Since the protest by about 30 firemen in front of the wholely inadequate fire depot in Nerja in March this year, little has happened, but the banners and signature book remain.

The new fire-station installations, which will provide coverage for Torrox and Frigiliana, as well as Nerja, haven’t progressed in over a year

A deal shared the cost of the new fire station, which is near the autovia access road (Avenida Antonio Villasclaras); i.e., next to the funeral parlour La Esperanza, stipulated that the Town Hall would provide 35% of the cost, and the Provincial Council the other 65%.

But of course, the Town Hall is governed by a left-wing coalition and the Provincial Council by a conservative party, meaning that they’re seemingly more interested in scoring points off each other than providing the area with an essential safety asset.

In the meantime, Nerja firemen are stuck on a roundabout (Burriana access) since 2009 in facilities that look more like a small builder’s yard than a fire station.

So, what’s standing in the way of opening the new fire station? Just 35,000 euros – hey, less than our local politicians cost in salaries during three months.

A provincial bigwig explained that the new fire station is 95% complete, lacking only some work on gardens, an entrance door – that sort of thing. But there is a modification to the original project to be carried out, which according to the deal struck with the previous municipal council (also conservative run) this would fall 100% on the Town Hall. The new socialist Town Council, however, disagrees.

The Mayor, on the other hand, denies that it is the Town Hall that is holding things up. She claims that a year ago the Provincial Council was going to pay 60% of the project modification, but that it has now rescinded on that promise.

“It’s not that we don’t want to pay out,” she reasoned, “it’s that they haven’t sent the correct documents, so that the last payment can’t be made.”

So, the firemen are right, it seems; it’s a case of politicians, secure in their publicly paid salaries and cosy posts, are intent on trying to make their political rivals lose points before the voting public.

(News/Opinion: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)