Some things never change

As those of you who know it must agree, Chiclana must be the world capital of truly appalling local government. Projects are started but never (O.K. hardly ever) finished or, if they are finished it is usually well after the projected completion date. For instance the food market which was due to open over a year ago has now been delayed for another few weeks, leaving those brave souls who have opened shops in the adjoining precinct , presumably with the expectation of passing trade, to continue to twiddle their thumbs. A new health centre which was built last year is now window deep in weeds because no one thought to provide adequate parking for it and, so we have heard, the concrete which was used to construct it was "the wrong kind of concrete" and is now crumbling away. Meanwhile, we discover, a town museum has been ready for two years. It even contains exhibits. But it remains closed and has no staff.

This week's local paper has provided some particularly vivid examples of this "Chiclana syndrome". An article earlier in the week highlighted a number of buildings in the town centre which have been in the process of reformation for more than two years and whose scaffolding and netting (to stop them falling on passing Chiclan(y)eros) have now become "a part of the local scenery". Today, the same paper reported that the webcams set up at various traffic hotspots to help drivers plan their journeys and avoid delays have been showing the same pictures on the town council website for several months!