Costa Blanca news. March 26
Costa Blanca news selection from the last seven days and upcoming items including a clampdown in Benidorm, a paperless office at Jávea town hall and a marathon man in Torrevieja. Published on Thursdays.
Costa Blanca news
Benidorm news
Benidorm newsBenidorm’s series eight begins filming soon
The Benidorm cast is about to head out to start filming.
Benidorm star Sherrie Hewson who plays Solana manageress Joyce Temple-Savage in the hit ITV comedy series explained how excited they all were and that series eight is set to be the best yet.
“I’m always excited when I read the new scripts and every single time they get better and better,” said Sherrie to What’s On TV. “We’ve just had the read-through and all of us laughed the whole of the way through it!”
It’s not all sun sun sun and fun fun fun though because the cast work from 6am until 7pm six days a week. But on their day off, the crew head out into the town – although they’re never left alone for long as fans clamour for a closer look.
Read more and catch the interview video at What’s on TV
Tougher rules for Benidorm revellers
Benidorm tourist trapped in Spain
Chris Carr, 62, was trapped in a Benidorm hospital for 11 days because the NHS hospitals close to his home town of Melksham, Wiltshire, had no spare beds.
Chris was rushed into hospital with severe stomach pains. Spanish doctors discovered a diaphramatic hernia. This needed an operation which Spanish doctors said would need to be done back in the UK and complimented with specialist after care. Chris Carr and his wife Sally, a former NHS midwife, were horrified to find that the three hospitals near their Melksham home could not accommodate him.
Fortunately, he has now been offered a bed in a hospital in Bath, Somerset.
Torrevieja news
Thanks Marathon Mark!
S.A.T. Sociedad Protectora para Animales de Torrevieja would like to say a big “Thank you” to Mark ‘the Marathon man’ who has just presented them with an amazing €405 at the kennels. Mark raised the money by being sponsored for running the Torrevieja half marathon and completing the 21 kilometres in just one hour 58 minutes and 33 seconds.
SAT were not the only charity to benefit from Mark’s run, because he also made a donation to the AECC (Association Against Cancer).
SAT have a couple of events coming up. Do give them your support
- Join them for a hog roast at the Dog House Cafe Bar. Calle Madrid, 3. Plaza La Marina Urb. Friday April 3. Tickets cost €7.50 and include hog roast, home made chips, salada and coleslaw. To book, pop in to the cafe or telephone Dave on 633 797 555
- Enjoy a Country and Western evening with the Tex-Mex Kowboys on Friday April 17 at La Marina Sports Complex from 7.30pm. Tickets cost €11 for a two course meal and entertainment. Tickets are available from Palo or Helena on 966 796 389
Jávea news
Jávea electronic system already a success
Jávea Town Hall processed approximately 400 electronic entries in the first week of its new paperless system, saving around €75 per procedure.
The town launched the system in just five days, enabling an “adios” to paperwork and streamlining the process for residents and businesses. The speed in which the system was set up enabled it to be utilised from day one of implementation.
PSOE Councillor for New Technologies, Cesc Camprubi, said: “Municipal workers and politicians are still learning to use the new processes, but there is already a noticeable improvement in administrative efficiency. Camprubi has influenced the streamlining of procedures and improvement of attention which this new electronic platform provides for citizens.”
In fact, the company responsible for the implementation (It manages esPublico) have described the success as “particularly significant” considering the public uptake and acceptance that eGovernment in the Town Hall has received.
The new system uses a person’s electronic ID to process any records or sign documents and will reduce by more than half the time normally spent by each employee in processing. Of course additionally it has considerably reduced the usage of office supplies and materials which will result in savings for the municipal coffers… and may save a rainforest somewhere too!
The mayor of Jávea, José Chulvi (on the right in the photograph), highlighted another major advantage of the system. He added: “Citizens can process the majority of municipal procedures without having to physically travel to the Town Hall by using the electronic office that will become operational in late March at the url: xabia.sedelectronica.es.”
Birthdays and celebrations
Happy 55th birthday to Dave Townsend for March 24. Dave is a part time resident of Playa Flamenca on the Orihuela Costa. Hope Bev is spoiling you Dave!
What’s happening on the Costa Blanca? Click HERE to browse, or to add your own event
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
