Delete
Axarquía water bills to go up as of this week

Axarquía water bills to go up as of this week

The controversial move to increase prices in five towns has led to a split in local government coalition and residents angry at "official mismanagement"

E. CABEZAS / A. PELÁEZ

Friday, 13 July 2018, 14:32

Compartir

Water bills have gone up this week in five towns across the Axarquía. Vélez-Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Algarrobo, Torrox and Benamocarra are the places affected by a decision to increase prices, which was made by the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Oriental - Axarquía; the shared public services body for the town halls in the area.

The agreement was passed by two of the political parties; PSOE and Izquierda Unida that make up the Mancomunidad, with a further two; the Partido Popular (PP) and Ciudadanos opposing the move and with one abstention from Vélez-Málaga's deputy mayor, Marcelino Mendez-Trelles. The difference in opinion over the matter has also led to a split between parties in the organisation and angry outbursts from locals at its meetings.

The hike in prices has come about as Axaragua, the public water treatment company run by the Mancomunidad, has built up a 10 million euro debt, due to money from the water company being used to pay its own running costs as well as official salaries. The public body now has to raise 600,000 euros per year to clear its debts. Mayor of Torrox, Óscar Medina (PP), said that his party had always tried to avoid "passing the responsibility of bad management onto residents." According to the president of the Mancomunidad, Gregorio Campos (PSOE), the rise will "be felt by 85 per cent of locals but by only an average of three cents per month."

Reporta un error en esta noticia

* Campos obligatorios