Fiesta Virgen del Carmen La Alfoquia 14th to 17th July 2022

 I have listed below the programme for this years Fiesta. I have also included the new Mayors opening statement included in the Fiesta programme for your information.

Esteemed neighbours, colleagues and friends,

It is a privilege for me to address you myself, for the first time since taking over as Mayor, on behalf of all my colleagues in the Town Hall and myself as I invite you to celebrate the fiestas in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, our beloved Patron. 

After two years of being unable to celebrate this event, due to the pandemic, we are anxious to once again celebrate and enjoy time with our family, friends and colleagues by leaving behind this difficult time. A time during which we confronted an unknown situation and which today we continue to deal with and struggle to overcome by way of responsibility and common sense.

I would like to take this opportunity to remember all those who are no longer with us and to send a warm greeting to those who will not be able to accompany us this year. 

We await with emotion the launch of the rocket fireworks which indicate the beginning of our fiestas, which this year, due to the long wait has increased our anticipation and enthusiasm in organising it.  We are sure you will love and enjoy the many cultural activities, sports, some great orchestras and some surprises, which I cannot reveal at this moment in time!

The current administration has one year left and I promise you that I will do what seems impossible and complete everything that we promised during our electoral campaign.

We have conducted a new calculation system for IBI values for properties, which will translate into considerable reductions to some properties and also some rustic lands. 

The installation of the energy efficient public lighting, which has already been granted, is being carried out as part of the energy efficiency plan approved to the sum of €400,000. 

The provisional resolution for the restoration of the clock tower and its surroundings has been approved.

We are continuing the work in carrying out and developing the PGOU for the corresponding area in La Alfoquia, more specifically sectors AF18 and 19, which are very consolidated at this moment.

We are developing a new industrial estate near the motorway which has already been initiated. 

We have asked for subsidies/grants to assist with the remedial works needed in the area of Jardines del Almanzora following the heavy rains in March.

We have contracted to build a new wall in the Bojas.

We have requested a grant/subsidy of €800,000 from the NEX Generation Funds to finish the rehabilitation of the mill and convert it into an ethnographic museum. 

We are collaborating with the extension of the Virgen del Carmen church in Alfoquia which will begin shortly and which the TH has contributed €25,000 in order for the works to start. 

We are carrying out works at the Railway station and have finished the work on the Renfe Cocheron and we are now adapting a section of the railway to be used as a tourist route as well as purchasing a locomotive to incorporate in the rehabilitation.

I hope that these works and actions will be remembered as we are able to reconvene our marvellous fiestas. 

Have a great time and let us all enjoy a marvellous time together.

Happy Fiestas

Programme

Wednesday 13th July Children's Day 

2359 Rockets to start the fiesta.

Thursday 14th July 

We start the festivities with an exhibition in the Gines Para Interpretation Centre

2300 Performance of the Crista Orchestra 

2400 Gala for the election of the Queen of the Festivities.

Friday 15th July 

1200 Traditional Family games School in La Alfoquia

1600 Super Inflatable Part and Workshops in Municipal Pool.

2330 Concert with group Los Puntos.

0100 Performance by Orchestra La Rebellion

Saturday 16th July 

0930 Free Churros for Senior Citizens.

2000 Masks and Solemn Procession 

2330 Orchestra Classic Show

DJ with animation for breaks

Sunday 17th July 

1930 Foam Party on the Sports courts in La Alfoquia

2300 Performance of the group Fabula 

Low Water Pressure

 Residents of the area of Cucador Norte have low water pressure this morning.

This is due to a repair that Galasa are carrying out. They expect to complete the repair and have pressure back to normal by lunchtime.

This is my biggest failure as I have been trying for over 10 years to get Galasa to inform us in plenty of time when the water supply is to be affected but best I managed was 1 hour!! 

Almanzora Rally Times for our Village of Street Closures

VIII RALLYE VALLE DEL ALMANZORA/SIERRA FILABRES

HOURS OF STREET CLOSURES (to facilitate safe passage for pedestrians and of the race cars)

SATURDAY 2 OF JULY

AVDA 19 DE OCTUBRE (TOP ENTRANCE BY CALLE MINA) TO THE PHARMACY, THE STREET WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY.  FROM  07:58 A 15:25

CARRETERA (ALP -8114) ENTRANCE TO ZURGENA FROM THE BRIDGE FROM LA ALFOQUIA, BE CLOSED FROM FROM 07:58 A 15:25

CARRETERA (AL 7106 TO PALACES) & (ALP 8114) ON THE STRETCH DOWN TO ZURGENA OR UP TO THE CEMETERY CLOSED FROM 07:58 A 15:25. 

Parque Bar

A few of our residents have asked that I publicise the fact that the Parque Bar in Zurgena has reopened and apart from Monday is open every day from 1100.

They had been enjoying it and wanted to ensure that everyone knew that, following some tidying up work by the Town Hall, it is a great place to spend time.   

Rearranged Carnival Show

Next Sunday we can enjoy the performance of the Carnival Provincial Circuit!

The performance that had to be suspended for weather reasons last month is now scheduled for 2030 hours on Sunday 26th June in the Plaza del Olmo (main square in Zurgena).

Last Nights Flamenco Show

 It seems that last n nights Flamenco show was a great success again. 

A full house enjoyed another traditional evening of original Flamenco. 

Thanks to the Shelagh Murdoch and CAT Services for help in selling tickets and to the Zurgena Town Hall  for support and of course to Francesca and her colleagues for the performance. 

