Electricity Issues

We have been suffering a lot of interruptions to the electricity supply the past few days. We have been liaising with Endesa and there is a problem both here and at Taberno. They are investigating but as yet do not know the cause.
They will continue until they find and resolve the problem.

Flamenco Tickets and Holiday and Rubbish Campaign

I now have possession of the tickets for the Flamenco show on Sunday 17th November priced at €15 each.

A reminder that this Friday is a Public Holiday across most of Spain. The Town Hall will be closed.

I have requested the Police conduct random foot and car patrols of all areas where the issue of rubbish is a problem, and to enforce, any offending individuals with the issue of fines. This to be a priority for the next four weeks.

Halloween

This Thursday ... prepare your scary costume and dare to spend a scary afternoon-night!  🎃 🧙‍♀ Different workshops and games will take place in Plaza Del Olmo from 18:00 in the afternoon!  The passage of terror returns to our town to challenge the bravest ... do you dare? 🙈🧟

 

Urgent Irish

A friend of mine is looking for extras for some filming in Almeria.

The person they are looking for would ideally be Irish and a good build. If you know of anyone please let me have their details asap. The filming is to commence before 18th November.

Anti Litter Campaign

We intend to launch an anti litter, flytipping and dog mess campaign covering our municipality commencing Monday 28th October.

The campaign will address the education and enforcement of anti  litter laws.

For education there will be social media and press publicity operation. We will also be distributing and erecting signage at the  basuras.

To enforce the campaign the Police have been directed to patrols areas where this problem is most acute and to identify and fine any trangressors. Additionally if anyone has evidence of any offender committing any offence of this type if they can let the Town Hall or Police know we will endeavour to sanction them. The Police have chip readers which will assist them in identifying any roaming dogs.

We look to our citizens to support this initiative and keep Zurgena clean.

PGOU Final Stage and Petanque

Our PGOU is at long last going through the final stage. It has been approved, published, amended  and is now only awaiting the 4 weeks appeal time.

 

I have received a few questions regarding the grant of AFOs. As, has been explained before, an AFO is only really of value if your property is outside the land shown as urban within the PGOU.  

 

Having discussed this with my colleagues we can state that, there are in the región of 4 or 5% of properties within Zurgena that will require an AFO. The other 95% are covered by the PGOU as being on urban land and will become regularised through the ongoing process.

 

It would be a waste of money for a home owner to apply for an AFO for a property which is subsequently to be regularised through the ongoing process as this would entail paying twice!

 

The homes which wish to apply for an AFO may do so, but, at the moment, we need to approve a Fiscal Ordinance in order to be able to charge the home owner for the cost of this process. So that is the only thing holding up the grant of AFOs. That process will be completed as soon as we can.

Regarding Petanque (at the courts at the side of the Gymnasium in Alfoquia),I have been asked by the organisers to let people know that they are now playing Tuesday afternoons 1500 x 1700. If anyone wishes to join them they are welcome.

 

Inter Cultural Food Day UPDATE

To celebrate the Dia de Mayores we are organising a day, similar to ones in the past, where we have a demonstration by a Spanish chef of one or two Spanish dishes.

After his presentation we will have a little time during which, if any of you would like to do a presentation of a dish from your home, you will be most welcome. I have one English volunteer and I may do something myself but if anyone else wishes to add to it then that would be good.

After the presentations of food we hope to have a wine presentation by Bodegas Palomillo (who we visited last year). That should include tastings.

As at previous events after the presentations we will then have the oportunity to eat the food prepared and drink the wine.  Previous events have ben very succesful as it appears people speak Spanish better after wine!!

The event will start at 1030am on Friday 25th October and be held in the Renfe. These have previously been great and enjoyable days.

In order to manage the event we need to know how many will be attending (estimating 50 places). Only those who have communicated an intention to attend can be admitted, so please inform me if you wish to attend.

I will publish the poster when ready but wanted to get this out asap.

Only 14 interested so far we have 10 spaces left. It is an enjoyable morning with free food and drink. Whats not to like!!

Rubbish AGAIN!!!!

The Consorcio de Levante who are responsible for the collection of refuse manage their bins as they want to, within the constraints of the legal distance from the houses they serve.

Recently there have been occasions where they have moved the bins. This may be to make collection easier or whatever. We have no real control over their work but can and do often make requests. They have an office in Albox just before the BP station. You can make complaints or requests to them there.

In the meantime if the bin is not where you last saw it please do not just leave your rubbish on the ground. Locate the nearest basura and put it in that. Otherwise a plague of rats may descend upon that area. We are in the country!

Town Hall Trip

After the long hiatus of the summer we are now organising a few cultural/historical trips as before.

The first of these is scheduled for Saturdy 9th November to a place called Cuevas de Ventanas in Pinar, Granada province.. This is one of the oldest ever inhabited Karst cave systems in Europe.  This is a link to the Trip Advisor page;

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g2480487-d3247660-Reviews-Cuevas_de_Pinar-Pinar_Province_of_Granada_Andalucia.HTML

 and wikipedia page but in Spanish

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cueva_de_las_Ventanas

Places are limited so first come, first served AND I only have 14 spaces left!
Comfortable shoes and clothing advised.

 

Railway Association

 

For those interested in the developement of the Railway association, below are the details of a recent meeting. I do realise that things are moving slowly but, they are moving in the right way. We now have almost all the documentation and fiscal registration we need.

 

We will be canvassing for more members in the near futue to support our aims and activities to enhance and develope the links/history of the railway within Alfoquia. At the moment we have over 50 people registered

with the Association but will be looking to increase this number to 100.

