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on the Costa The ‘coolest spot’ with some of is spoilt Blanca, Javea but you’d be Spain’s best beaches, midsummer, best to visit outsideJoshua Parfitt writes expat resident
I
IDYLLIC: The ruggedis more coastline of Javea Mallorca reminiscent of neighbouring and Ibiza thantowns Costa Blanca
morning in August down T was a Monday at the descentmy old and I arrived with to Playa Granadella full of snorkeling man and a boot full,” gear. is closed - it is “Perdona, playa civil protection offisaid the sweaty path with a piece of cer blocking our rope.” Valenciano, bribed I tried my best but it was no use. him with coffee,four or five cars turnWe joined the stingrays in the sand ing around like Geographic and of what National dubs as one of Conde Nast Traveler Spain’s best beaches. Continues on page
10
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March 2024
Minions and masterpieces DISCOVER: The Spanish design give Gru nightmares that and other finalistsmight prestigious international in a competition. See page 24.
Don’t rule them out!
BRITS are still significant foreign the most Spain’s property buyers in Despite Brexit sector. being able to visitand only out of six months, for three local counterparts. By Walter Finch make up 15.5% they still per month, look Homes bought of foreign mortgage applications. expensive homesfor the most Andalucia rank are on averageby foreigners averaging property at 16.4% Only the Germans The Irish manage around expensive than 27% more purchases each. of national average. to snap up The €250,000. come more property close, making The study discovered The report further report by Spaniards. those bought place with 14.1% up second both Belgians (5.5%) than Idealista notesby web portal average the lights the highmortgage applithat the Costa disparity in finan- Interestingly, the financial Swiss applicants in 2023. Swedes (2.7%). (4.5%) and Blanca and wider cant was 41 years cial old with a eign firepower between for- commitment of internation9% of the market,account for The Swiss and Community is Valencian household income al buyers is relatively and local buyers. Americans whose Americans, most by far of €5,900 Foreign (8.9%) and the French modest. popular location the per month. On average, applicants (7.8%). comes average household in- property comes nearly 85% boast in- 61% of their they finance are €9,527 and purchases at 27%.for The average purchase €9,097 Remarkably, purchase above is Catalunya and property of €213,000, nota-a Spanish average, aiming the they prefer fixed-rate and mortfor bly 20% higher than Spain’s properties that far exceed gages, which account for the financial reach nearly of their tions 70% of the transacin 2023.
Brits shrug off Brexit and keep in Spain… at least the when it comes Germans in second place when buying to taking out a mortgage
COSTA BLANCA
Vol. 5 Issue 127
Your expat
voice in Spain
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March 21st - April 3rd 2024
yorkshirelinencostablanca.com
Jávea · Altea
Special branch
British expat slams heavy-handed police as he faces JAIL for trimming a tree leaning over his property A BRITISH expat is facing jail and a €10,000 fine two years after trimming a tree overhanging his swimming pool. Michael Grainger, 56, and his wife, Marina, 52, were dramatically quizzed by police at their €400,000 villa on the Costa Blanca after paying a gardener to cut back the pine tree. The Welshman told the Olive Press how the tree at his villa in San Miguel de Salinas was ‘spoil-
EXCLUSIVE By Yzabelle Bostyn
ing’ his daily swims as any gust of wind propelled hundreds of pine needles into the pool. He said he was forced to take matters into his hands on March 1, 2022, after repeatedly trying to contact his neighbour and getting no response. Incredibly, nearly two years later on January 16, Guardia Civil SOME six Costa Blanca and Costa and Policia Local Calida towns have made the cut cars pulled up to his on National Geographic’s list property ‘to arrest of Spain’s Easter celebrations of him’ for criminal ‘international interest’. damage. They include, Crevillente, OriVideo footage shared huela, Cartagena, Jumilla, Lorca with the Olive Press and Murcia. shows aggressive ofThe area is also home to some of ficers shining a torch the longest celebrations in Spain, into his wife’s eyes with Cartagena’s programme before throwing a lasting 10 days. court summons at her In addition it has one of the lonthrough the gate on gest running Easter processions the driveway. in Jumilla, which has run for over “It was terrifying and 600 years. a complete overDrawing crowds from all over reach,” Grainger Spain, the procession includes insisted, “They 3,000 nuns and monks from 20 CONFRONTATION: ‘Agressive’ police served hurled abuse at my different religious organisations. papers on Marina Grainger wife and tried to arrest me but MORAIRA PLUMBING HEATING my lawyer told them we would PLUMBING & AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS deal with it at
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FACING JAIL: Michael Grainger (right) has a criminal case over the tree trimming (above)
court and thankfully it wasn’t necessary.” Marina, who grew up in the Soviet Union, added: “This is something you’d expect to happen in the old USSR, not the EU!” The couple quickly sought help at their local police station, where they claim they were told to “f**k off”.
Refused
The expat, who has spent 10 years in Spain, says he tried to settle the matter out of court but his offer was refused. He said: “I’ll give them money, but
what I refuse to have is a criminal record. I did nothing wrong.” Grainger learned that locals ‘claiming to be the owner’ of the property next door areacostablanca.com had filed a denuncia against 966 112 428 him. But he claims the home had been empty for years after the previous owner died. The Welshman has spent YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENCY FOR CALPE, €6,000 in legal fees and inBENISSA, MORAIRA AND REGION terpreters ahead of his date at Torrevieja court on May 3. He said he expects a guilty verdict but is ‘ready to fight back’. Grainger said the ordeal has left a sour taste in his mouth, adding: “Europe See pages 9 & 13 isn’t a good place to live anymore.”
Tel: 952 147 834 TM
See Opinion on page 6