málaga
The unfinished stretch of the A-7 is putting economic development in danger, say local mayors of nearly 20 municipalities
07.09.10 - 13:39 -
Paralysed. the new stretch of the A7 still incomplete. Javier martín
The Association of Municipalities of the Costa Tropical held a meeting this week to discuss the central Government’s failure to complete the area’s stretch of the A-7 motorway.
The 19 mayors who attended the meeting have announced that they have demanded a meeting with the Minister of Public Works, José Blanco, within 15 days, in order to receive a date of when the road will be finished.
With less than half the project completed overall, local councillors are now accusing the Government of “teasing” the public.
“In the economic boom times the works never took place at the desired pace, and now when the time has come for cuts, largely motivated by the government’s mismanagement of the country, we are the first to suffer. And we are the ones with the greatest need," says the Mayor of Almuñecar, Juan Carlos Benavides.
It is a sentiment shared by many residents. “It seems we’re the poor relations when it comes to infrastructure,” says local business owner, Geoff Harris, who runs a guest house near Motril. “It’s an absolute joke. This would never have taken so long if it were in Malaga or Marbella. Times are hard enough for small businesses like mine. The Government should be helping us thrive - not handicapping us by not providing adequate roads."
