James Simpson's blog

Reply from MEP

I have copied below the response from my MEP regarding what the EU is doing about the current situation regarding Property Issues in Spain.

Thank you for your email regarding problems you have been having with

your Spanish property. We are aware of this situation and have been

working hard in the European Parliament to try and rectify it. The

matter is being discussed in our Petitions Committee. I have spoken to

our Spokesman Giles Chichester MEP and he has given me an update on the

current situation: 

1.  We had a very successful hearing a few months ago in the Petitions

Committee when several petitioners of all nationalities presented their

case.  The Spanish government was there too.  What was really

significant was that unlike previous occasions when the Spanish MEPs

were very reluctant to admit that anything was wrong, they were for the

most part much more sympathetic to the plight of the property owners.

There seems to be a real breakthrough.

2.  There is now considerable pressure from some member states, eg UK

and Germany, to reopen the issue to put further pressure on the Spanish

Government.  It is very likely that there will be another report to

follow up on the Auken report from the last parliament.  This time, I

understand that as long as the issue focuses on the questions of the

law's erratic application, unfair compensation terms and retroactive

nature, the Spanish MEPs are likely to be more cooperative.  They know

that the issue is of some embarrassment to their country, and that many

of those badly affected are Spanish.

3. The next meeting of PETI is at the end of September.  We will be

pressing for an immediate decision to go ahead, to visit some of the

worst affected places and to start a report.

I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to put an end

to the Spanish property disaster. In the end it has got to be the Member

State, i.e. Spain, that sort out the problem but we will exert all

possible pressure on them to do so. 

Kind regards, 

Timothy Kirkhope MEP 

20th July

Called in this morning to the Town Hall but unfortunately Candido was not in. I am trying to sort out a couple of certificates of expediente but this is proving very difficult as the new secretary does not think we should be providing these and so I need to get Candido to speak with secretary to sort out a way forward. 

I also have quite a list of issues and it is getting near to August when as you know nothing gets done. I left a message that if he calls in then I am to be informed so that I can get hold of him.

I did manage to question a matter raised about the fact that Galasa are suggesting that there are problems with Zurgena which may lead to houses being disconnected from the mains water. I was told that there are no such problems in this municipality although there are many in other areas.

Also asked if there was any truth in the rumour that Candido and others are due in Court in Almeria next March regarding the investigation. No one knew anything about this so I will need to ask Candido.

Whilst in I saw two english sounding names on the notice board regarding fines 1. Ian Halliwell from the 5th August 2009 with a figure of 310 euros against this name. 2. Thomas Blake Rothwell with a figure of 300 euros. If you know of either of these gentlemen please let them know.

Additionally the new Airmax aerials have not yet arrived.

Fiesta Time

I had completely forgotten about this weekend being the La Alfoquia fiesta. As a result the Town hall is of course closed today. So I will leave all issues until next week.

The fiesta will be running over the weekend and in to Monday with the usual dancing and music etc. Main times being Friday late evening and Saturday again late evening in front of the old railway station. Sorry I did not pick up a full list of events this time but I am sure it will follow roughly the same format as the past few years.

Los Carasoles & Correos

This is for the residents of Los Carasoles. 

I met with Carole Doran of Calle Segura, Los Carasoles this morning and she is willing to organise postal deliveries for the village.

Following our discussions and in order to move this forward we have agreed to canvas the residents of Los Carasoles and see what the numbers are, of people who would be interested. It is obviously better if we can cover as much of Carasoles as possible and thereby only need to erect one Caseta (bank of boxes). Suggested location being close to New Horizons offices. 

We found that in my area, Cuesta de los Pinos, we were initially underwhelmed by the numbers interested but when they realised that it was going to happen and that the cost was only 30 euros (as a one off purchase fee) we soon became over subscribed and we already have a waiting list. 

So if you live in Los Carasoles, or have friends there, please let them know and if they are interested get them to contact either myself or Carole, details below. We are going to assess the numbers by next Sunday (18th July) and those who have expressed an interest will be told of the date and time to register that interest.  

