A great chance from a grand opportunity
The residents of Orihuela Costa suffer from an appalling lack of services compared to all other local towns. This cannot be blamed on population size as Orihuela Costa has a population far greater than many of the villages that have full control of their own administrative affairs.
PIOC fails to see how a city many kilometres away, separated by countryside and two independent towns can lay administrative claims on the coastal area. Surely a location with a population of 33,227 is of sufficient size to have its own municipal council and elect councillors to that council who actually live in the area and can truly represent the residents of the area they live in.
We are always amazed that towns and villages of much smaller sizes have control of their administrative affairs. Just a few kilometres for Orihuela Costa, the town of Pilar de la Horadada with a population of approximately 25,000 gained independence from the stranglehold of Orihuela in 1986. Since that time this town has thrived and the amenities available to the residents have really grown over the last few years.
Money raised from the area is actually spent on the residents contributing to municipal income. There is no comparison between the public amenities in Pilar de la Horadada and Orihuela Costa, the former is a well-resourced thriving area, and the latter is a cash cow for the benefit of the well-subsidised inhabitants of a location 34 kilometres away.
San Miguel del Salinas has a population of approximately 8,000.
Montesinos has a population of 5,500.
Dolores has a population of 7,300.
Catral has a population of 8,600.
These are all self-governing and self-determining independent administrative areas. The services provided in all these areas clearly outstrip those offered to Orihuela Costa residents.
Until the residents of Orihuela Costa have power over the development and advancement of their locality they will continue to receive the scraps off the Orihuela table. Independence for Orihuela Costa is the only real way forward. This is the only way that will ensure that services and amenities appropriate to the size of the population are provided.
Failing full independence from Orihuela the coast should have considerable devolved powers and the town hall services offered in the city should be available here on the coast. PIOC has heard with amusement that there are proposals to extend the town hall in Orihuela city whilst here on the coast we have a fraction of the necessary services one should expect.
For too long the Costa has been marginalised, neglected, and raided for the benefit of Orihuela. It is now time that the residents to gain the services that they have been desperately waiting for. To this end, the coast must have an appropriate number of councillors from the area. With present population statistics, a minimum of 8 councillors should be serving on the Orihuela Council from the coastal region.