Bus service updates
A CONTRACT to increase the frequency and number of stops offered by buses in Orihuela has been put out to tender by the town hall.
The exclusive rights to provide the regional government’s CVA-090 concession for one year (which can be extended for one more) is worth €476,000.
The service covers four routes and will have to include a total of 11,211 annual journeys.
The routes are: line 15, Orihuela-Desamparados (university); line 30, La Zenia-Aguamarina (Cabo Roig) health centre; line 38, La Zenia-Torrevieja hospital; and line 49, Orihuela Costa-Orihuela city (stopping at Entrenaranjos and/or Torremendo.
Councillor for transport Víctor Sigüenza promised the council will keep improving communications and services which facilitate mobility for residents throughout the municipality.
Meanwhile residents in Guardamar del Segura have started a petition calling for the
free municipal bus service to Torrevieja hospital to be restored.
The service ended in April after the municipal auditor objected to the expense because town halls do not have the authority to provide buses which pass through other municipalities and so the regional government has not authorised Guardamar council to put such a service out to tender.
The opposition Partido Popular (PP) has backed the campaign and claimed the town hall is just trying to save the €37,000 annual cost of the service, which is used by 4,500 people per year.
The PP claimed the council only needs to change the definition of the service in order to reactivate it, but the Socialist party (PSOE) mayor José Luis Sáez replied that they are still looking for alternatives and insisted that regional transport department approval is required.