Fiestas De San Pedro

 The fiesta for the Casas Nuevas in La Alfoquia is to be held as shown in the poster below.

Municipal Swimming Pool Opening. UPDATE 2

It is hoped that the municipal swimming pool will be reopening next Friday (24th June) for the summer. That is dependent on the regional health authorities approving everything but that is usually a given.

The opening hours will be Monday to Friday 1530 to 2030 Saturday & Sunday 1130 to 1430 and 1530 to 2030  and the admission charge is €2 for adults and €1 for children.  

Posters will erected when confirmed but this is just to give you advance notice.

UPDATE 

Summer is here and to combat the heat, what better than a good swim in our Municipal Pool?

Starting this Friday our pool will open and remain open until next September 4th!

We are waiting for you

Free entry on Friday June 24th!🎟👏🏼😜

Found Keys in the Rambla

 Anyone lost a set of keys?

These were found in the Rambla near Zurgena today (Thursday 16th June) They are in the Town Hall.

ECJ Ruling on Voting Rights

Some of you may have seen the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice which has ruled that British nationals can no longer vote or stand for election in and EU country. This ruling would have huge impacts for Brits in Spain as having no voice or effect on local politics could, as it would leave them without a voice or representation. 

However it is important to state that this does not affect the agreement between the UK and Spain as stated from the British Embassy. 

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE JUDGEMENT DOES NOT AFFECT U.K. NATIONALS RIGHT TO VOTE AND STAND IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IN SPAIN. That is because these are provided by the bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain, which allows UK nationals who have lived in Spain for more than 3 years to vote and stand in local elections.

UK nationals who wish to vote in next year’s local elections will need to register on the electoral roll at their town hall within the dates specified by the electoral authorities (we expect these to be between December 2022 and January 2023). There is therefore no action that UK nationals need to take now.”

 

Next Spanish Classes

Spanish classes will recommence this September and registration is now open.

If you wish to register you need to attend at the Adult Centre, Calle Lubrin  (in the same building as the library in Zurgena. I have put it on Google Maps).

Places are very limited.

Next Flamenco Show

Many of you may have already seen some of the real Flamenco shows that this part of Spain puts on but we have one group who have performed at our beautiful little theatre in Zurgena a number of times now and they are back at last after the past 2 years of restricted enjoyment. 

I have attached a link to a clip of part of what can be seen in the show. This is to be performed on Saturday 18th June at 8.0pm. One of the performers, shown in this clip has appeared on Spanish TV and he is only 12 years old. There are others artists in the show who perform the original form of Flamenco. 

From my own experience I can highly recommend this show. As Francesca, the lead female dancer is from England, she helps the audience understand the meaning and the importance of Flamenco to the local people. The feedback from the previous shows has always been excellent. 

Enjoy a wonderful night of typical Spanish Flamenco entertainment in the lovely Zurgena Theatre. 

Flamenco Clip

Tickets are limited and available from CAT Services, (tele 950634388) and Almanzora Group of Friends through Shelagh Murdoch email Shelaghmurdoch@hotmail.com or the in Mojacar Supertienda Parque Commercial 687480694 (bi lingual and on WhatsApp) 

Roles in Town Hall & Moors/Christian’s

Just a short post to confirm that although Luiz has resigned as Mayor he remains a full councillor and will be a supportive member of the team going forward.

Additionally Jose Manuel remains in his post and continues  to provide his service and I remain fully connected to all members of the administration. We will all stay in our roles until the election next May

The Mojacar Moors and Christian’s celebration is next weekend 8th to 10th June for information.

New Mayor Elected

 After the resignation from the Mayor's Office of the Mayor of the municipality of Zurgena, Mr. Luis Díaz García, on May 31, the plenary session for the election of the new mayor was held this morning, in accordance with the provisions of art.  196 of the Organic Law 5/1985, of June 19, of the General Electoral Regime, has been elected, obtaining the absolute majority of the votes of the councillors, as the new mayor-president of the Corporation of the municipality of Zurgena D. Francisco Martínez Ramos, of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party of Andalusia.

 

Messages & Ukraine

Thanks for your messages of thanks to Luiz. I have passed on all comments to him and he sends his appreciation to those who took the time to message.

I was asked about what we are doing regarding Ukraine donations at the moment. We are still accepting food which is being distributed between the Ukrainian families living in and around our area. We are no longer sending supplies to Ukraine itself. So if you want to make donations please just drop off food items to the Town Hall. Thanks

Mayors Resignation

At an extraordinary Plenary meeting last night Luiz Diaz Garcia resigned his position after 10 exceedingly productive years.

Those of you who were here when he was first elected will remember the dire situation that financially and legally the Town Hall was in at that time. He has been instrumental in  completely turning the situation around to the point where we have a healthy financial position, free from legal dangers and with many projects in the pipeline which will enhance life for all the residents of Zurgena.

He has resigned his mayorship but will continue to support the existing team going forward including the next man to take the reins Francisco (current councillor for public works) who has a lot of experience having served on the last 3 administrations. 

Luiz reasons for resigning are personal but when you realise that for the past 10 years he has worked very hard and voluntarily only received a small salary ( the smallest in most towns in Almeria) I can understand him looking to improve his financial situation for his family.

I have proffered, on behalf of all the non Spanish residents,  our sincere thanks for all he has done. He always considered and financed projects which were supportive of our part of the community. 

As he is still a councillor he will still be able to positively impact the councils work but it is in some ways the end of an era.