE, commemorating the centenary of the Fishermen's Guild and the 25th anniversary of the Casa de Cultura. Philatelic collections, exhibition ‘Postal Cartography’ and photographic exhibition dedicated to the world of the sea and fishing in Calpe.

• Photographic exhibition on the Centenary of the Fishermen's Guild of Calpe. On Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

• Exhibition of the nativity scenes of the parishes Nuestra Sra. de las Nieves (timetable: 10:30h - 13:30h / 17:30h - 20:00h) and Nuestra Sra. de la Merced (Monday to Saturday from 18h- 19h. Sundays: from 9h- 13h

Sunday, 15th:

• Christmas Fair on the Plaza Mayor. From 11 a.m. entertainment, gastronomy, crafts, local products...

• Concert by the Coral Ifach Calpe and Camerata ‘Ars Cantica Benidorm’, at 19:45 (at the end of mass) in the Virgen de las Nieves Parish Church.

• Photographic exhibition on the Centenary of the Calpe Fishermen's Guild. In Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

• Exhibition of the nativity scenes of the Nuestra Sra. de las Nieves (timetable: 10:30h - 13:30h / 17:30h - 20:00h) and Nuestra Sra. de la Merced parishes (Monday to Saturday from 18h- 19h. Sunday: from 9h- 13h

The Baños de la Reina site has reopened its doors to the public after the adaptation works that have been carried out over the last few months and which have led to its musealisation. The Department of Culture has organised a total of eight days of guided tours during the month of December, with three shifts each day. The visits are scheduled for 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 December at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30.

To participate in these visits, coordinated by the archaeologist Alicia Luján, it is necessary to register at the Tourist Offices, by email turismo@ajcalp.es or by calling 96 583 69 20 and 96 583 85 32.

The work to adapt the site means that this enclave, one of the most important archaeological sites in its category in Roman Hispania, will be open to the public on a regular basis.

The work carried out corresponds to the initial actions foreseen in phase A of the Master Plan for this archaeological site, drawn up by the Diputación de Alicante, which has financed the work with 439,388.69 euros.

Visitors will be able to walk along the wooden walkways that set two itineraries that allow them to see the main archaeological sites: on the one hand, the Domus rotunda with its baths and circular mosaic (4th century) and on the other, the hydraulic complex with the waterwheel and a series of villas (2nd century A.D.).

In addition, remains of the site have been re-excavated and consolidated, which for the first time will be included in public visits and which are thought to correspond to a possible industrial structure due to their rustic construction and their proximity to the waterwheel and hydraulic complex.

In addition, safety measures have been implemented at the site, such as the installation of a horizontal sliding roof over the area of descent to the hydraulic complex, which until now was unprotected, and a wooden structure with nets covering the turning area of the waterwheel to prevent possible falls. The damaged walls and structures have also been consolidated and gravel of different shades has been laid to allow visual identification of the areas intervened, which will facilitate their interpretation.

The work has also involved the installation of a new fence on Avenida de Europa, which will become the new access for visitors, as well as the repair and replacement of the existing damaged fencing on the rest of the boundaries and on the Paseo Marítimo façade.

The Councillor of Culture, Guillermo Sendra, has pointed out that ‘for the first time, the site of Banys de la Reina can be opened to the public as it should be, with all the protection measures, a first step to put in value as it deserves this treasure we have in Calp’.

All the municipal groups have supported an institutional declaration in defence of the fishing sector that will be debated in today's plenary session. The text analyses the difficult situation of the fishing sector in Calpe and by extension the whole province and the Spanish Mediterranean, due to the continuous limitations imposed by the European Union. This situation is now even worse with the proposal of the European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to reduce fishing days by 79% for next year, which will mean that each trawler will be able to fish an average of 27 days a year.

The document states that ‘if the current regulation that allows trawlers to fish only 125 days a year is already practically unviable for any company, if this new proposal is approved, it would be the death certificate of our trawling sector’.

On the other hand, the draft resolution of the European Union's Sub-Directorate General for National Fishing Grounds and Waters establishing catch ceilings for Mediterranean red shrimp would mean that bottom trawlers could only catch up to 50 kg of red shrimp per week (10 kg per day from Monday to Friday), with proportional adjustments for incomplete weeks, with a deadline of 31 December 2024 or until the available quota is exhausted. If the usual expenses of a fishing boat when it goes out to catch red shrimp amount to 1,200 euros per day, it obviously does not add up.

The institutional declaration considers that the European Union's fisheries policy does not meet the objectives of social, economic and environmental balance because it leads to a reduction in jobs and a loss of quality of life for workers' families and because it prevents companies from making a profit and the restrictions end up condemning them to disappear. Nor does it meet environmental balance criteria because the studies carried out are not appropriate to the type of vessel, the fishing grounds or the species.

