emails

Subject: Updates on La Montañosa Projects, Date: 04.12.2024

Dear Residents,

While volunteering at the Town Hall today, I asked about the concrete patch in the middle of La Montañosa. I have been informed that the ground is being prepared for two large water tanks, scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

As mentioned in the La Montañosa Info email on 30th October 2024, these tanks are part of a phased project funded by multiple grants. The vision is to make use of wastewater from the treatment plant at the bottom of La Montañosa, combine it with rainwater, pump it to the tanks, and treat it there. Once treated, this water will be used to irrigate our green zones, creating a sustainable water source and providing an important reserve during droughts.

The tanks will store water currently being wasted and will connect to the pipe and irrigation system installed last year. Their location was chosen at the highest point possible to allow gravity to distribute water to the green zones and allotments. However, the system isn’t fully operational yet, as the Town Hall is still working to secure another grant for the water treatment equipment, which they hope to achieve next year.

The tanks will be quite large, but there are plans to gradually reduce their visual impact in the future.

On another note, I have also learned that starting from 1st January 2025, a new company will take over rubbish collection services. This was also mentioned in the recent email. There are some discussions about relocating of the existing bins. I will keep you updated as I learn more.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who sent such lovely messages in response to our recent email with link to the page with the old photos and the video. Your kind words truly warmed my heart and reflect the wonderful spirit of our community.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can speak to the Representatives, email lamontanosainfo@gmail.com, or visit me at the Town Hall. I will be at the International Residents Support Hub on 18th December, from 10:30 to 13:30. Please book an appointment beforehand so we can discuss any concerns and, if needed, speak directly with the technician responsible for the water tank project.

Thank you for your continued support in making La Montañosa a great place to live.

Warm regards,

Mila Lipowicz

Admin
La Montanosa Info 

Subject: Update from the Recent Meeting with the Town Hall, Date: 30.10.2024

Dear Residents,

The Representatives met with the Town Hall last Thursday, October 24, 2024. Present were:

• Town Hall: Mayoress Carmen Selles Prieto, Deputy Mayor Pedro Alexis Rubira Rico

• La Montañosa Representatives: Anja In’t Ven, Thelma and Frank Hart, Jose Ramon Zamora. Translation: Mila Lipowicz

Main Points Discussed:

Bins: The Representatives shared their experiences and collective efforts to keep the area tidy. Frankie Foster deserves recognition for his dedication in the recent months, and we know others have also helped by folding and cutting cardboard boxes and sorting rubbish. Thank you to everyone who contributes positively to our community in any way. Informative leaflets have been printed and will be distributed soon. If you would like a few copies to share with new neighbours, please get in touch. New owners who have bought through Hondon Valley Homes will receive these leaflets in their welcome packs, but those who purchased through other agents may need to rely on neighbours for information. Working together on this task will make a positive impact.

The Representatives also requested that the information board behind the bins be updated, as the current one is faded. The Town Hall is in the process of changing the rubbish removal company (to GEAMUR) and is required to add a new brown bin for organic waste. Currently, Hondon de las Nieves is penalized for producing too much mixed rubbish. The regulations mandate that towns recycle more, aiming for 60% recycling and only 40% mixed rubbish. By 2035, this will change to 90% recycling and just 10% mixed rubbish, making the recycling of organic materials essential.

When the brown bin arrives, access will be limited to residents who agree to use it properly (via key, code, or mobile app). This measure aims to prevent contamination with non-organic materials, as any contamination could result in the bin not being emptied and remaining uncollected until the non-organic items are removed.

The board will be updated with more information after the new company begins operations.

Sewage Smells: Our sewage plant is regularly tested and monitored, and there are no abnormalities. However, the Town Hall has asked the Representatives to inform the technician whenever a problem occurs so they can conduct additional testing. If your home is affected, please keep a record of the date and time when any odours can be detected and let one of the Representatives know (contact details are available on the website: https://www.lamontanosainfo.com/representation).

Street Markings: The Town Hall is aware that many markings have faded across Hondon. This issue affects the entire region of Hondon de las Nieves, which covers almost 70 km² (check out interesting statistics about Hondon: https://www.hondonnievesinfo.com/our-town/hondon). Repainting all markings would cost around €35,000-€40,000, which is not currently available in the budget, so additional funding is needed. The markings will likely be refreshed gradually, starting with the areas most in need.

