James Simpson's blog

Blog Moving

So sorry people but due the fact that Vox is ceasing to be I am having to move the blog from this site. I can no longer update thi site although I understand it will stil be visible.

My new location for the blog is as follows,

http://jimszurgena.blogspot.com

I will post on this new site today just to make sure it is working okay.

Many thanks for following this blog and I hope you find the new one even more user friendly.

WiFi Outage this morning

Just got this from the engineer regarding the problem with the WiFi this morning,

Hi Jim, this morning we have short circuited a fuse on the clock (at 5:55 in the morning according to reports from the server), leaving out power to the equipment we have there. Fortunately the fuse was broken in the morning and could be replaced quickly.

WiFi Outage this morning

Just got this from the engineer regarding the problem with the WiFi this morning,

Hi Jim, this morning we have short circuited a fuse on the clock (at 5:55 in the morning according to reports from the server), leaving out power to the equipment we have there. Fortunately the fuse was broken in the morning and could be replaced quickly.

AUAN Press Release for Los Carasoles Info

This is for information of any residents who this may affect. 

Homeowners in the Los Carasoles area of Zurgena have been invited to attend Court Number 2 in Heurcal Overa on the 8th of September to take part in legal proceedings relating to their properties.

The properties are located on Poligono 4, parcela 98, subparcelas a and e in the area of Los Carasoles.  The case (49/2009) appears to have been initiated by some or all of the homeowners.

AUAN strongly recommends that anyone not currently party to this case owning a property on this parcel of land would be best advised to seek legal assistance and take part in the legal proceedings to protect their interests.

 

The announcement was made on 30th of August on the official bulletins of the province (BOP). This site is monitored by AUAN volunteers.

 

(See extract below)

8268/10

JUZGADO DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA E INSTRUCCION NUMERO DOS DE HUERCAL-OVERA

Procedimiento: PROCED. ABREVIADO 49/2009.

N.I.G.: 0405343P20060004242.

Contra: MANUEL MARTINEZ CANOVAS, DIEGO LOPEZ VALERA, ANTONIO LOPEZ RAMOS, CANDIDO TRABALON FERNANDEZ, MANUEL TIJERAS CRUZ, EMILIA JESUS JIMENEZ PEREZ, ANICETO LOPEZ MARTINEZ, JOSE ANTONIO RAMOS MUÑOZ, JUAN MORALES DIAZ, JOSE JUAN SANCHEZ, JOSEFA SANCHEZ GARCIA, CARLOS BERBEL FERNANDEZ y ADORACION GOMEZ FABREGA.

E D I C T O

D./Dña. Esther de la Cruz González, Secretario del Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción Número 2 de Huércal-Overa.

DOY FE Y TESTIMONIO: Que en el procedimiento abrebiado n° 49/2009 se ha dictado providencia del siguiente tenor literal:

“Se señala día 8 de Septiembre a las once horas para los perjudicados que puedan ser localizados y acordándose emplazar por medio de edictos en calidad de perjudicados, a los adquirientes de las viviendas sitas en paraje “Los Carasoles” parcela 98, subparcelas a y e del polígono 4 término municipal de Zurgena, siendo el constructor Manuel Martínez Cánovas en calidad de administrador Procomag S.L., que no se hallan personado hasta ahora en la causa, para que en el plazo de CINCO DIAS comparezcan ante este Juzgado a fin de realizarles el ofrecimiento de acciones previsto en el art. 109 de la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal, edictos que se publicarán en el tablón de anuncios de este Juzgado; en el Ayuntamiento de Zurgena y en el Boletín Oficial de la Provincia. Igualmente se acuerda requerirles para que en el mismo plazo aporten los justificantes de los pagos efectuados al adquirir las respectivas viviendas.” Y para que conste y sirva de EMPLAZAMIENTO Y REQUERIMIENTO a los referidos perjudicados, y su publicación en el Boletín Oficial de Almería, expido el presente, en, expido el presente en Huércal Overa, a seis de agosto de dos mil diez.

