Bullets from the Bulletin

February 1997- Battle looms over Town Name. Councillors ask newspapers to refer to Xabia and not Javea in future. (Comment:  Given the problems over refuse disposal the town is certainly becoming shabbier!)

April 1997 - Euro Aid will bring seafront Rideway between the Parador and the Port. (Comment: Seems as though the Mayor was taken for a ride again!)

February 1998 - Mayor sacks dissidents and brings in minorities. Juan Moragues falls out with the PP and governs with support of CDS and UPV Councillors. (Comment:  It's the Man not the Party that counts here. During the past 21 years 3 men (Enrique Bas, Juan Moragues and Eduardo Monfort) have been Alcalde for most of this time. Each has stood  under three or more different Party labels.)

April 1998 - Rip off by British Government. Without warning the price for passports is increased to 8,370 Pesetas - 50.30 Euros (Comment: Bring back the Good Old Days !)

April 1999 - European Super-giant  Lidl opens in Javea this month giving the town two of the three cheapest European supermarkets.

May 1999 - Election Special. EU citizens eligible to vote in Municipal Elections for the first time and eight JICS members stand as candidates.

June 1999 - Third Term for Mayor. The UV party led by Juan Moragues gets the most seats  (7 out of 21) and Juan Moragues is expected to become Alcalde,  JICS members Antonio Torres Catala (CDS) and Tony Cabban (GIJ) are also elected. (Comment: This time the Editor got it wrong and the opponents of Juan Moragues ganged up to keep him out, Eduardo Monfort (CDS)  became Mayor for the next  17 months.)

January/February 2000 - Welcome to 2000 and the new look Bulletin. (Comment:  Following the earth tremor that hit the Society at the end of 1999, Jeni Jackson Phillips became President and marked the opening of a new era with a new-style Bulletin.)

March/April 2000 - Montanar 10 Safety Humps constructed after two children killed by a car between the Parador and the port  (Comment: More bumpy rides for motorists from now on !) Dont drink the water. Due to the failure of the supply caused by a technical breakdown. (Comment: Undeterred most members of JICS change to drinking their whisky straight!)

September/October 2000 - Disaster! Fire devastates Granadella. The fire raged for 3 days, 500 hectares of nature reserve were destroyed, but no houses were damaged and no one injured. (Comment: Eduardo Monfort feels the heat ! )

October/November 2000 - Jaime Sapena becomes Mayor after joining with Moragues UV to oust Monfort.

January/February 2001 - No Marina. The Townhall turns down application from Fesanchez SA for a large commercial marina in the Port. (Comment: Now we thought a major port expansion scheme was dead. But it just wont lie down!)

October/November 2001 -Moragues warns against over-building. (Comment: You have to admire his nerve ! )

November/December 2001 -The Forty Year Storm A Catastrophe. Huge seas  batter Javea creating a disaster.

January /February 2002 - Building Boom to end? In an interview with us Mayor Jaime Sapena confirmed that he wanted to see a slowdown in building and would update the Town Plan later this year.  (Comment: Looking back it was good of him to find time to give us this assurance in between signing all those building licences !. However, the review of the Town Plan did not start in earnest  for another four years.)

February/March 2002 - Extension to Javea Golf but more concrete than grass? Valdicsa put forward their controversial plans to provide an extra 9 holes and build 1200 new homes. (Comment: One proposal we were pleased to see finally bite the dust! )

October / November 2002 - Desalinisation plant starts operating. (Comment: Well worth waiting for.! The greatest municipal achievement of the past twenty years. Our thanks and congratulations to Eduardo Monfort, Jaime Sapena and Enrique Bas and all concerned.)

March/April 2003 - A new port ? Proposals for a new marina by the Marina Punta del Este consortium are rejected unanimously by Javea Council.

June/July 2003 -Inauguration of new Mayor. The May elections resulted in  no clear majority but PP (back under Juan Moragues again) won the most seats so he returned as Alcalde in coalition with GIJ and CPJ. Two British residents became members of the government : Amanda Dean (PP) -  Environment & Citizens Advice, and Tony Cabban (GIJ) -Town services. (Comment: The Brits. finally have a say -  but can it last?)

May / June 2004 - Seperate and Recycle your Rubbish. Eco Parks established.

July/August 2004 - Another magic roundabout at Barclays Bank intersection  - a big improvement but only temporary. (Comment: I have heard that one before !)

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