6th January 2023
Dear friends and neighbours:
A warm welcome to 2023. We wish everyone a very happy New Year and thank you all so much for the many messages and cards; we are quite overwhelmed! In particular, those of you who are not here permanently say that you appreciate from your home elsewhere in Europe (and Canada and America) the information about this area. It makes you feel in touch! Thank you.
In addition, we acknowledge the considerable number of people who work for the benefit of others, especially those who have very little. This includes Make a Smile and Project4All. Below is a message from the inspirational Tony of Make a Smile and an edited version of the message which was sent out at Christmas by Project4All by the fantastic Arne Soeten.
From Make a Smile
Morning all you wonderful folk!!! This year’s response to our Make A Smile Christmas Bag Appeal, to bring a little Christmas magic to 130 children in care here on the Coast, has just been totally overwhelming!!! All I can keep on saying is thank you all so very much for your generosity and kindness.
From Project4All
Hello Friends of Project 4 All !!! THANK YOU , THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL!
The P4A SHOEBOX APPEAL has been an absolute success thanks to every single miracle worker involved to put some smiles on people’s faces..
P4A ventured out to Denia rather than Valencia, the reason being that it’s closer to the project’s home and we would like to take Denia under our wing too, if possible in the future..
Thank you to all who made time and effort to make and donate a Shoebox! We are proud to have been able to hand out a whopping 260 Shoeboxes across the Costa Blanca! Well done guys! 👏 🙏♥️
Thank you to The English Butcher Moraira for donating the Hamburgers and sausages! It went down a treat in Denia! 😀
Thank you to Eben, new volunteer and friend, for donating 20 hoodies, 10 tents and 20 sleeping bags! Thank you to Peter and Margot for joining us and bringing a big pot of Bolognese and massive oranges!
Thank you to Overseas Supermarkets for the lots and lots of chocolates!
And of course a big thank you to Tomek Matuszewski and Ian David Mellor for always being there, and to Richard Saville for helping out throughout the chaos! Thank you new friends Simon, Jose and David.
A total of 260 Shoeboxes, 15 tents, 35 sleeping bags, 20 hoodies, lots of socks, lots of underwear and lots and lots of chocolates have gone out to the streets this Christmas! And more importantly some new friends made… Not bad eh?
Teamwork makes the dream work!
The next challenge is Tomek who needs an operation and as yet he is not on the health care system. On February 4th join a walk through the beautiful streets of Benissa. This walk will cover 100 km but will be divided into 20 times 5 kilometres.We want to raise money for our loyal volunteer and dear friend Tomek. who has a hip disease called Osteonecrosis, and if he wants to continue to function normally he will have to undergo not one but two hip surgeries.
We hope to collect as much funds as possible through this walk so that he can be helped quickly. How to Donate: https://gofund.me/2d27307c
Spanish news
Spain is a country in drought; according to the European Commission, the most vulnerable country to climate change in the EU. For centuries there have been systems to transport water in canals across Spain from those areas fortunate enough to have reliable rain. However, In front of the Ecological Transition Ministry, in Madrid, a group of farmers, trade unions, political figures from all parties, and citizen organisations protested against the (left-wing government’s) executive’s decision to increase the “ecological flow” of the river Tagus, which will lead, they said, to a reduction of the water flow transfer to the river Segura along the Tagus-Segura Aqueduct (Scrats), .
This apparently would mean the loss of 27,314 hectares of irrigable area, the disappearance of more than 15,000 jobs and reductions in the value of assets estimated at €5,692 million.
Spain is one of the most exposed EU countries to climate change, experts have warned. Let’s remember this when we throw away water, run the shower down the drain and wash our pavements and patios. If you rent property, ask your guests to be responsible, even though they are on holiday!
Spain’s economy
Spain ended 2022 with the total number of unemployed at 2.83 million, the lowest unemployment figure since 2007.
At the end of the year there were 471,360 more people at work compared with 2021, bringing the total number of employed people to 20.29 million, while unemployment fell by 268,252 people to a total of 2.83 million (12,5 %), the Labour Ministry stated in a press release.