EL/LA SECRETARIO/A JUDICIAL, Esther de la Cruz González.

Usual delays

I had hoped to spend some time with Candido today to sort out a few things (Correos box location at Los Carasoles and drainage of Calle Holanda in Cuest de los PInos, whilst lighting is being installed) but as usual I have been stalled. There is not to be a Pleno and therefore I could not get hold of Candido today and it is a holiday tomorrow and then Andreas is off for a few weeks!

I have got a chance of possibly getting hold of him Wednesday morning and will try again then. Sorry for delay.

Quick Update & Fiesta programme

I returned from the UK Thursday evening and called into the Town Hall this morning.

Firstly if anyone knows a Jennifer Falk there is a fine notification for 150 euros on the board.

I asked if we could get the company currently installing the street lights in Cuesta de los Pinos if they could put something in to stop the flooding which occurs in Calle Holanda in two areas, each time it rains heavily. I told them that it seemed as if New Horizons were doing the work. I was told that in fact it is a company from Velez Rubio that has the contract and that they have sub contracted the earthwork to New Horizons. Candido agreed to look at the locations with me next Monday as we are probably to have a Pleno and he can accompany me after the meeting.

I told Candido of my meeting with the AUAN and he agreed to meet them if I could arrange a convenient date for both parties. I will do so and post the result.

I asked why some people had had problems with the WiFi. He told me there had been a problem with one or two areas recently but that they had been working on it yesterday and today. Apparently a common problem has been that when the engineers have installed new parts people using the system need to refresh their connection in order to identify the new and strongest connection. Should be okay from today.

Programme for the Zurgena Fiesta is as follows. Believe it or not the paper copy of the programme has not yet been published!!

Friday

2.0pm Funfair

4.0pm Card games in various local bars

5.30pm Basketball in the riverside court

11.0pm Opening of the orchestra in the main square

1.0am Election of the Queen and guard of honour

Saturday 28th

11.0am Childrens games in the Gines Parra Park

2.0pm Funfair

4.0pm Card games

5.0pm Childrens Football

11.0pm Orchestra in main square

Sunday 29th

10.0am Petanque in Gines Parra Park

2.0pm Funfair

4.0pm Card Games

6.0pm Football tournament. Married men against single men Riverside Court.

7.0pm Cycle Race round town.

11.0pm Orchestra Main Square

Monday 30th 

2.0pm Funfair

6.0pm Semi Final Seniors Football

7.0pm 2nd Semi Final

11.0pm Orchestra Main Square

Tuesday 31st

2.0pm Funfair

7.30pm Celebration of the Saints

8.15pm Procession from church to bridge.

8.0pm Football Final.

11.0pm Popular Music Main Square

2.0am Fireworks to end fiesta.

AUAN Meeting

I had an excellent meeting with representatives of the AUAN last week. The purpose of the meeting was for us to see what we could do together to assist any residents caught up in the planning fiasco in the Zurgena area.

As a result of the meeting I have a number of action points to deal with, including trying to arrange a meeting between the AUAN and our Mayor, check a number of people's entries in the inventory (which is the same as the inspection form or at least includes the same information) and a few other things. None of these can I deal with until after August but I will do them as soon as I can.

It seems the contractors who are to install the lighting at Cuesta de os Pinos have carried out an initial survey (saw them measuring up last week) so maybe they will start soonish! 

Last Update for Summer

Managed to get a bit of time this morning to go through some outstanding issues with Candido. This will be the last update until last week of August due to holidays, which actually affected a number of my outstanding issues anyway.

Firstly I asked about the report I had received that he was due in court on 8th March next year. He confirmed that that is the case and it is one of many that the Junta are proceeding with, but he is quite relaxed and comfortable about it and its likely outcome. He does not envisage any finding of guilt.