Carole can be contacted at 950432021 or doran-carole@hotmail.co.uk

My details are as usual 951190471, 661147554 or jiminysimpson@gmail.com

Discussion about Scruffy Bits

Managed to get a lengthy time with Candido to discuss the things which residents of the area had been complaining about primarily issues of dirtiness, rubbish and things which make the place look run down.

1. The big hole in the ground past the pool bar in la Alfoquia. We cannot be seen to do anything overtly at this hole as it could be construed as building work and the Junta would take action. However, we could keep dropping soil and builders rubble into it surreptitiously to try and fill it.

2. The traffic islands in Cucador and on the main roads are becoming overgrown with weeds cxan we do something about the mess. I was told that these are the responsibility of the Diputacion. We will send a letter asking them to do something about it but we cannot enforce it.

3. The pile of sand left where New Horizons had done the paving in La Alfoquia has now become a litter tray. We will contact New Horizons and ask them to move it.(may help point 1!)

4. The empty ground floor building in La Alfoquia where it has become a graffiti den. We will look to see if we can fence it or get N.H. to do so.

5. The builders rubble left down by Calle Isaac Newton. We contacted Victorinio the builder who denied it was his fault as he had not been in the area for over a year. It is believed to be a colleague of his Manuel. The Polizia Local are going to look at it and see Manuel.

6. The Corner Bar Fiesta sign is an eyesore. I had asked about this before and had forgotten that a few weeks ago we passed a bye law in Pleno whereby we can take action against landowners who do not keep their land tidy. Once we get this bye law published in the Boletin we can then start action against any landowner not complying. I also undertook to speak with the previous owner of the Corner Bar to see if we could get it taken down before we have to go through this process. 

7. The amount of rubbish is building up around the area from the Almond factory in La Alfoquia. We will send the Polizia Local to speak with him again. It seems this is a regular occurrence. He tidies up then slowly starts to encroach on public and with his rubbish.

I said I hoped that he did not mind me bringing so many environmental issues to him and he said that that was my job and that we need to try and deal with such issues. 

On other matters I asked on behalf of the residents of Calle Albert Einstein for the roads there to be tarmaced or at least stoned. Candido said there was a bit of a problem about that area regarding ownership but he would see if we could get it tarmaced.

I said that we still had not put out all the street signs. Francisco said that Paco (the chief Town Hall handyman) has the list it was just getting time to get around to it. I said we had been waiting a while! He said he would speak with him.

I also asked about the work being done to the little church in Llanos del Peral. It transpires that it not the actual little church that is being worked on but the house adjacent to it. The idea being to bring it up to a suitable standard to be used by all the community for various projects. They are installing and renovating the place for that purpose. 

The next lot of Airmax aerials are due later this week or early next week. There is already a waiting list. The new uprated aerials are currently being installed in Cucador, Cuesta de los Pinos, Palaces and Carasoles. This should negate any of the recent problems.

Llanos Del Peral, Court Request

I have been informed of another instance of residents being asked to attend Huercal Overa Court this coming week. Apparently it relates to 5 houses behind Calle Abderamman 3. 

I asked the Mayor about this new case and after speaking with the Council's solicitor it transpires that this follows the same procedure as was invoked against some houses in Carasoles, La Alfoquia, Cuesta de los Pinos and others over the past 2 years. What these cases are, in effect, is an opportunity for the householders to initiate an action against the Town Halls or the builders in the eventuality of their houses behind deemed illegal and this would ensure that their interests are recorded. None of these houses has been deemed to be illegal or according to the Town Hall are likely to be.

The previous case, which I attended, involved residents of a part of Cuesta de los Pinos and it was apparent that they were on a fishing trip to try and garner evidence against anyone in order to open more court cases. They were asking such questions as whether they had paid cash for their properties. This is of course against the law and both the buyer and seller would be in breach of the law if they admitted that. If any of those notified do attend court it is strongly suggested that they take an interpreter or solicitor and answer any questions with a response to the effect that all transactions regarding the purchase of the property was conducted by a solicitor (named) and that the court should ask any such questions of that solicitor.

