The Nerja Council is to apply to the Junta de Andalucia for a grant towards the cost of planned improvements to rural tracks in the Rio de la Miel area.
The Rio de la Miel area contains many farmhouses and rural dwellings and has been the home to ranchers and farmers for many centuries. There have been improvements made to several of the rural tracks in recent years, including one which reaches the Los Castillejos rock, the site of an old Arabic fortress, but the Council now wants go a stage further and pave some of these areas.
The Council has drafted a project for such improvements with a budget of €231,174.77 and a completion period of four months. The Councillor for Infrastructure, Antonio Miguel Navas, proposes to submit a motion at the next plenary session on April 30th to refer the draft to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Junta de Andalucía in order to request a grant towards the cost of the project. This request is based on an order made on April 24th 2007 which provides aid for agricultural infrastructure of up to 55% of the costs.
The Rio de la Miel area was one of those worst affected by the floods September 21st 2007, leaving many people totally isolated. The stretch of road covered by the project is about two kilometres in length and will improve access for both farmers and local residents. The project is also one of the promises made by the Partido Popular at the last elections in 2007.
In the event that the Junta de Andalucía decides not to participate in the funding of the project, the Council would then apply for assistance from the Málaga Provincial Council.