Secondly I asked about the reports of problems with the water in Albox and it transpires that it is a problem peculiar to Albox. The water company, Calasa, were supplying part of the water supply to Albox by way of a deposito however, due to them being owed millions by Albox Town Hall they have stopped supplying their water and Albox is using water from wells etc some of which are believed to be radioactive.  This does not apply to Zurgena we are still being supplied mains water by Galasa.

I then asked about small building licences and what the situation was regarding walls and sheds. Candido said that the law was being very strictly enforced by the Junta and even he was unsure of the extent to which the law applied. He asked me what I thought a mobile structure was and I said something that could be put together and taken apart. He agreed but said that some areas were only allowing things which were on wheels! I asked what I should tell people. Basically he suggested that a small bolt together shed which was not affixed to the ground may be allowable but that a wall should have a small building licence. He suggested that anyone wishing to build a wall apply to the Town Hall for a small building permit outlining the location and size of the wall. They would consider it and if anything else was needed would request it. 

I asked about the position for the Caseta for the Correos for Los Carasoles and he said that there had been a problem in the past about the land in frotn of New Horizons as the Junta maintain that everything up to 50 metres from the centre of the road is controlled by them. Therefore if we found a location more than 50 metres from the centre of the road it would be okay and if not we would need to ask permission.

I asked about the road sweeper which has been out of action for over a year. I was told that we are still awaiting a part.It seems it would be quicker to walk to Germany to get it. They will try and see what can be done as there is a servicing garage for it in Seville. 

I asked about the road safety measures I had asked for previously eg the mirror at the junction of Calle Bosnia and Avenida Europa and white lines and resaltos in other areas. The mirror was the responsibility of Francisco who was not working today but Candido would remind him. The white lining etc has been delayed still due to the dispute with the supplier (the quality of the paint last supplied was inferior for road marking and we are asking for a resupply) was the responsibility of Paco who is also on holiday.It is also Paco's job to sort out the deteriorating road surface in Cucador. He will be reminded of that as well when he returns to work. I will keep my list open until these are dealt with.

I then asked about issues for a couple of people wanting certificates of expediente etc and moved them forward where possible.

The situation with the secretary I was told is hoped to be rectified next week. Candid told me he had got some information which he feels will help his negotiations with him and he is optimistic of getting it resolved. I said that I hoped so as it was severely restricting the ability of the Town Hall to operate and seems to me to be stupid situation.

There were a number of other issues and things which I did not get sorted but as usual will keep on my list until I can get them dealt with. I will next try and get an update in the last week in August and then again the 3rd or 4th week in September. 

Town Hall Problems

It seems the issue with the new secretary is becoming a bit more serious in that nothing seems to be getting done. I have been waiting to see Candido the past two weeks and he has hardly been in the office. It seems that whilst he has had the persistence and stamina to fight the courts, the other politicians, the solicitors and the Junta Candido is running out of steam. I think that is why he is avoiding going into the Town Hall lately and I believe some of the more senior councillors have told him the same thing. 

I have only really got until the end of this week as due to holidays either I or Andreas will be on holiday and there may only be an odd day here and there between now and mid September to sort anything. 

My apologies to all those awaiting answers. All I can say is that I will persist and try and get answers as soon as I can.

For information if anyone needs to attend at the Town Hall over the next few weeks Andreas is on holiday 1st 2 weeks of August, I am on holiday 12th to 25th August. Then Andreas has another 2 weeks at the beginning of September. The office will still be open it is just that there will be no english speakers there on these dates. 

Handy Site for Fines

I was in the Town Hall this morning when someone asked me if I knew of the website which you can check your car registration number for any fines in Spain. I said I would look it up and post on here. So here it is.

http://www.buscamultas.com

There are also the boletins which can be checked and I will try and put them on here when I find the addresses.

No Candido again today and I am going to Cazorla tomorrow for a Jo Bonamassa concert so unless he calls into the Town Hall early tomorrow I will have to wait until next week to catch him.