For information when the residents of Cuesta de los Pinos attended the court they responded as above and have heard nothing since and that was some 10 months ago. 

I will try and ask about the other issues later this week but thought I had better give prompt response to this issue. If ayone wants to speak further regarding this please give me a call or email usual address jiminysimpson@gmail.com

mobile 661147554.

28th June

Called into the Town Hall to do a bit of work today and found the following names on a list on the noticeboard. It had something to do with Social Security but not sure exactly what. If you know of any of those on the list please let them know so that they can check it out.

Desmond Longworth, Kenneth Summerson, Ernest John Harrison, Andrew Jeffries, Graham Tebbs, Nigel Austin.

One of things I was discussing this morning was the delivery of mail to Los Menchones. A couple had asked about getting deliveries and I have asked John Chalmers to see if there is much interest and if there is we will have a meeting to help them progress that issue.

Pleno 25th June & Bits

We had quite a lengthy Pleno meeting today but there was nothing earth shattering discussed. The agenda included the official presentation of the new secretary, the accounts for 2008, the recording of the official population of the municipality as of 1.1.2010 (as 3,060), the orders regarding municipal cleaning, a new agreed committee comprising all the villages of the valley to deal with fire and lifesaving, help for agriculture and an application for funding for new school for Zurgena. The councilllor for PP raised a number of questions about many of the points which caused most of the delay. he also presented a motion calling on the Town Hall to request of the Regional authorities that the motorway stretch from Cucador to Albox be finished asap. Whilst we agreed to support this request it was thought highly unlikely that it would have any effect given the economic situation.

We then adjourned to the Pool bar as we wanted to get well away from the interruptions from the Town Hall. I then had the opportunity to ask my usual list of questions. Firstly I was able to get the assistance of the Town Hall in tracing a local builder who a resident's solicitor needed to be able to contact. 

I had been asked about whether in view of the fact that Cantoria were allowing residents to examine the forms of inspection for their properties whether we would have a similar opportunity. This was only necessary because in Cantoria they have to complete inspection forms to assist them in amending their local plans to get to a stage where they can develope a PGOU. We do not need to do that and in any case, the reason people wanted to check these forms, was to see if they were shown as promoters or developers, so that they may have to fund infrastructure and, as Candido has said many times in the past, we do not envisage having to charge anyone for infrastructure costs. I did some one to two years ago check on behalf of dozens of people that their properties were correctly recorded on the inventory and everyone I checked was properly shown

Secondly I asked what had happened to the Town Hall installers for the WiFi aerials.I was told that both the previous installers had resigned. The Town Hall still had a stock of Airmax Nanostation M5s (about 10 of the smaller 55 euros ones and 3 of the 75euro ones, more stock will be coming soon). They suggested that the best way forward is for anyone who wishes to connect to the system to order the aerials from the Town Hall. That way they can keep track of the numbers and also programme the aerials prior to installation. It is also necessary for the Town Hall to be able to collect the monthly fee. Then the individual could engage an installer to fit it. I was given the name of Gregory Cann mobile 664728845 who will fit these aerials, but not if involves climbing on roofs to get line of sight. I think Mike Gayne 687601567 is also still fitting these aerials and there is a guy connected to the Town Hall who can do roof mounted ones but I do not yet have his contact details. I am not personally recommending any of these people just publishing their details for people's information. As a bit of information the reason the system went down a week or so ago was due to water getting into one of the relay boxes. This has now been rectified as the updated system does not require boxes so this should not happen again.

The new gymnasium should be open by September. The only thing left to do is to get the electrical boletin agreed with Sevillana. Half the equipment has arrived and the remainder should be here shortly.

