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 However
"Pili and Mili", as they are know locally, do tend to blend into the
background of the Moraira headland, whilst they look down upon the Avenida
del Portet development - where not a single property is worth less than 1.5
million Euros!
Pili and Mili were built in the late 60's and since
then there has been a height restriction of just two storeys everywhere
except the Moraira town centre where it was 4 floors.
Even this was considered to be too high and has since been reduced.
When it all began in 1970, the view from Teulada down
to Moraira was of wide valley, gently sloping down to the sea with bright
green vineyards, darker green pine forests and just the odd red roof in
site.
These days, large areas of vineyards still remain but with lots more red
roofs.
Fortunately there are also a lot more trees but few are pines, as the
Moraira gardeners have tended to favour palms, jacarandas, "falsa pimienta",
bananas, cypresses etc.
After 100's of years very little remains of the Moraira
fishing hamlet except the castle and the parish church. Both have now been
restored and the Moraira parish church is considerably enlarged.
Moraira marina was constructed over the old villa
harbour. The local fishermen have a a number subsidised moorings and a
covered auction slab, where the catch is publicly sold every morning.
Moraira - More Recent Developments.
Most of the available land, apart from the Moraira
village centre, was built on during the 80's and 90's.
During this period a serious rift developed between the communities of
Moraira and Teulada.
Moraira claimed that the income generated from building
licences etc. was mostly being spent on Teulada town and Moraira's
infrastructure was being neglected.
The "Amigos de Moraira" association was formed but
little could be achieved at town hall level because the Moraira community
was composed mainly of foreign residents (British, German and Dutch) who
were not permitted to vote at local election.
Eventually these no-Spanish residents were allowed to
vote and in 1999 the Citizens of Moraira Party managed to win a working
majority.
Since that date Teulada has worked a miracle of reconstruction and both
sides have been re-untied as Teulada and Moraira-Teulada.
The new sewage processing plant went into service
during 2006 and every street is being dug up to install the pipe network.
Practically every single rubbish container is
underground and all refuse is carefully re-cycled.
The Moraira roads do not have one single
traffic-light but the traffic remain fluid due to a series of roundabouts,
not the cheapest option, and each has a unique decorative theme.
The old main street (c/ Dr Calatalud) becomes a
pedestrian precinct during the summer months and fiestas and connects to a
series of plazas and palm-lined avenues.
This whole central area becomes a haven for strollers
among the tables set outside by the local restaurants and the festival
atmosphere is rounded off by the evening market of handicraft stalls and
pavement artists.
The Teulada-Moraira administration has comprised at
least 4 non-Spanish councillors for 2 full terms of 4 years. Together with
their Spanish colleagues and numerous volunteer groups they have toiled to
make Moraira-Teulada a better place to live.
Very little building land now remains in Moraira.
Urban Corruption does not, and cannot, exist because of
the lack of new urban projects to corrupt.
Actually the problem is quite the reverse because it is really a case of
finding the finance for improvements without the usual income from
developers building licences.
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