clearing up a few points.

When a person representing a charity or organisation applies for permission to have a Fete, Fayre or Fundraiser, this goes to the Town Hall. It may be the intention of the Organisation to provide entertainment. If this entertainment is provided by a bar and is deemed to be an attraction to that bar, to enhance the profits/takings of that bar, then a Licencia de Musica en Vivo, Licence for live music, must be held by that bar.  If the bar does not have the appropriate licence, then, if there are complaints, the Police will attend and Denounce the owners of the bar. If a bar or Organisation, wishes to have an event that is in collaboration with the interests of the Town Hall, i.e. Social Services, Cruz Roja or any other organisation that is directly linked with the Town Hall. They will receive permission from the Town Hall to have Live Music as long as it is ancillary to the event.
Any bar owners who do not hold a live music licence, and have live music, outwith special Fiestas etc., run the risk of receiving complaints, being visited by the Police, either Local or Autonomica, and Denuncias issued. In the case of the Autonomical Police, they have the power to impose fines and close bars. Once a bar is closed by Police Order, it is extremely difficult to re-open.

So the bottom line is this:
 If you do not hold the appropriate licence for live music and you attract the attention of neighbours, Policia Local or the Policia Autonomica, by having live music, the neighbours can make a complaint about the noise and if visited by the Police, you may be Denounced.
As I have said many times before, if a bar does not have the appropriate licences, then it is the bar owners who must either take the chance that they will not be reported or they cover their backs by not having any live entertainment. The Choice is yours!

With respect to some of the entries made on a local Forum, stating that a Council delegate is said to have stated several things which could be deemed detrimental to the Offices of the Urbanisation, I have spoken with this Council delegate and he has since read the entries referring to himself and he totally refutes, the accuracy of their content.
I have also had a meeting with the Mayor on these matters and he has confirmed to me that the message about the imminent arrival of the Automical Police, was due to a direct communication  to him, from Valencia. An entry made on the same forum,  stated that a friend of theirs, who worked as a Funcionario at the Town Hall, had stated that, it was the Mayor who had contacted Valencia, as he was fed up with the problems created by the bars on La Marina. The Mayor has totally refuted this, so who is telling lies?

Back from Holiday

Last week while I was away in Poland, visiting relatives and paying my respects at the graves of members of my family, it appears that the problems surrounding the bars, has raised its  head again.
First let me say, that last week, the authorities in Valencia, contacted Carlos and informed him that some members of the Community had gone to them, with complaints about noise from bars. As a result the authorities in Valencia, stated that they were sending in the Autonomical Police, with instructions to fine and close any bars not complying with the Laws on Live Music.
As a show of good faith to the bar owners in La Marina, the Mayor instructed a member of my staff to inform the bar owners of the impending visit of the Autonomical Police. I was made aware of this and endorsed his actions.
As stated at several previous meetings with the bar owners, they were expected to get their own house in order and make arrangements to obtain the proper licences for their bars. They were told, that as far as possible, the local Police would not search out offenders, but only deal with complaints of noise. They were advised on how to limit the noise and offered every assistance to get themselves legal.
We are aware that it costs money to get the Live Music Licence, with the cost of the licence and the cost of ensuring their premises come up to the required standard. It is a Catch 22 situation, as most bars require to attract customers to get the money to pay for the Licences, but without Live Music, there are no customers.
So why have these residents gone to Valencia.
In my opinion it is either because there are, a certain group of residents, who do not want any bars with music to exist on this Urbanisation and have no intention of compromise.
Or, it is because some of the bar owners, completely disregarded the advice from the Town Hall.
There are still a few bars complaining against their competitors.
So what is the solution?
Firstly ,I would suggest that any bar that wishes to apply for a special fiesta licence for music and activities at Christmas and New Year, do so now!
Secondly, All bars wishing to have live music, obtain the necessary Licence.
Thirdly, The Town Hall will continue to support all the bars that are legal and try to get some form of compromise with those that complain the most and loudest.

Road Closure

On Thursday 1st November a Film Company will be filming on Plaza Sierra Castilla from 0800 hrs until 2100 hrs. This will result in the temporary closure of the road. All parking will be suspended on Plaza Sierra Castilla from midnight on the 31st October until midnight on 1st November.

