Red tape is a burden on the elderly, disabled and parents with children

Alan James began building properties in Costa del Sol in 1969. He is still at it more than 50 year later.

He was in charge of developing the Benamara (A7) and Benavista (N340) urbanisations on either side. He saw the absolute necessity for a bridge that would allow residents to safely traverse what at the time was considered to be the most dangerous road of Europe.

Alan built a bridge himself when the Estepona council refused to build it. Looking back, this was an altruistic act at the time. However, today, what was once a truly generous gesture is not ideal for the elderly, disabled or parents with pushchairs.

Today, instead of having steps, many footbridges have slopes to make it easier for people with wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The alternative to visit one side of the road from the other is to catch a taxi or hire car which can cost €20 for a return trip.

AREME, the Foreign Residents Association of Estepona, was alerted to this and lobbied Estepona Council to add a slant to the steps of footbridge. They agreed to do so, provided AREME would pay for legal and planning expenses.

AREME contacted a number of interested parties locally and raised €16,000 which was spent on the necessary documentation and the proposal was sent to MOPU (Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible) in Malaga for final approval with the €160,000 cost of amending the bridge to be covered by Estepona Council.

MOPU said initially that they wouldn’t pay because it was a bridge owned by a private party (even though Estepona Council has confirmed it will pay), but were prepared to have it demolished.

The red tape that is preventing the approval of a ramp for a footbridge hurts the elderly, parents with young children and disabled.

After this misunderstanding has been resolved, Estepona council has said that MOPU ignores them, while MOPU insists it has written a list to Estepona of unanswered questions.

AREME is stuck like ‘piggy in the middle’ with nothing happening and donors asking why they gave €16,000 which seems to have been wasted.

Overall, this is a classic example of a bureaucratic mess that must be fixed.

To be part of this association which lobbies Estepona Council and charges an annual, membership fee of just €5, email info.areme2022@gmail.com.