PROTEST BLOCKED MALAGA CITY CENTRE

The centre of Málaga was blocked for three hours on Tuesday because of a protest by residents of the Pinosol district, who are demanding a better access road. About 1500 people live in Pinosol, and only 100 or so of them took part in the demonstration but by blocking Calle Victoria, outside the Jardín de los Monos, they caused absolute chaos. The protestors wanted to illustrate the difficulties they face because their existing road is so narrow that two cars cannot pass, and by ensuring that traffic couldn't drive down Calle Victoria they certainly made their point. By 11.30 a.m . the main road through the area was completely closed off, as was the Alcazaba tunnel, while vehicles coming from the Paseo de Reding had to detour towards El Parque and those heading north were diverted down the Camino Nuevo. The traffic congestion stretched as far as the Carretería-Álamos link road and the Alameda. In 2001 a solution was thought to have been found to the access problem at Pinosol, by creating an exit via Calle Barcenillas, but this would have meant using privately owned land and the conflict between the local authority and the owners has still not been resolved. In the meantime, taxi drivers, gas bottle delivery staff and even the fire brigade are reluctant to visit the area because of the difficulties of access, and elderly people are isolated because it is too far for them to walk to public transport.