Published in the Camposol District Journal – Nov 2011

As most of you are probably aware that after the preliminary meeting on July 7^th first of intended the councils bi-monthly open meeting was held on September the 11^th at the Camposol Community Centre.

As reported in last months article, when CRA chairman Bob Owen had made certain enquires to Camposol Mayoress  Kelly Ensor regarding the councils plans for the urbanization, he was informed that “All will be revealed in September.” However rather then the anticipated announcement that would unveil the councils intentions at the meeting those present were merely invited to offer their own opinions, questions and suggestions regarding services on Camposol. Predictably this then led to a myriad of questions and concerns associated with a multitude of issues and the inevitable outcome was that for the most part the major issues were denied a suitable amount of time and focus.

For those that might be looking for some positive news regarding the rambla/escritura situation they will be disappointed.  When the matter of an update was raised by the CRA the response from the top table seemed to be affected by a degree of confusion and uncertainty. As well as spending time explaining much of what we already new of the circumstances the council introduced some added compactions to the issue by seemingly stating the necessity of  involvement of  both national and regional governments in resolving the problem.  Up until now we had always been led to believe that the Confederacion Hidrografica along with Masa and the council were the only key players, however  a request to the council officers for further explanation went unheeded.  After the considerable time and effort the CRA have put into pursuing this subject over a number of years, the fact that perhaps the solution is even further away then that was ever imagined is very disappointing.

Without a doubt whether you receive demands for the payment of IBI tax on Camposol is a bit of a hit and miss affair at present. It is known that there are a number owners who by reason of being denied their escrituras for various reasons, are at this time not liable, however during the course of answering a related question it was surprisingly announced that only nine hundred properties on the urbanization (approximately 20%) are in fact paying the tax. This probably means that something in excess of three quarters of a million euros annually are being lost to local and regional administration coffers.

As well as an undertaking for Sector A to have operational streetlights by the end of October it was stated that the sector will be adopted during the first third of next year.

Our Spanish committee member Jose was able to highlight a translator’s misinterpretation when Pepe Gómez by apparently using an Andalusian idiom was thought to have suggested that the street lighting on all of the urbanization will be reinstated by Christmas. When considering the situation this must realistically be considered as extremely unlikely and we will now have to attempt to get further clarification.

An assurance was made that there will be no costs for the provision of services on Camposol other than IBI.

After three months of talks with Masa the council now claim to be close to reaching an agreement. They reiterated a previous statement that the developer will not be permitted to continue any further development until they have fulfilled all their other obligations on Camposol.

The issue surrounding Aqualia and the water supply will be resolved in the first quarter of 2012.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 16^th and it is planned that there will be a lawyer present. Any questions should be previously submitted to Tatiana at the council office on Camposol.

Attending:  Barrie Eveleigh – CRA Committee Member together with two CRA members

Masa are expected to return to Camposol very soon and the first of what is intended to be regular meetings with the company’s technicians will soon take place . It was confirmed that the Paramount development was the instigation for them to do this and we were once again assured that Masa will not be permitted to carry out any further development until they have satisfactorily completed the urbanisation.

Snr García confirmed that the Confederacion Hidrografica have now accepted a design for two schemes to resolve the rambla/escritura problem. The cheaper less complicated option is to simply form a reservoir to the north of Sector D which would act as a water catchment facility. The alternative which carries a projected cost of five million euros is to construct a new rambla to run adjacent to Calle Babinas and would require the consent of the majority of involved owners before this can be undertaken. It is proposed that in approximately one month a meeting will be held on Camposol to explain and hopefully determine this situation. It is estimated that the process of what is a very complicated procedure of implementing the revised Plan Parcial will then take three to four months before the issuing of escrituras to those affected owners can go ahead.

Despite some reports to the contrary the reinstatement of street lighting on Sector A is in fact happening although progress has been slowed by the reason of the contractors taking holidays.

A Sector who as opposed to the remainder of Camposol pay Aqulia directly for their water supply has contracts with that company may well be only provisional.

When asked Snr García confirmed that as stated at the September 21st open meeting there were only nine hundred properties on Camposol that are currently paying IBI tax.
It was confirmed that the council are not receiving payment for basura from Masa or Aqualia but they will have to pay this eventually.

When asked about the other legal documentation there is a judicial process that will allow the issuing of Certifacado fin de obra’s and the legal resolution to do this will be done next Tuesday. It was pointed out to Snr García that many of these were at the moment in the possession of Costa Calida Services. The Licencia de Primera Ocupacion (habitation certificates) will have to wait until the urbanization is complete.