IVA reductions
The Spanish government has stopped the 20 cents per litre discount on fuel for motorists, However, in December 2022 they announced VAT cuts on certain goods between 1 January and 30 June 2023: basic foods (including bread, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, vegetables and cereals) are reduced from the 4% reduced rate to 0%; and the IVA (VAT) on oil and pasta has been cut from 10% to 5%. Spanish inflation was down to 6.8% in November, down from a peak of 10.8% in July.
Spanish health system
Reports of the chaos in the British NHS have led to comments that the situation is the same across the European continent. There are indeed demonstrations in Madrid from time to time by medical and health workers; they are of course exhausted by the toll of the years of the pandemic and an increasingly elderly population. But at least in the Marina Alta there is no evidence of chaos. During 2022 many of us in Benitachell have been well served by the health system from GP appointments to ambulances and emergency care as well as ‘elective’ procedures. New technology has helped. Remember to register on your smartphone for the GVA app which gives you all information about your appointments and access to appointments with the GP. Each phone number is personal and linked to your mobile number and your SIP number. Look for GVA Salud in Play store or App store.
British residents in the EU
The Guardian (UK newspaper) announced that thousands of Britons have been expelled from EU since end of transition period. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/06/brexit-thousands-britons-expelled-eu However,if you read the article to the end you will see that none of these cited were from Spain. We may complain about the bureaucracy in Spain but their system has served all non-spanish citizens well. However, there are still considerable problems in getting appointments with the National Police for anything to do with the TIE.
Marina Alta
The Tram at last will run! Some 150€million has been spent on upgrading the new line from Benidorm to Denia (line 9) with security systems and new electro-diesel trains. The first trains will ‘definitely’ run from 16 January. This line will be useful for those who wish to take part in the Fallas celebrations in Denia in March.
Population growth in the Marina Alta
The Marina Alta has grown in population by 4723 to 184,284 with only Murla in 33 municipalities losing (9) people.
Benitachell 4687 +240
Gata de Gorgos 6364 +141
Pedreguer 8280 +274
Teulada Moraira 11,944 +478
Dénia 43, 899 +946
Calpe 24,096 +566
Benissa 11,871 +409
Jávea 28,731 +838
It is good news that Benitachell has 240 new people registered on the padrón but some are wary of the amount of building work and the subsequent traffic on the roads. Especially on Cumbre del Sol you will see new areas being excavated.
Voting in the local elections (urgent action may be needed).
Have you received your letter in the post? When you do you must either return it by post urgently or through the website listed on the letter (which is in Spanish valenciano and English) https://sede.ine.gob.es Closing date is 15 January (NOT VERY LONG!!!). It is not enough to be just on the censo electoral at the town hall. You must also be resident here, receive the letter and return the form. It will come to your postbox, wherever that is! If you have moved within Spain and NOT told the town hall that you have moved, the letter will go to the old address!
Many town halls (notably Benitachell) have been very good at sending out information.
ECO stickers- the next episode!
Following on from our last Colloquia many of you now have the ECO sticker and are asking which towns and when will it come into effect. The face book page N332 will give you up to date information. Around 7.5 million people live in Madrid and Barcelona, some fifteen per cent of all Spaniards. The ECO sticker is needed now in both to enter the ZBE (low emission zone). For the 147 other cities, some have implemented the law and for others stickers will be (apparently) needed by the end of 2023. An EU map may help you!! https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/spain
Benitachell
The Town Hall has held an amazing number of events, especially for children, over the Christmas and New Year period. Look at their website https://www.elpoblenoudebenitatxell.com/en/inicio
New museum
Cova de les Morretes: after the important discoveries of a 19th century treasure trove, restoration works have been completed in the cave, on the Cliffs Route, in a privileged spot with one of the most spectacular views of the coast of Alicante.