 

 

Zurgena Railway Association Committee Meeting – 1st October 2019, Town Hall 

Those present as follows: 

Maria Angela and Jose Manual 

Committee: 

Acting President Jim Simpson 

Treasurer             Ray Gaskell 

Vocale                   Mike Yendell 

Secretary              Lin Yendell 

Apologies for absence from David Greig  

 

An update from Maria Angela 

The Bank Certificate was signed by the secretary as third signatory on the new Bank Account. A visit to the Bank with the necessary paperwork and all 3 signatories will be arranged in the near future in order for the account to be officially opened. 

Presentation 

Rights have been given to use photos and a presentation will take place in Zurgena, possibly on 7th December by Juan Hillman, son of Gustavo Hillman, which will be given in Spanish and English. Maria Angela will contact the Aguilas Railway Association for confirmation of this date. There is also an English gentleman who knows a great deal about railways and has offered to come to this meeting. 

Trip 

It is hoped the Aguilas train trip that was postponed earlier this year, could take place in November. Numbers have to be ascertained during October in order to arrange transport and whether it is to be an all day coach trip to include lunch. An email will be sent out by the secretary to all persons who originally registered an interest with the Zurgena Railway Association to ask how many are interested so necessary arrangements can be made. Jim will be in touch with Isa Reche from the Tourist Office to organise posters etc, stating the trip is open to everyone who has shown interest in the Zurgena museum. 

Office 

The Railway Association has received a key for the new office in the original station building and Jim will have to sign a Lease. A computer terminal will be required but we will have to provide or use, our own phones. Various desks and chairs will be provided, Jim will investigate what is required. 

 Cantoria 

It is hoped a visit can be made to the newly refurbished Cantoria Railway Station. Maria Angela will contact the Mayor of Cantoria to book an appointment. She will also contact other Mayors for information on artefacts. 

 

Book 

It is 130 years since the railway was established and a new edition of the book will be produced for 2020 in which Zurgena is to make a contribution. The Mayor of Zurgena will be contacting other Mayors to obtain photos etc associated with the railway for inclusion in the book.  

Monument 

 

The area near the bridge in La Alfoquia is to have a commemorative memorial to Gustavo Hillman, this can be in the form of a monument, tree or bench, to be decided upon by members. The final decision will be by the governing bodies and signed off by the Technician. 

Flamenco Night 17th November Route of Autovia

We are honoured to be able to present another night of authentic Flamenco performed by highly trained exponents of this art form.

As many of you know and have enjoyed previous shows this one is again a bit different and is sure to be a popular and throughly enjoyable evening.

I shall have the tickets available from end of this week.

 

I now have possession of the  detailed route of the autovía. If you wish to see it please ring to make an appointment. I am trying to find a way to make it easily available through a link but having problems.

 

Another Brexit Issue and IBI

The Traffic Dept in Spain have issued an advisory regarding driving in Spain on a British Driving Licence.

They are advising that, in the case of a no deal Brexit, anyone resident in Spain needs to apply for a Spanish Driving Licence before the 31st October.

Actually, in fact, anyone who is resident in Spain by law has 90 days in which to apply for a Spanish Driving Licence otherwise one can get fined.

Also a reminder that IBI bills will be due for payment prior to 20th November. If you call into theTown Hall Andreas will print off your bill. Remember we negotiated a 5% discount if you do it by direct debit.

New Street Cleaning Machine

As some of you know we have for some time now had to make do with a street cleaning machine that is well past its sell by date and spent more time in the garage than on the road!

Well today our Mayor has been down to Almeria and we have been given a grant of €50,000 for the purchase of a new street cleaning machine! 

NHW, Food Bags and Bowling Event and Dia de Mayores

Firstly a reminder of the Zurgena NHW AGM is to be held in the theatre this evening at 6.0pm.

Secondly again our thanks to the church at Llanos del Peral for 26 bags of food for the needy which will be dispensed during this coming week. (I shall add photos later)

The Bowling Club of Zurgena held their  3rd annual tournament over last weekend and it was a great success. Over 60 competitors and many more spectators enjoyed a well organised and competitive repeat of the previous years competition.

Lastly we are looking at organising an event for Dia de Mayores which falls on Friday 25th October. I am considering doing it similarly to our previous Intercultural Food Days where, if you remember, various individuals prepared a local dish from their home country or area and then showed the people how they made it. Afterwards we all shared the food. If you are interested in supporting this event in some way please get in touch. We do not have a lot of time but I do think sufficient to get it organised.

Update to the last part. I have been given a small Budget for this event and we will incorpórate a demonstration or two and provide food but if anyone wshes to add to the day they are welcome.

I will post fuller details when it is all agreed.

Town Hall Release regarding Live Music

The Town Hall wishes to make a  public and general knowledge statement.

That it is not against the celebration of live music performances in the bars of the municipality and that is because we consider that they are multicultural acts that enrich our neighbors in all the bars where they wish to celebrate this type of action, but it must be performed legally.

So we have let you know that we have repeatedly, verbally and in writing, to all and each of the businesses, dedicated to this type of event, that we have explained all the necessary requirements in line with the Law in force in Andalusia and municipal powers, as well as the respective consequences of the breach.

We enclose, again, a copy of the explanatory document of the procedures.
(if anyone wishes a copy of the inform that was communicated to all the businesses just ask as it is 13 pages long)

Luis Diaz Garcia Mayor - President

Community Fair

Harmony´s annual Community Fair is to be held this Saturday from 1130am until 4.30pm.

Come along and enjoy a great day where all proceeds go to chairity