This is an update for the community.

Sewers and Drainage

Firstly, at our 2017 AGM it was agreed to deal with flooding problems on the first interior road. We thought the cost might be at least 3,500 euros to cut a drainage channel down the road and that if the cost was more it would be too much for the urbanisation to justify. However, I am pleased to tell you that the urbanisation developer unearthed the original sewer map and found that there was a manhole in the road which had been covered by asphalt and this could be opened up and used as the collection point. The drainage run could be halved, and the cost will be less than €2,000.

Still on the subject of sewers, we had to call out a drain unblocking company recently and they found the cause of the blockage was a root from a garden hedge onto which wipes had become attached. Would people think seriously about having hedges in their gardens because we are having increasing problems with roots – in drains and also going across pathways uplifting asphalt.

And, unbelievably, still on the subject of sewers, having called out a company to unblock the sewer I discovered that they also fumigate sewers as part of a total contract, cheaper than the company we have been using – so we are making the change and saving some money.

Painting

I am also pleased to say that the cost of urbanisation property painting – electricity and water boxes, balustrades, etc – was achieved at a cost €1,000 less than estimate, slightly under €2,000.

Outstanding Debts

The committee has been concerned about the continuing saga of the large villa on the main road which has been unoccupied for years and subject of considerable vandalism. More than €8,000 of debt has accumulated on this property and our administrator advises me the time has come for us to take the bank to court to recover the money owed to us. I have today asked her to proceed.

We are also taking legal action against two other owners who together owe €2,700. Money owed to our urbanisation from owners now stands at €20,222. Thanks to good housekeeping we have €23,963 currently in our bank account but this has to last until November and the debt level is completely unacceptable.

Would anyone who has not paid their fees please do so as soon as possible – being in debt costs you more because we charge an administration fee to late payers. I would also urge owners to consider signing up to a bank transfer to avoid forgetting to pay.

AGM 2018

Finally, although we have not yet set the date for our 2018 AGM, it will be held towards the end of October.