I asked about where we were with street lighting. Francisco is to take the boletin down for a few areas next week and then we have to wait for Sevillan to switch them on which usually takes about 10 to 20 days. I asked about the installation of the lights in Cuesta de los Pinos and they said the contract stipulates a starting date in July and so that is when it should happen. they also have a contract out to the same company (apparently from Velez Rubio) to install low energy systems in all the street lights and that work should start in July as well.

I asked when they were going to down the white lining, of areas where we had identified road safety problems, and was told that the paint which we had bought to do these jobs had been of an inferior quality and we now need to go and buy some more. Apparently we bought the cheapest and it doesn't last more than a few days in such conditions!

On behalf of the Spanish teacher Vera who has been holding her classes in Zurgena lately whether she could move to the railway station offices in la Alfoquia because the noise and interruptions in the current building were very distracting. They said that those offices were not available but that the work noise currently being experienced would cease in a couple of weeks.

Candido did tell me that he regularly read this blog, which I kind of expected. He told me that he only had one problem with how I put information on and that was that I should post more as an official rather than as an individual. I think I know what he means but I find that difficult to do. Will have to try harder! Whilst we were on the subject of this blog I told Candido that I occasionally get comments from people on here, by email and on forums that I am just a mouthpiece for the party. I told him I don't have problems with that as I always tell people that my role on here is to question the activities of our council and inform people of the answers I receive. I like to think that I have integrity and therefore anything I report is what I have been told by the Mayor or councillors. I also told him that, when I inform people, I do so in the belief that I am being told the truth. He immediately responded by saying that he had never lied to me. I told him that I believed him. He did however say that maybe he got dates wrong when answering questions. I thought, well we all know that dates are very flexible in Spain so I will allow him that!! 

As a final point of information there was a 'bando' posted on the 16th June. This is a local rule brought in to deal with temporary issues. This 'bando' is in relation to fire risks. There are many things which are now banned in this rule but rather than list them here please be aware that from now until 15th October you can be breaking the law if you discard BBQ coals, cigarette ends or any possible flammable material. No fires can be lit almost anywhere and even coal fired BBQs are banned. There is no mention of gas BBQs but having spoken to Spanish people they will be still having coal BBqs but will ensure they have water on hand. Just be very very careful, as if that need saying! 

Process for handling issues

Over the past few years I have learnt how Town Hall handle complaints and the general processes applied. A good example was a problem which a resident of La Alfoquia had with a neighbours pool. That it was filthy and left uncleaned so that mosquitoes and other insects were breeding in it. I had taken the complaint to the Town Hall and a registered entry is made of the written complaint. That complaint is then followed up by the appropriate person or department. In this case it would mean the attendance of a member from the Sanitation department in Huercal Overa with a subsequent fine or forced payment for cleaning. I visited the home which the complaint related to and hopefully the occupant will avoid such financial costs by dealing with the dirty pool within a week.

We have a Pleno meeting tomorrow at midday. The first for a couple of months looks like a few motions to deal with.

WiFi Problem

Many people have reported a problem with the Town Hall WiFi. They are aware of it and are working on the problem today. It is hoped it will resolved by the end of the day (Thursday).

The Correos seem to be delivering post to the new Caseta installed at Cuesta de los Pinos and they are even delivering post sent to the old addresses. So fingers crossed. If any other area wishes to get deliveries by the correos where they haven't had them in the past just drop me an email and I will let you know what needs to be done.

Update Friday

Understand the WiFi is operating normally now but if you know different let me know.

A friend of mine (Dave Shear) who runs Albox Computer Club has launched a scheme to recycle old computers and computer bits. The idea being that he will make use of whatever he can and then supply renovated machines/systems to the needy. It is obviously a very laudable idea and we are asking for the support of the expat community. So if any of you have any old computers/printers/digital machinery that you no longer use or need please let us know. Additionally if you know of anyone who may qualify as being non profit making club/association family or even individuals also let us know. For further information, Dave has a website at www.piracc.org Please, if you can help this project, get in touch with myself or Dave.

I was going to call into the Town Hall today but, for a couple of reasons, I am going to leave it until next week.