No 1070 Monday 7th - Sunday 13th April 2025
office@theleader.info
637 227 385
The Costa Blanca’s oldest ‘FREE’ English language newspaper - WITH THE LARGEST LOCAL CIRCULATION
esidents of Orihuela Costa are once again rallying in frustration over the crumbling state of their roads. After years of neglect and mounting damage, the community is taking matters into their own hands—quite literally. Faced with a lack of action from Orihuela Town Hall, nearly 100 residents from almost all of the coastal area's 40 neighbourhoods have collaborated to document the alarming spread of potholes across the region. Their efforts have culminated in the creation of an interactive map, which identifies over 500 potholes in need of urgent repair, with 170 flagged as especially dangerous. The map spans 14 coastal zones and nearly 700 streets and avenues, offering a stark visual representation of a problem that, residents say, is growing worse by the day. The neighbourhood group Unidos por la Costa has led the initiative, calling on local authorities to issue an emergency contract to begin repairs immediately. “The state of these roads poses a serious risk to people and property,” they warn in a formal appeal to the council, stressing that the level of deterioration could soon lead to significant liability for the local government. The damage isn't just theoretical. Over recent years, drivers have faced a constant barrage of flat tires, bent rims, and undercarriage damage, all linked to the poor condition of the roads. Some streets, residents say, have become extremely dangerous to navigate. One of the worst-hit is Calle Pavo Real, described by locals as “looking like a war zone.” This is not just any road—it serves as the main access route to the only secondary school in Orihuela Costa. Each day, hundreds of vehicles and school buses carry more than 1,000 students along it’s pockmarked path. Another heavily criticised route, the Villamartin Road, is one of the area’s busiest and a frequent site of accidents. Both roads, say residents, are in desperate need of full resurfacing. The deterioration has not occurred overnight. Instead, it’s the result of what residents are calling “a perfect storm”- a failed maintenance contract, legal disputes between officials and contractors, and a lack of basic materials like asphalt provided by the council. All of this has led to the complete suspension of road maintenance services since early February. In a letter to Mayor Pepe Vegara, Unidos por la Costa accuse him of failing to represent the coastal community. “He has never truly acted as mayor for the coast,” the letter reads.
R
THE ROAD TO NEGLECT O R I H U E L A C O S TA S T R E E T S C R U M B L E W H I L E T H E C O U N C I L S TA L L S
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2