CÁDIZ FACES SUMMER MOBILE PHONE CRISIS

The coast from San Roque to Sanlúcar has the worst mobile telephone coverage in Andalucía with the result that an overload of resources could be experienced this summer. This would lead to a possible breakdown in services with Chiclana, Conil, Algeciras, Vejer and Sanlúcar suffering the most problems because of the restrictions the local town halls place on the erection of antennas.

The crisis in Cádiz was highlighted recently in Córdoba at a meeting attended by all the major mobile telephone companies – Telefónica Móviles, Vodafone, Amena and Xfera. They form a business association covering information technology and telecommunications under the banner AETIC and held a meeting with the media to discuss the erecting and coverage of new antennas.

AETIC stated that in Andalucía there are currently 6,686 antennas and around 700 of these are in the province of Cádiz. However to give the province the coverage it needs there needs to be installed at least 1,160 more for the GSM service and 1,120 for the UMTS signal.

The problem in the province is that a number of town halls make it difficult for telecommunications companies to erect new antennas. AETIC says the erection of new antennas has been politicised and made a town planning matter. It should take a telecommunication company between three and four months to go through the process of seeking permission for a new antenna but it was taking an average of 19 months.

Juan Represa, from the University of Valladolid is said to be the main medical expert in Spain on antennas. He attended the AETIC meeting stating that more than 1,300 studies show that the electromagnetic waves given off by telephone antennas as similar to those emitted by radio and television antennas but these do not suffer the same restrictions. The city of Cádiz was given as a prime example of the problem faced by the province in general.

Previously only six out of 10 people in Cádiz had a mobile phone but in the past two years that has risen to between eight or nine. However over the same period the number of antennas has not risen to keep pace with the increased public demand.

NEW POST OFFICE PLANNED FOR CHICLANA

There will now be a new post office (the 3rd in the region) to accommodate residents of Sancti Petri & La Barrosa in Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz. This is mainly in response to the swelling populations during the Summer.

Chiclana Information

Just south of the Bay of Cadiz, about 6km inland from the coast at Sancti Petri, is the small but bustling town of Chiclana. 20 minutes from Cadiz, 30 minutes from Jerez, 90 minutes from Seville, and just north of the popular resort of Conil de la Frontera.

Property prices still remain relatively low (although they have seen an increase of up to 20% in the past year), so for foreigners who want to feel as though they are part of a Spanish community, Chiclana is becoming a popular option.

This old town of 50,000 inhabitants is a traditional picture of narrow shopping and residential streets, cafes and church squares, surrounded by the newer parts of town leading to the river. Although a pretty centre, expats tend to buy larger properties on the outskirts, 10 minutes from the town in one direction and beach in the other, in neighbourhoods such as Marquesado, Pago del Humo or Pinos de los Franceses.

Villas here cost from 190,000 euros. Also on the outskirts is the Balneario Fuenteamarga, a popular spa offering treatments which use the therapeutic properties of the local water. Near the spa is Nova Sancti Petri golf course and the beautiful Playa de la Barrosa is just 6km from Chiclana.

Hotels Chiclana; Best places to stay in Chiclana

The top hotels in the Chiclana area are:

• Vincci Costa Golf ****

Address: Urbanizacion Novo Sancti Petri s/n , Chiclana (Cadiz), 39004, Spain

The closest Airport to Vincci Resort Costa Golf is Jerez de la Frontera/Cadiz (XRY). The driving time to Vincci Resort Costa Golf is 60 minutes and the distance is 50 kilometres. Vincci Resort Costa Golf recommends guests to take a taxi from the airport to the hotel.

Comprises 195 rooms. Renovated in 2003

• Aparthotel Tartessus Sancti Petri ****

Comprises 270 apartments

Loma de Novo Sancti Petri11130 Chiclana de la Fra. (Cádiz)
Tfl:
+34 956 492 525 Fax: +34 956 492 100

Chiclana Property for Sale

This Blog will keep you up to date with New Development on the Costa de la Luz, plus offer a good selection of links for property for sale in Chiclana de la Frontera.