Sports for all

Golf: I have spoken with Noel Eastwell, teaching professional at El Plantio. He has agreed that he will give lessons for a minimum of ten persons on a Monday afternoon at a cost of €5 per head. If there is sufficient interest, classes will be split into beginners, intermediate and advanced.
Anyone interested should register at the offices of the Concejalia de Urbanizaciones at Calle Madrid, No. 5

Padel Tennis: A number of person have expressed an interest in learning the basics of the game. Anyone wishing to register their interest should also contact this Office.

Beer Festival

On Thursday 18th October, from 16.00 hrs Bar Bavarius, Casa Mia, The Lounge, Restaurant and Bar , Bar Dreams and Smart Properties, in conjunction with The Concejalia de Urbanizaciones and the Town Hall are holding a Mini Oktoberfest in Calle Alfredo Kraus. The road will be closed from around 14.00 hrs.
Performances from Robert "The Voice" Cartagena, Mariachi and Glenroy Oakley as well as DJ Richie, will entertain you through to midnight.
All are welcome

Police Action

Last week a couple of persons commented on the use of Police outside the Hogs Head last Tuesday night. Having listened to and read the comments on the Spanish Life Forum, I contacted the Chief of Police for a report on the matter.
According to the Police report, they recieved two seperate telephone calls at 23.41 and at 23.42 hrs, from from different telephone numbers, stating that there was a disturbance at the Hogs Head Bar, with music being played at a high level and a person using a microphone at a high volume.
A patrol car with three Police Officers on board arrived at approximately 23.50 hrs. At this time one of the officers spoke with staff and finding no major problem, just asked the staff to close the doors.
As they left, they state that they were subjected to verbal abuse and gesticulations from some of the patrons.
They took up a position opposite and were joined a short time later by another patrol car, sent by the Police Control room.
On their arrival some of the persons on the terrace continued to berate the police who were present. They were calling out to the police calling them stupid, making hand gestures that were interpreted as being rude and insulting and recriminating the police for there actions.
On observing that some of the patrons refused to desist the officers entered the terrace area and tried to calm the situation. They then demanded of several patrons their identification. Two person were unable to supply sufficient identification. These two persons were subsequently denounced under the Law Order 1/92, The protection and Security of the Town.
The Denuncias show that the individuals concerned were reported  under article 23 of the above named Act for Obstructing the Police, Failing to respect the Police in Public, Shouting recriminations at the Police in Public, Failing to produce adequate indentification ( Photographic proof and proof of address is still required by law in Spain ) Contrary to article 26h of the above Act and finaly Disorderly Conduct in a place open to the public, Contrary to article 26i .
As I was not there to judge who´s version is most accurate, I am not prepared to comment further on this matter.

Rubbish tips

In response to some of the comments on other forums, I would like to draw the attention to the following: On the 9th of August 2010 I submitted a report on behalf of the Citizens Advice Group that myself and a couple of others formed, to the Coastrider Newspaper. The following article was printed:

