14 May, 2019 @ 09:30
1 min read

OPINION: Are storm drains to blame for the severity of damage to British expat businesses in the Costa Blanca floods?

WASHED OUT: Gary Payne, owner of Scallops, saw his business ruined in the floods ©TheOlivePress

THE oldest British-run business in Javea is still out of action following the horrific flooding on Easter Sunday, raising questions about the quality of storm drains in the tourist town.

Owner Gary Payne told the Olive Press how the initial source of the flooding came gushing from a nearby storm drain cover, before destroying 75% of the equipment in his popular business.

The revelation of a demolition order also having been imposed upon a mini-apartment business just down the Avinguda de Tamarits from Scallops also raises questions about the suitability of infrastructure to extreme weather events.

While many of us are still dealing with damp basements and insurance claims, we should take note of the municipal elections coming up on May 26.

Foreign residents on the padron can vote in these elections, and political parties are listening more and more to their concerns.

By making our voices heard, we can have a say in improving the beautiful Costa Blanca many of us have come to call home.

Joshua Parfitt

Joshua James Parfitt is the Costa Blanca correspondent for the Olive Press. He holds a gold-standard NCTJ in multimedia journalism from the award-winning News Associates in Twickenham. His work has been published in the Sunday Times, Esquire, the Mail on Sunday, the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Sun on Sunday, the Mirror, among others. He has appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss devastating flooding in Spain, as well as making appearances on BBC and LBC radio stations.

Contact me now: joshua@theolivepress.es or call +44 07960046259. Twitter: @jjparfitt

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