We are therefore calling on all residents, in consultation with the mayor and local police, to strictly follow traffic regulations within the urbanisation. This includes respecting speed limits, using one-way streets correctly, and parking on the designated side of the street to ensure ample space for vehicles. Violations of these regulations have been a significant source of frustration and inconvenience for many residents and, in some cases, have even led to unsafe situations. By following these rules, we can work together to keep our urbanisation safe for both people and animals.

Street Name Signs: The Representatives will prepare a list of streets that are missing signs, as well as any that have faded over time and need updating.

Allotments: It was explained that the money spent on allotments was part of a grant that had to be used specifically for that purpose on a "use it or lose it" basis. This money couldn't be allocated to any other purpose. A recent grant for two tanks will help secure the water supply, primarily for green zones in La Montañosa and for the allotments. The tanks will allow us to recycle treated water from the sewage plant, which is currently wasted, by using it for these green zones. They will be connected to the pipe and irrigation system installed last year. Their purpose is to treat and store water.

The green zone on Calle Algorfa/Calpe is not currently part of this system. The grant received for the irrigation system wasn’t enough to connect all parks, but the Town Hall decided to do as much as possible with the available funds. We need to be patient as we await further funding opportunities to connect the remaining park.

Carmen and Alexis explained how any work is done in Hondon de las Nieves. Unfortunately, the budget is limited, and there is not enough money for pending projects. The town relies heavily on external grants. Each day, Lucia’s first task is to check for available grants. Most grants cover only 80-90% of project costs, so the remaining funds must come from the town’s budget. This is why some funds are always kept in reserve to supplement grants when necessary.

Big Open Space: Any decisions about this space must be carefully considered. Adding trees and/or benches will require more maintenance, and with limited resources, it’s important to ensure any additions are necessary and will be used. Otherwise, we risk creating another area that requires attention but lacks the resources for proper maintenance. As residents, we may have a conversation about this in the coming months, possibly during Community Days.

Weeds: The Representatives thanked the Town Hall for their ongoing efforts to keep our urbanisation free of weeds. We all understand this is a continuous task, especially now with some rain. If we, as residents, test different weed prevention methods (salt, salt and vinegar, bicarbonate), we may be able to better control the situation in the long term. Many residents are taking care of the space in front of their houses, which is certainly appreciated by neighbours and passers-by. We would like to continue applying salt in specific areas or explore other methods to help maintain our neighbourhood’s appearance, and we need your help. Once a successful method is established, we could ask the Town Hall to use it during regular maintenance. To make a noticeable impact, we need as many residents as possible to join in these efforts. Any discussions related to this topic can take place in the Community Connect group in La Montanosa Info Community WhatsApp.

Green Zones: Alexis from the Town Hall acknowledged that the parks in La Montañosa were not ideally designed. Trees are growing larger, and their roots are affecting neighbouring properties by pushing through fences and damaging structures, such as swimming pools. Smaller trees have already been removed, but the Town Hall is seeking professional help to remove the larger ones. To avoid issues during removal that could impact nearby houses and fences, the Town Hall hopes to sign a contract soon. First, all trees within 5 meters of fences will be removed from all green zones. The next step will involve planning alternative solutions, focusing on smaller trees that won’t cause future problems.

Important Points:

If you have any questions about any of the above points, and/or if you would like to report any issues in La Montañosa, such as non-functioning street lights, unfinished jobs left by Town Hall workers for prolonged time, or anything that requires attention, please:

• Use the General Chat on our La Montanosa Info WhatsApp Community—others will be able to see what has been reported.

• Speak to one of the Representatives, privately or during our Community Days.

• Email: lamontanosainfo@gmail.com

• Visit International Residents Support Hub in the Town Hall, 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 10:30 - 13:30 and speak to me (Mila). Book an appointment with Lucia, David or by emailing: mlipowicz@fondoneus.es
  
  

Please keep in mind that with limited resources, both the Representatives and the Town Hall must prioritize tasks. While we would love to address every issue immediately, most matters will require some time. Rest assured, your report will always be acknowledged, and we will do our best to resolve each matter as soon as possible. If you would like to see more done sooner, please consider joining the group of Representatives, as it’s currently quite small. You can also become an active member of the Community Connect group on WhatsApp, where you can suggest, organize, and lead projects that will serve our community. We hope to establish regular Community Days where we come together to get to know each other, meet our neighbours, and—while socializing—help with tasks like removing or preventing weeds or tidying up one park at a time. Even if you are not able to help physically, please feel free to join, bring some treats, or share a pot of tea or coffee with those involved in other tasks.

Thank you,

Mila Lipowicz
On behalf of the Representatives