Community News

Noisy neighbours & Barking Dogs

Posted on by Admin
During the past month I have received several complaints from owners concerning disturbances caused by neighbours. This is something that seems to happen regularly and arises because a few people do not take into consideration what effect their actions  have on others. The first problem is people socialising (and no doubt under the effect of alcohol getting louder and louder) on their patios late into the evening and night. Sound travels a great distance at night and can be particularly annoying for people trying to sleep and having their windows open. The other problem is barking dogs. Some dog owners leave their animals unattended for hours or leave them on patios allowing them to bark at anyone or anything passing.  This is obviously particularly annoying to any near neighbour. I have discussed these problems with our administrator who recommends that people should report such incidents directly to police who will attend and deal with the situation – no doubt more effectively than a letter from me as president. The local police in Orihuela Costa can be contacted on 649900304 (mobile) and 966760000 (landline). Apparently a quicker and more effective response is achieved by calling the mobile phone number.

Garden rubbish dumped in Urbanisation road

Posted on by Admin
It has come to my attention that an owner has abandoned garden rubbish in an urbanisation road. This is against urbanisation rules and taken seriously because it detracts from the area as a whole. This is part of an email I have received from an owner: “Last Saturday whilst the market was on, someone in our urbanisation cut back their palm tree(s) and left the rubbish by the community’s green bin which had been moved onto our roadway whilst the market was on. I can fully understand this for that time. “However the council cleaners moved the bin back into the road and whoever it was that left their garden rubbish has not moved it to the roadside by the bin. The rubbish is still on our roadway and I find this unacceptable that the person responsible has not been back and moved it.”

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Can you help trace a beneficiary ?

Posted on by Admin
I am seeking the help of anyone who has lived on our urbanisation for many years and who may have known the owner of house number 1773, which is almost opposite the Chinese restaurant. The name we have on record is Anton A de Tollenaere and I believe he was Belgian and died between 18 months and 2 years ago. The problem we have is that we know of no next of kin and, as far as we know, no-one has visited the house in the many months since his death. During this time we have had to have the patio cleared of dead or dying plants, and grass and weeds growing between tiles, the cost of this has been placed as a debt on the property which is now large and mounting. This property is in urgent need of attention and, in addition, a car is abandoned outside. The probability is the car is uninsured and will have no ITV and probably SUMA has not been paid. The reason for writing this is to ask any owner who may have knowledge of Mr Torrenaere’s family, next of kin, friend, in fact anyone who may help to trace a beneficiary, to let our administrator or me know. The house is in a prominent position and I don’t want to see this property deteriorate any further and the car is looking the worse for wear, with a flat tyre and I am receiving complaints.
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AGM will be on Tuesday October 15th

Posted on by Admin
Our 2019 AGM will take place on Tuesday, October 15th with a first call at 1.45pm for a start at 2.15pm. It will be at our usual venue, the New Golden City Chinese restaurant, next to our urbanisation. Months away yet I know, but would owners who have items they would like discussed and voted upon let the administrator and me know – the latest time being September 1st to give us sufficient time to get it onto the agenda and posted to owners. Two items which will be included will be guidance (not rules which would be difficult to enforce) to owners on speed limits and parking on urbanisation roads to be included on community rules and the replacement of the hedge around the western pool with a fence (finances permitting). I have had a meeting with the administrator today and I am concerned at the level of arrears which has limited our ability to make improvements this year. The current arrears total is €23,000. Would all owners please check they do not owe fees and make every effort to pay promptly. The administrator can be contacted on 966730900.

Western pool pathway now complete

Posted on by Admin
The pathway in the western pool area has now been completed and is a considerable improvement. People entering from the western gate no longer have to walk on grass. The gap between the roadway and garages along the western roadway has now been completely filled with asphalt. In addition the holes in the roadway adjoining the garages have now been filled in. They were left open temporarily to make it easier for anyone living over the garages wishing to get fibre optic cables through holes drilled through the garage walls. However, the Easter rains allowed water into the garages which was obviously unacceptable.  The asphalt covering will prevent a repetition. Owners should be aware that getting fibre optics into individual houses above the garages remains problematic because of difficulties in gaining access to garages immediately below houses.

Dogs barking continuously breaks Community rules

Posted on by Admin
I have today (Sunday, May 19th) received several complaints from owners about three dogs which were left in a garden in the community, barking almost continuously throughout for six hours. Not only was this extremely annoying for all owners, occurring right through siesta,  it was obviously distressing to the dogs, left in this condition during the hottest period of the day. As a result I have instructed our administrator to send an official warning to the owner in this matter and have also instructed her to warn the owner that if it happens again police will be called. We have strict urbanisation rules governing this anti social behaviour and for the benefit of all residents I am including the relevant rules and the consequences for any owner not obeying them. =&0=&

Newsletter : Western pool, Speeding & Leaks

Posted on by Admin
Workmen have today started the laying of a path in the western pool area from the western southern gate to the existing tiled area around the pool. The object of this is on public health grounds so that people do not have to walk on grass from the gate to the pool area. As a safety precaution I have closed the pool while work progresses and which should be complete early next week. Would everyone wishing to use the pool use the eastern pool until the work is complete.
I  have been asked by an owner to consider removing the hedge around the western pool and replacing it with a fence. The reason is that the hedge is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and they are particularly prevalent this year after the Easter rains. I have investigated spraying the hedges but have been told that although it might work for a few days, the pesky biters quickly return. Owners of houses around the pool will be asked for their views and if there is sufficient support I will seek costings and have it placed on our 2019 AGM agenda.
I now have had two complaints in two weeks concerning drivers parking too close to electric and water meters so people cannot access them. Would drivers please be more considerate when they are parking. I also have had three more complaints about speeding cars in interior roads. Keep the speed to between 10kph and 15 kph PLEASE.
Finally a plumbing /building company has investigated the cause of a minor leak from the northern walkway into a garage. The cause has been determined as cats defecating above a surface drain and blocking the trap underneath. The company has identified a simple remedy to this problem. The same company s investigating a mystery drainage pipe which appears from nowhere in the garage roof and appears to serve  no useful purpose, but leaks in heavy rain.

Community reserve funds

Posted on by Admin
At the 2018 AGM it was agreed to put our reserve funds (to be used in the event of an emergency) into an interest-earning deposit account. Although this may be possible to do in several countries in Europe, in Spain it is not only impossible; any account we have incurs charges. I have been asked by a house owner what we have done to implement the AGM resolution. The simple answer is nothing. I am not prepared to open a second account which will drain our community of funds with additional bank charges. The last thing I want to see is our money being drained by the banks. Our administrator knows of our need to build an effective reserve and administers our funds with this in mind. However, if any owner knows of a bank which is prepared to pay interest on a deposit account I would be interested to hear the details – provided that it does not put any of our community money at risk.

Pool testing levels to be published

Posted on by Admin
I am pleased to tell you that our new maintenance company has agreed to put details of testing levels on our two pools into our community noticeboard so all can see. As you know the company has agreed to give us a 5-year guarantee and it is important that chemical levels are correct to avoid damage to grout. The display of testing levels will give us the transparency we need.

Builder’s skip not yet removed

Posted on by Admin
For several weeks a builder’s skip has been on our urbanisation while work has taken place on two properties. The work was completed before Easter but the skip has not been removed. Sadly these skips, if left for any length of time, attract fly tipping and this skip is no exception. It’s attracted sheets of polystyrene, cardboard and assorted rubbish to be dumped despite the skip being full to the brim. As a result this has been blowing up and down the road leaving a dreadful mess, leading to several complaints.