All about
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a is The Sierra Nevad cake the icing on the te to for those fortuna Spain, live in southern Clarke writes Jon
I
that just T is hard to believe the glistening below me are of the Costa white beaches its nearby Tropical and del Sol. sister, the Costaeast are Way over to my Athens, Tunis, Sicily and are Sewhile to the west villa and the Algarve. , just someYet somehow up in a parka comhow, I am wrapped and gloves and with a warm hat d by fluffy white snow pletely surrounde can see. as far as the eyeSierra Nevada, Europe’s Yes, this is the skiing resort and mainmost southerly mountain. is simply land Spain’s highest y of the area to the The geograph its proximity here is given g staggerin so much snow goes beach and getting its altitude, which all to do with 3,482 metres g staggerin up to a above sea level. (11,423 feet) peak, MulIts highest
Photo by Jon
Clarke
SKIS THE LIMIT: Sierra Nevada highpoint with views across the Med
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Festive Forty EXCLUSIVE Gibraltar is about to smash past the 40,000 population mark - but can the Rock cope with the sharp growth? GIBRALTAR’S surging population is poised to break the 40,000 barrier in the coming months. At the close of 2024, the current population of Gibraltar is 39,688, according to the latest United Nations estimates – larger than commonly thought. It is around 20% more than the World Bank’s figure of 32,000 (based on the 2012 census) and Wikipedia’s assertion that 34,000 people dwell on a territory of just 6.7 square kilometres. It is also a yearly rise of 2.23% – or an extra 858 people living on the Rock, following the trend of a population boom that can be traced back to at least 2017. The unusually precise UN forecast is for Gibraltar to add a further 791 people in the next 12 months, taking the total population to 40,126 in 2025. The population is predicted to max out at 50,100 in 2070. The surge comes in spite of the economic uncertainty generated by the inconclusive treaty talks between Gibraltar, Spain and the UK and the threat of a hard border with La Linea. The economy grew by a China-beating
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AFFORDABLE: Around 1,000 homes are being built to house the growing population
By Walter Finch
5.9% this year to nearly £3 billion, but the figures mask underlying weaknesses, according to Edward Macquisten of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. “If there was one sector that was driving the population boom, it would probably be gaming, or fintech-related businesses,” he told the Olive Press this week. “But while topline GDP growth is good compared to most EU economies, a number of sectors such as retail and wholesale are still struggling after the pandemic.”
rectly, and many more indirectly. have left of their term.” “The workers to fill these jobs will Pinna and AFH are currently helpcome from Spain or Portugal.” ing around 150 people who are But where are all these people going struggling with poor housing, and Housing to live? the numbers are only growing. Macquisten pointed out that between The sector in luxury accommodation The booming population also pres2006 and 2022 the number of work- is humming along in spite of trea- ents the challenge of so many people ers on the Rock nearly doubled from ty-related gridlock, but this is not go- traversing such a small territory. 16,000 to 30,000. ing to meet Gibraltar’s needs. “There’s been an incredible increase “But construction has slowed consid- The government has made progress in traffic in the last few years,” said erably in the last two years, as devel- on a cluster of affordable housing Vanessa Byrne (top right), the manopers wait for the outcome of the trea- estates centred around the Hassans aging director of OTWO magazine, ty discussions. Centenary Towers which are set to which focuses on sustainability. “A lot of building projects are hold- add nearly a thousand homes to the “We have the highest car ownership ing off on giving the green light until property market. per capita in the whole world here a positive outcome is announced. But for many, this does not truly ad- in Gibraltar, which is nothing to be “There are over 20 big construction dress the problem of Gibraltar’s swell- proud of.” projects ready to go if an agreement ing housing requirements. This is why Byrne started the ‘Bus can be reached, which will create “Rental homes are what is most need- for Us’ campaign two years ago, thousands of jobs in construction di- ed for all those who cannot afford the which has now employed advertising so-called low on three public buses to encourage cost hous- eco-friendly transport options instead ing,” Henry of getting in the car. Pinna, who heads up Human Action For “We started it as a campaign to supH o u s i n g , port safe cycling back in 2022 betold the Ol- cause, at the end of the day, whether ive Press. it’s a bicycle, a scooter, a pedestrian, “And this is or a car, it’s still a human being there,” s o m e t h i n g Byrne continued. See page 4 the govern- Today Byrne and OTWO’s Sustainment has able Transport Campaign to get peonot yet men- ple walking, cycling and using public tioned. transport has over 100 companies “Even if they sponsoring the endeavour. were to an- “We just can’t sustain the amount of nounce the cars. Locally, 45% of our pollution construction comes from transport, so it is a huge of a few hun- concern,” Byrne said. dred rental Luckily, the government is on board. homes now, It already has a ten-year strategy adthey would dressing severe traffic congestion and not be able poor air quality – when the populato andafter deliver *Data extracted from process closure*Data surveys after using our roadside assistance breakdown services. extracted from process closure surveys using our roadside and breakdown tionassistance of Gibraltar willservices. be 46,017, acin the three cording to the UN. remaining years they TheOlivePress-256x170-Multi2404.indd 1TheOlivePress-256x170-Multi2404.indd 1 Opinion Page 6
The RGP’s drink driving campaign has got off to a rocky start
PLUS in your Olive Press Christmas stocking this year, find out... The super Christmas wine bargains to have with your festive meals from just €2.49 Charity starts here this Christmas with these great causes
Plus which Spanish region eats thistles at Christmas and which eats snails
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