What a load of Rubbish

Written by Contributor

Monday, 09 August 2010 12:53

No this is not about the England football team's performance in South Africa. This is more serious than that. Just over a month ago, the Council of San Fulgencio started to enforce a local by-law, regarding the leaving of Garden Rubbish and Domestic Appliances and Building Rubble next to the waste bins provided for normal household rubbish. The Council, designated areas where the residents of La Marina, could take their rubbish. Where were these tips located? In the middle of the Urbanisations. There are at least five of these tips dotted throughout the area and the largest of these being on the south west corner of the Urbanisation of La Marina. It borders the Camino Convenio, one of the main thoroughfares through “San Fulgencio North”. This site is less than one hundred and twenty metres from the nearest dwelling house. It is approximately two hundred metres south of a children’s play area. Since its creation there have been increasing piles of garden rubbish, being dumped. In many places more than two metres high. Also at this site, there are old sofas, chairs, mattresses and household appliances. An interview with one of the Spanish residents, proved fruitless as she denied living in the house and claiming she was only a cleaner. Despite the fact that our correspondent witnessed her coming out of the swimming pool to answer the door. However, in nearby Calle Helsinki, a young German resident was more forthcoming. She stated that the stench some nights was unbearable and that since the creation of this site she has been plagued by rats and cockroaches. They are climbing into her washing machine during the night and she sometimes only discovers them after doing a washing, resulting in bits of cockroaches through her washed clothes. She stated that a few weeks ago, her two year child woke up screaming, with a cockroach on his face. She has spent a small fortune on bug sprays and rat traps but is concerned about using poisons, in case her two year old should ingest them. When asked if she had lodged a complaint, she stated “What is the point? The council don't consult anyone, so why would they listen to a lone voice”. Perhaps there should not be a lone voice. The Citizens Advice Group, who meet every Tuesday morning at the La Marina Sports Complex, between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon, are collecting names for a petition, to have these eyesores and vermin pits removed from the urbanisations and re-sited, in an area where they can do less environmental damage. Shortly after this article was published I contacted a Mr Peter Wessman at European Commission in Brussels. He replied stating that the EU Commission would be in contact with The Town Hall. A short time later the main Refuse Tip on the Camino Convenio was closed. However, following on from this, the Citizens Advice Group was contacted by other residents concerning another of the so called Punto de Limpios.  Atteached is the letter that I sent to the English Language papers in our area. Thought you might like to read this letter I wrote to the RTN and Coastrider way back in Sept 2010.   Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, A few weeks ago, we at the Citizens Advice Group, campaigned to have a rubbish site situated on the Camino Convenio, closed due to infestation by vermin, cockroaches and other unpleasant animals, insects and reptiles. After an article and letter in the English language papers, the site was cleared within a few days. The nearby residents and the Citizens Advice Group were delighted. Particularly as San Fulgencio Council appeared to be taking notice of the desires of the people. As well as following the regulations on the disposal and placing of rubbish tips, in accordance with DIRECTIVE 2006/12/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 April 2006, on waste.   However, having just returned from holiday, I discovered an e mail from a resident of C/ Francisco de Quevedo, requesting the assistance of the CAG in reference to the Waste Point sited on their door step. This site, is situated 50 metres south of a Baranca, designed to carry flood waters, caused by the heavy down pours, away from the area. The biggest problem, according to locals, is that when it does rain, it cascades over the defence wall and washes away ground around it. Proving that the defences are inadequate. Photograph attached. Also since the closure of the site at the Camino Convenio, this site is being used more and is now overflowing. It is definitely not being monitored, as at the time of visiting, there was evidence of builders rubbish, household goods and general waste. As evidenced by the photos that I have attached. While I was taking the photographs, I was approached by four separate individuals, who complained about the increased traffic to this waste point. The alleged dumping of waste by local garden centres and according to one gentleman, he witnessed council workers removing diseased palms, from what is known locally as the “Satellite Roundabout”, and later dumping the diseased trees on this waste point. Again, the attached photograph proves the point to be probably true. I understand that some of the residents have already tried to get something done by having discussions with Councillor Juan Antonio Palanca and others on 14th July. But it would appear that they have, pardon the pun, been palmed off, with inadequate excuses. It is my understanding from the EU directive, it is the responsibility of the Town Council for the disposal of waste , “The essential objective of all provisions relating to waste management should be the protection of human health and the environment against harmful effects caused by the collection, transport, treatment, storage and tipping of waste.” ( Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 March 2004 (OJC 102 E, 28.4.2004, p. 106) and Council Decision of 30 January 2006.) Please note that a copy of this letter and photographs have been sent to the following individual, who is basically the EU watchdog on the Environment. Peter Wessman, European Commission, Directorate-General Environment, Unit G.4, BU-5 5/178 , B-1049 Brussels, BELGIUM Yours faithfully, Jeff Wiszniewski, Citizens Advice Group, La Marina Jeff Wiszniewski   Bringing us up to date. I was extremely concerned when the Town Hall re opened the Punto de Limpio. The company charged with keeping this area appeared to be very lax in how it was being used. This resulted in other areas brining their cuttings, etc. to our Urbanisation, for disposal. I have since being lobbying the Town Hall to have matters rectified and we are having a meeting with the concerned neighbours on Tuesday afternoon, 2nd October. We hope that an agreement will be reached that will be suitable to all concerned.