AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson

1 in 5 drivers fail breathalyser

After the huge celebrations of the Fête de la Musique in Canet, unwary drivers faced a huge shock as the police carried out an unprecedented control of all vehicles.  The dual carriageway (D617) between Canet and Perpignan was completely blocked as the gendarmes checked each and every vehicle leaving Canet in the early hours of Sunday morning.  Over a period of 3 hours 145 vehicles were checked, one in 5 drivers failed the breathalyser, 17 had criminal records, 3 tested positive for drugs and two others refused to be tested, incurring large fines.  Around 40 of them were not able to continue their journey as their cars were impounded and in total 51 offences were identified, ranging from lack of insurance or license to negligence (such as the lack of gloves for two-wheel drivers).   

Complaint forms to become automated

If you have been the victim of burglary, phone theft, vehicle damage etc., your first job is to go to the police station and file a complaint form.  Traditionally this can take time, particularly at busy periods. To alleviate this problem new terminals are being installed in police stations where you can now fill in the forms yourself – guided by instructions on the terminal.  These terminals are obviously only accessible during opening hours but it is also now possible to file a complaint via the internet, with instructions in English!

Old lady missing from her home found dead

Police had been searching for an 83 year old lady who had not been seen since Friday.  Mauricette Nicolas left her home in Tautavel on foot around midday and there had been no trace of her since that time. Naturally the high temperatures gave even more concern and police put out a call for witnesses, but sadly at the end of the afternoon the body of the lady was found in a vineyard around 1km from the village.

Firefighters attend two traffic accidents

Sadly Friday morning was a busy time for the local firefighters due to two major traffic accidents.  Firstly in Banyuls-dels-Aspres two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision on the D900.  Twenty-five firefighters aided the four occupants of the vehicles who were all slightly injured.  One was a 68 year old woman and there were also three men aged 28, 34 and 72 years old.  A second accident occurred shortly afterwards in Théza on the road leading to Villeneuve-de-la-Raho when a car was hit sideways on.  Three woman, aged 21, 30 and 34 years old were injured and transported to Perpignan Hospital.  

Swimming prohibited at St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts

Following a recent test of water quality the lake at Saint-Jean-Pla-De-Corts is now off-limits for bathers.  The analysis of the test showed an abnormally high concentration of intestinal enterococci, a bacterium indicative of faecal contamination.  The ‘normal’ threshold for ‘good quality’ water is less than 100 units per millilitre but at the test showed 1500 units per millilitre, 15 times over the standard.  The closure of the lake comes at the worst possible time with the heatwave and the start of the summer holiday season.  No reopening date has yet been given.

And finally ……

As a cheap and convenient way of travelling to the UK, I have never had any real complaints about Ryanair, apart from the quality and cost of their food, which is why if ever I fly at lunchtime I take my own sandwich.  Obviously I pay through the nose for their tepid and expensive Spanish wine as I am willing to suffer to a certain extent.  Anyway, apparently since April 12th, the UK government have announced that anyone travelling from the European Union to the UK is now banned from transporting ‘sandwiches, cheeses, cold cuts, raw meats and dairy products’, whether they are ‘packaged, vacuum packaged or purchased in a duty-free area’.  This does not apply just to flights but to any mode of transport used – and is due to an outbreak of several animal diseases in Europe, including foot and mouth disease.  Obviously I won’t think of endangering the UK farming industry by stashing gifts of cheeses and charcuterie in my suitcase now but am just wondering if I eat my sandwich before crossing into UK territory it counts…?