In reply to a question regarding the council undertaking to provide a translator at the Camposol Health Centre it was stated that there are four administration staff supplied without charge to the Murcian health authority by the council and if the health authority do not comply by supplying this service “pronto” those administration staff could be withdrawn.

Camposol Residents Association

Costa Calida Chronicle – Oct 2011

After a considerable time where the former administration had first displayed little or no real interest in curing or even recognising Camposol’s problems we finally saw a belated attempt to find some solutions. What would probably have proved to be an unsuccessful and prolonged effort to recover Masa’s questionable assets hardly got off the ground and we now find that with the defeat of the then Mayor Blaya Blaya at the recent municipal elections, there is now the likelihood of a new approach from latest incumbents.

We have in the past experienced more than enough smoke and mirrors, false dawns and unrealistic promises. What is urgently needed now is a practical and sustainable strategy that will bring about the completion of Camposol to an acceptable standard. While we seem to now be witnessing a wealth of good intentions and welcome gestures from the new administration there is over fifteen million reasons (the Council estimate of how many euros is required to complete the estate), why this will not be enough on its own.

Of course Camposol is not the only Mazarron community that is suffering from neglect, in which case it is not likely that we will be on our own in vying for a share of the Town Halls meagre resources.  Never the less it is unlikely that any other areas of the municipality are experiencing anything near the magnitude of problems we are faced with. Also much blame for the urbanizations ills can justifiably be attributed to the, albeit previous, administrations failures in exercising a legal and moral duty of care. Despite the development generating a substantial income for the Council during the construction process we were severely let down by the Town Hall and a much needed process of supervision and control over what proved to be an unprincipled promoter did not happen.

It should also be remembered that other communities’ problems have probably for the most part come about as a result of the normal and expected rigours associated with the passing of time whereas Camposol has never had the benefit of a basic infrastructure that is anything other then which can be considered as incomplete or substandard.

Would it then be unreasonable to hope that under the circumstances we could where possible be afforded a little preferential treatment?

Website: www.cracamposol.com e-mail: info@cracamposol.com

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Camposol Residents Association

The Camposol District Journal Oct 2011

As part of our new Council’s policy of Citizen Participation, September 28^th will have seen the next chapter of Camposols involvement in this program. This is the first of what is intended to be regular bi-monthly meetings to take place at the urbanizations community centre. There has already been a preliminary meeting on July 7^th when a council delegation consisting of Mayor Ginéz Campillo Méndez, Councillor for the Environment and Citizen Participation David Fernández and Councillor for Foreigners José (Pepe) Gómez García gave a brief insight into their proposals for dealing with Camposol’s problems.

When recently approached by CRA Chairman Bob Owen to enquire when the Council is likely to disclose their intentions for Camposol, our Mayoress Kelly Ensor stated that all will be revealed at the September meeting. In the light of the Town Halls considerable economic shortfall together with the no small amount that has been estimated to resolve the urbanizations ills, what can we realistically expect?

Along with matters surrounding the urbanization’s water and sewage services we have already had an indication of the administration’s plans for the urbanization’s street lighting and it has been reported that the process of reinstating this facility to all areas is under way.  Somewhat surprisingly we learnt that talks with Masa indicated the developer’s willingness to return and complete the estate and the Council seem to be setting great store on this eventuality as a preferred solution.

Bearing in mind the previous readiness to totally disregard their contractual and moral obligations by way of abandoning the urbanization, we can only surmise what would now induce such a sudden and unexpected desire to return?  Hopefully more would have been learnt regarding this intriguing possibility at the meeting, but to the residents of Camposol who have witnessed or been the victim of this companies numerous transgressions it is understandable if a particularly unlikely scenario associated with leopard’s and their spots comes to mind.

With the advent of the Councils new strategy must also come with the need for the CRA to look at its future role in the proceedings. Although a certain amount of adapting will no doubt be necessary it is important that however commendable the administrations quest for improved interaction with citizens the residents groups do not find themselves in some way marginalised. The merits of the proposed open meetings are clear but the CRA believe that this on its own is not the most effective way to resolve the many complex and enduring problems facing the urbanisation. The CRA committee have a vast experience in dealing matters pertaining to Camposol and this can be beneficial in the future planning of the development. We can provide the continuity between the old and new by providing historical information that will be of value to the new administration.

Please note that now that the council office is open in the Cultural Centre water leaks can be reported direct to Tatiana on 968 131 717 or by email to oficinacamposol@mazarron.es
The office is open Monday to Friday, 0830 TO 14.30. (8.30AM TO 2.30 PM)
Outside these hours the CRA duty phone 634 364 739 can be used and in the failure of an answer please text your details including your phone number.

Website: www.cracamposol.com e-mail: info@cracamposol.com