Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…Murcia’s reputation as a building hotspot took a severe blow in 2008. Construction of new properties fell by a massive 65%. Work was started on only around 16,000 new units, matching the figures of 2002. While this is good news for the environment, much of the recent urbanization has caused concern to green activists, the effect on jobs has been catastrophic. Unemployment in the building industry is at it highest for 10 years, with 23,000 workers looking for employment.
Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…An estimated 15,000 protestors took to the streets of Murcia in a show of solidarity against a change in utility policy. Much needed water, currently diverted from the Tajo river, is set to come to an end in 2015. The demonstration was a well ordered and lively affair, with musical protestors keeping their comrades entertained with music from the legendary Julio Iglesias.
Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…Schumacher came a cropper and broke his ribs on a less than perfect visit to the region. The unfortunate ex world champion, who always enjoyed excellent luck when racing on four wheels, found two wheels less to his liking. Schumacher was testing a motorbike on the relatively unknown Cartagena circuit, when he lost control and came off. Local reports claim he was unconscious for some minutes before being taken to the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia.
Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…the credit crunch has hit immigrant workers hard in Murcia. Moroccans, attracted to the region by plentiful jobs in the agricultural sector, are now leaving in their droves. Half of the estimated 30,000 who live in Murcia are planning to leave. Figures come from the Association of Immigrant Moroccan Workers in Murcia. The organization reports that many families are choosing to split up, mothers and children returning to North Africa, while fathers stay in the hope of finding work. Foreign workers from further a field, are looking to other regions within the Spanish peninsula for employment.
Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…Iberdrola, the local power company, has been forced to offer customers a refund if they have been mistakenly overcharged. The decision follows a meeting with three councilors from Murcia City Hall. Unfortunately, it is down to individuals to contact the company via claim forms and the window for appeals is just 12 days.
Latest news from the La Manga Club news team…palm trees, the focal point of many gardens and public areas in Murcia, are under threat from a small insect. The Red Palm Weevil was responsible for the felling of 576 palm trees in Cartagena alone. A further 376 were lost in Los Alcazares, with San Javier down a further 346. To date, 44 outbreaks have been reported in the Murcia region. The Canary Palm was the most vulnerable species. Local authorities blame the hot weather for the spread of the beetles and believe the outbreak affected many more trees than those reported to officials.
Villa la manga news team …. Here’s another great idea for ‘investing’ public money. Murcia is providing a 200 euro subsidy towards buying a new, or upgrading an existing home computer. The offer is limited to one computer per family. The scheme is being run via three banks. Citizens of Murcia, which includes La Manga Club, need to obtain a certificate and then pop down to one of the large retailers taking part. Applications need to be in by February 2. Customers are also entitled to subsidised financing of up to 1,400 euros at 7% interest for a period of four years.
La Manga Villa news team reports… Murcia is continuing to invest in infrastructure projects to improve accessibility to the province from both home and abroad.
200 million Euros has been earmarked from central funds. Visitors can already see of the work, with mini-spaghetti junctions springing up all over the place even when there appears to be no traffic to justify them. Apparently the investment in the road system is to cope with the increased influx of visitors expected when the new airport at Corvera opens in 2010.
Rather more in line with a green future is the extension of the Spanish AVE network to include a ‘Mediterranean Arc’ that will bring high-speed connections between Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and Almeria. This is just a few months away from completion now.
La Manga Club has maintained its position as the number one sports resort in Spain for over 30 years. This sports lovers’ paradise covers an area of 1,400 acres and offers an unrivalled selection of activities.
For the golfer, La Manga Club has three 18-hole championship courses, a par 47 pitch & putt course and floodlit driving range. Newcomers to the sport, or old hands looking to improve their game, can sign up for academy courses and private lessons.
For the tennis player, La Manga Club provides 28 courts with a variety of surfaces. The quality of the facilities on offer has earned the centre the honour of being the winter training base for the LTA and the BTV. Beginners and improvers are also catered for, with academies, private coaching and regular competitions for all levels.
La Manga Club has established itself as the number one destination for top club and international football teams. It boasts no less than eight international-standard pitches with a grandstand for spectators. More recently, the club has opened facilities for cricket and Gaelic football.
Other sports are also available, both within the La Manga Club resort and nearby. The Mar Menor and Mediterranean offer excellent watersports, while the nearby national park is a great place for mountain bikers.
