4 posts from September 2009

The Pleno had only a few items to discuss and these included the plans for the new Tanatorio, agreement to sign off the 2008 accounts, and a couple of minor things. After these were discussed it was open to questions and the lady from PSOE raised a few questions around Candido and photos of him in the Spanish press lately questioning his ability to run the Town Hall. Candido and some of the other councillors totally refuted that and said that, as has been the case for the past few years, there is a continuing Political agenda against the Town Hall and he expects that to continue if not even intensify in the run up to the 2011 elections. A lady from the general public then asked a question about how difficult it was to get her children into the nursery.  I discovered, during the debate, that there is even a form of corruption in this matter. It seems that the Directors of the nurseries can pick and choose which children they admit and it does seem as if in some townships, those with money get places which others cannot. It costs in the region of 160 euros per month per child but if there is only one parent they only pay half. So they have the situation here, as in the UK, where married couples are financially penalised.

After the Pleno we adjourned to the bar where I had the chance to question some of the councillors. Firstly I targeted Salvadore and asked him why, when he promised that I would have the full list of street numbers, I still had not got it. He said that the full plan would be ready in a week or two. I said he had been telling me that for months. He said that it was going to be simpler for him and the Town Hall to completely detail the whole plan before releasing it. I asked what those people, who were desperately needing to get onto the Padron, could do. He promised to get all those who have applied for a certificate of empadronimiento and he would give their details to Juan to enable him to issue the certificates. If anyone is in such a situation please email me so I can make sure he gets the paperwork. Juan returns from his holidays on Tuesday next.

I then asked about the certificates of expediente. Candido said that he had spent a few days with the solicitors and they have now got a full list from Almeria Court 1 and Heurca Overa Courts but not yet the full list from Almeria Court 2 which Isa said she would be working on it next week. Once they have the full list it will be easy for them to check and issue C of Es.

I asked about the rumours I had heard about the gun club reopening. I was told that they have reapplied but the paperwork is slowly going through. I asked if I could be made aware so that everyone knows if and when such an application is being considered. They said that the only way of knowing is by continually checking the official Boletin, as we have 21 or 28 days from publication in the Boletin to object. I was advised to keep asking in order that I make sure we are aware of this application before it is granted. I will keep asking. Candido did say that if it looks like being granted the Town Hall can make it conditional on certain actions being taken to minimise noise etc.

I then asked about the piece of land which the residents near the Pool Bar wanted levelling to use for petanque. Candido said he had already told Paco to do this but he would ask him again. The same applied to the raising of the fence around the football pitch. He said it would be quite easy for Paco and he would tell him again. He then said that maybe he should keep a list like I do to ensure jobs are done! He also agreed to restart our weekly meetings staring next Friday so that we can keep abreast of issues.

We then had a lengthy conversation about the WiFi. Firstly Candido explained that the storm last week burnt out the aerials but these are being repaired. He is even doing some of the work himself as is an electrician by trade. He then said that we would need to start charging people soon as Iberbanda are threatening to denounce the Town Hall. I asked if they had decided how to charge and was told that we would need to agree this in Pleno but they were thinking of about 1 euro for 1 meg and possibly up to 13 euros for 3 meg. He informed me that we are awaiting a state of the art piece of kit which will be able to guarantee 3 meg to anyone who wants it. This is a speed which would allow those connected at that speed to download movies, multimedia files, etc easily. He asked me what people were currently paying. Anyone wanting this connection speed would need an Air Max antennae and this would need to  

be installed and configured by someone competent. These antennae are currently over 100 euros but there is a man who is going to buy a quantity and be available to fit and configure peoples computers. It is believed he will do this for a fee of about 140 euros (75 euros for the aerial and the remainder for installation and configuring PCs. One difference between this and the other providers is that the purchaser owns it outright The new main bit of kit for the Town Hall is due next week. 

Obviously those who are happy with the 1 meg connection are not affected it will remain as is. There is a bit of a problem with Cuesta de los Pinos and parts of Llanos del Peral because of its location but they will be looking to site a repeater aerial and I offered my house for that purpose as it has (from the roof) a direct line of sight to the main aerial.

He does want me to canvas people and ascertain how many would want the 3 meg connection speed as the Town hall cannot buy them it would be up to an individual, who the Town Hall will engage, to buy and then install these. 

So if anyone would be considering this connection speed, which they do say will be guaranteed, then please let me know so that they have some idea how many will be needed. This information is, apparently, all on the Town Hall website but at the moment only in Spanish. I have asked for it to be translated into English and that should be done next week at www.zurgena.es. 

As usual if anyone has any queries or I have not clarified anything well enough just drop me an email at jiminysimpson@gmail.com or ring 661147554.

Just for information, and I am indebted to Ken Cross for forwarding me this information, there is a major facelift to our local roads to be undertaken in the next year or so. The Diputacion of Almeria has set aside 1.2 million euros for the purposes of resurfacing and improving the Zurgena to Arboleas road and the road which goes through El Palaces from the the A7 to Zurgena. There are other projects but these are the ones which relate to our area. Additionally a mains water system is to be installed for all in the area. Although it does not specify which area that is and I will need to clarify it with the Town Hall.

British citizens who are resident in ALMERIA and who hold a valid up to date UK EU photo driving licence do NOT require a medical certificate to validate the licence.
This applies to all ages.
The new law that was introduced in May 2009 is not being applied by the Almeria authorities.
However if you are stopped, or have an accident, driving out of Almeria province?, mid Spain or north, or even Ikea in Murcia, not sure how we would be affected?.  This is still a grey area, we are trying to confirm the law.

We enjoyed our holiday although, whilst we were there, my wife's father, who was ill in hospital, deteriorated and died. At least we were able to see him a few times before he left us and we were able to be at the funeral.

I intend getting into the Town Hall next week to see what, if anything, has happened whilst we have been away. I suspect very little with the majority of the time being in August! There were many queries waiting me re the WiFi when I got home.

I will be particularly asking whether any developments in the PGOU and the roll out of house numbers which they promised me would be ready when I returned.

For those of you who have my home telephone number I have now changed it to use Vonage and therefore my home number in Spain is 951190415 and for those in the UK it is 01924 566021. Both these numbers ring my home phone in Spain but only cost the same as if you were in that particular country eg dialling the english number from an english number would attract that relevant rate likewise Spain to Spanish number. My mobile remains the same 661147554.