‘Protected’ building demolished
Ronda mayor used employment funds to demolish 'protected' building
Only good for firewood
EXCLUSIVE: Two years ago the Olive Press revealed how developers had transplanted thousands of ancient oaks to make way for a golf course. Today it is clear what they only good for,
Ronda Mayor U-turn
He orders demolition of 17 buildings he may have passed
500 and out
Traders and hoteliers are up in arms after Andalucia’s oldest agricultural fair has been cancelled
Flushed away
Government has two months to give answers on schemes, including Los Merinos and others in Ardales and Colmenar THE European Commission has launched an investigation into why hundreds of housing projects without
A secret Swiss bank account, the near concreting of a famous white town and a soap that’s anything but clean
The perverse twists and turns of politics inside the celebrated white town of Gaucín have led to the description as ‘El Culebron de Gaucín’, or The Gaucin Soap Opera.
Beacon of hope
Olive Press is sited as an inspiration in fight to save our environment THE Olive Press has been handed an award for its environmental campaigning.
Ronda makes the Global Corruption List
‘Illegal’ Los Merinos slammed in Transparency International report THE huge double golf macroproject of Los Merinos has landed Ronda town hall on the annual Global Corruption Report.
Blocked
‘A shameless neglect of duty,’ says local walking group as an incredible 30 public footpaths are cut off around Ronda alone
Save our paths
Andalucia has some of the best – and most scenic – walks in Spain. But hikers and families out for a countryside stroll are increasingly finding themselves penned in by gates and
The New Battle of Trafalgar
A new frontline is being drawn up along the Costa de la Luz, between developers and nature lovers who want to save one of its last unspoilt expanses. Feelings are running high
We’re not buried yet
Villagers to seize town hall for ‘funeral’ protest as promoters both in Spain and the UK begin drive to sell plots on golf course scheme which still doesn’t have water, let alone
The “poverty complex” destroying Spain
The Olive Press’ JON CLARKE talks to Greenpeace director Juan Lopez de Uralde HE is lost for words when asked why Spain does not value its environment. After a pregnant pause, Greenpeace
“Cemetery of trees” prompts Greenpeace action
Environmentalists launch unsustainable development campaign in Ronda
Fore Seasons!
Luxury hotel group is slammed for links to controversial golf project as properties are marketed despite Junta stop order
Olive Press news review of the year
Twelve months of corruption, environmental matters and the best English-language coverage of the local issues that matter, the Olive Press brings you an indispensable guide to past year’s events January The
Law restricts future golf courses in Andalucía
Draft could end golf-urban development links
A fairway to treat nature?
Olive Press Exclusive Text and photographs: Jon Clarke AN ecological nightmare, hundreds of ancient oaks apparently stand dead. Pulled up for a huge golf macroproject, they line up in eerie rows like
Works begin on “unsustainable” golf course
Residents claim electricity cables are laid at Parchite Golf
The Collar of Concrete strangling Spain
In this exclusive, hard-hitting dispatch, author Chris Stewart warns that in selling out to developers, Spain risks destroying its tourist industry. In a call to arms, that cannot be ignored, he asks
El cinturón de cemento que acabará asfixiando a España
En este informe revelador, el escritor de Entre Limones, Chris Stewart, nos avisa del peligro que corre el turismo en España si sigue vendiéndose a los promotores. Una llamada de atención, que
Land Grab Scuppered
Despite hard-hitting Junta report rejecting “unsustainable” Parchite Golf, Ronda mayor Antonio Marin Lara insists the scheme is legal and still goes ahead THE Junta has thrown out a plan for another golf
Developer more important than public interest, says judge
Judge throws Junta’s suspension appeal at Los Merinos Golf out of court as public warned not to buy at golf complex A MALAGA court has thrown out a request from the regional
Ronda ramblers fight back
Part of pan-European footpath blocked in Spain by developers IT is the jewel in the crown of Spain’s network of footpaths. Crossing most of Andalusia, the Gran Recorrido 7 (GR-7) then skirts
Spain bird group banned from Ronda fair over golf complex criticism
Mayor stops Spanish RSPB after hard-hitting report A WILDLIFE group has been banned from Ronda’s May feria after issuing a hard-hitting report on the destructive impact the luxury golf complex Los Merinos
Concreting over Lemons
CELEBRATED writer Chris Stewart has slammed the corrupt political system that is concreting over the natural environment of Spain at “an alarming pace.” Talking exclusively to the Olive Press, the Driving over