The letter states that ‘The European proposal means the death of the fishing sector, in fact the data of the Fishermen's Guilds of our province estimate that in the last ten years more than 50% of employment in the sector has been destroyed’.

Furthermore, the declaration denounces the fact that the EU does not make public the conclusions of the Multiannual Fisheries Plan and, therefore, it is considered that there is no data to decide on these cuts. Nor is it known how the calculation of the kilos allocated to each vessel has been made.

For all these reasons, all the municipal groups of Calpe Town Council agree to request the European Commission not to approve the proposal of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) consisting of a 79% reduction in fishing days.

They also urge the Spanish Government to insist on the defence of the Mediterranean fishing sector and not to allow even one more reduction in the quota of working days per year, which is already very low at present. The Spanish Government is also asked to draw up a Management Plan for the fishing sector, evaluating its resources and seeking the sustainability of the sector.

The Calpe corporation requests the creation of a network of scientists and members of the fishing sector to study and investigate the fishing situation in the Mediterranean, involving the Universities of the province of Alicante.

The Calpe Fishermen's Guild has rallied this morning in the fishing port to express its most emphatic rejection of the European Commission's proposal to reduce the number of fishing days per year in the Mediterranean from 130 to 27, a cut that would seriously jeopardise the continuity of the fishing sector.

This is a measure that will be debated at the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, which is taking place today in Brussels. A Valencian delegation of fishermen's representatives has travelled to the Belgian capital, including the head of the Calpe Fishermen's Guild, Paco Catalá.

The secretary of the Calpe Fishermen's Guild, Santos Pastor, described as ‘unsustainable’ the proposal that ‘leads to the closure of what we know as inshore extractive fishing, trawling in the Mediterranean’ and pointed out that it is ‘unheard of that this measure is being proposed without knowing the results of the 2020 - 2024 Multiannual Plan’.

‘From the fishing sector we will not allow, and we will demonstrate every day, our rejection of this proposal and we will defend the way of being and working that we have inherited from our ancestors and that we intend to maintain in the present and in the future,’ he said.

The rally was attended by numerous citizens and members of the municipal corporation, including Mar i Terra councillor Mariola Mulet.

Friday, 6th:

• Christmas Fair on the Plaza Mayor. From 11 a.m. entertainment activities, gastronomy, handicrafts, local trade products...

• Exhibition of the municipal nativity scene in the Casa de Cultura.

• Free guided tour of the Old Town. At 5 p.m. in Spanish. Registration required at the tourist offices 96 583 69 20/ 96 583 85 32, turismo@ajcalpe.es

• Photographic exhibition on the occasion of the Centenary of the CALPE Fishermen's Guild. In Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

Saturday, 7th:

• Christmas Fair in the Plaza Mayor. From 11 a.m. entertainment activities, gastronomy, handicrafts, local trade products...

• XX TRAIL SERRA D'OLTÀ, Parc de la Creativitat from 11 am to 6 pm.

• 11 h - Travelling Christmas Concert by the Unión Musical Calpe Ifach. Starting at La Fuente Street.

• Free guided tour of the Old Town. At 17h in Spanish. Prior registration required at the tourist offices 96 583 69 20/ 96 583 85 32 , turismo@ajcalpe.es

• Exhibition of the municipal nativity scene in the Casa de Cultura.

• 29th edition of EXFICALPE, commemorating the centenary of the Fishermen's Guild and the 25th anniversary of the Casa de Cultura. Philatelic collections, exhibition ‘Postal Cartography’ and photographic exhibition dedicated to the world of the sea and fishing in Calpe.

• Photographic exhibition on occasion the Centenary of the Calpe Fishermen's Guild. In Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

Sunday, 8th:

• Christmas Fair on Plaza Mayor. From 11 a.m. entertainment activities, gastronomy, handicrafts, local trade products...

• Free guided tour of the Old Town. At 11 a.m. in Spanish. Prior registration required at the tourist offices 96 583 69 20/ 96 583 85 32. turismo@ajcalpe.es

• Photographic exhibition on occasion of the Centenary of the Calpe Fishermen's Guild. In Plaza Colón, Plaza Constitución, Plaza Beato Sendra, Plaza Manuel Miró and in the port (next to the Fishermen's Guild).

• Exhibition of the nativity scenes of the parishes Nuestra Sra. de las Nieves (timetable: 10:30h - 13:30h / 17:30h - 20:00h) and Nuestra Sra. de la Merced (Monday to Saturday from 18h- 19h. Sundays: from 9h- 13h)