It was not clear when these cave houses were built, only the date when they were abandoned (around the 50s and 60s last century. It was thanks to the discovery of the treasure and other related coins that archaeologists were able to date them. They served as a shelter for poor people who fished and farmed in the surrounding terraces. In addition to their precarious situation, they smuggled contraband, most likely tobacco. https://www.elpoblenoudebenitatxell.com/en/noticias
Clean Windows
One of our long term residents on Cumbre del Sol has started his own business: “Steve Squeegee”. We are happy to recommend Steve. 615 551 860 and stevesqeegee@gmail.com. Fully legal and insured. Domestic and commercial cleaning of windows, solar panels, conservatories and glass balustrades. Call for a quotation.
Masses at Santa Maria Magdalena church
The times have changed!
Saturdays 18.00 oratorio and 19.30 church
Sunday 11.30 church
Cumbre del Sol
One Voice for Cumbre
Colloquia sends its best wishes to the various members of OVFC who have had or are having medical interventions. However this will not stop us having discussions with the mayor and his colleagues. The next meeting will be at the end of this month. If you have comments, suggestions etc please tell us.
So there is still a lot to do in this place where many of us have made our home.
Finally the dog Dexter has apparently been found. It was wonderful how you all shared his information on social media.
With all our best wishes
Gerald and Margaret
8th January 2020:
The health situation is changing rapidly. This email is up to date for 8 January. See below
Remember that rain on the coast can mean snow inland. For those who think Spain is always warm, the village of Tuc de la Llança (Lerida Cataluña) had recently the lowest temperature ever registered in Spain; 37.4°C below zero.
We have just had notice that Teulada-Moraira has had a new burst of infections of Covid 19. Positive cases have risen to 98 in the last 14 days and in the last 3 days 44 new positive cases. The Mayor has asked all people to do the right things to protect each other and requested that the Valencian Government ‘close down’ the municipality. Please do not go to Teulada or Moraira if you live outside the towns.
Beware and take note. We cover the following in this issue.
New emergency procedures at the hospital
New Covid 19 rules in Valencia
Changes in Traffic Regulations. New emergency light and speeds in urban areas.
Entry into Spain for the British
Travel Restrictions for holidays in Spain for the British (Yoyos and swallows are now classed as holiday makers).
Deadline. AVIB tells us of their proposed trip with a deadline of 10 January for registration. See further information below.
The virus is currently spreading in the Marina Alta. The situation is grave.
Please NOTE that the hospital has suspended all non urgent surgical activity is suspended. Radiology and diagnostics continues. You will receive a message if your appointment is to go ahead..see in Spanish http://teuladamorairadigital.es/art/10280/el-hospital-de-denia-suspende-la-actividad-quirurgica-excepto-la-no-aplazable. and an attachment Press release Denia hospital 8 Jan 2021
New Covid 19 rules in Valencia
There are now several websites and Facebook entries with the new rules for Valencia. But here for those who have not seen them are the basics for this part of the Marina Alta. Please keep to them. Many new cases are being transmitted by people visiting friends in other towns. Stay home, stay safe.
New restrictions from Thursday 7th Jan. until at least 31 January 2021.
1. Continuation of the closure of the region’s borders
2. Nightly curfew from 22.00 – 06.00 hrs
3. Hostelry establishments to close at 17.00 hrs
4. Maximum of 4 people per table in hostelry establishments
5. No smoking on bar and restaurant terraces
6. Shops reduced to 30% of capacity
7. No more than 6 people to meet socially including families, in private and public spaces.
Attached is the excellent guide (5th update COVID 19 restrictions (COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA).
Note that the current State of Alarm allows Regions to keep borders closed until 9 MAY 2021. Towns near us to have been shut down are Oliva and Xativa. The virus thrives on people who travel and mix, so the advice is don’t.
Travel Restrictions for holidays in Spain
We should not travel unless absolutely necessary. ‘Human temptation toward hedonism and trying only to satisfy one’s own pleasure came before protecting others. What each of us and all of us together can do is to commit ourselves a little more to taking care of others and of the environment, “our common home.” said Pope Francis on Christmas Day.
and for the British (EHIC, GHIC etc.)
Post Brexit continues to produce interesting challenges for British citizens. Here is a good summary of the current situation.
Following Brexit, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being phased out, although those of us resident in Spain can continue to have one, but not the one we already have. We must apply for a (slightly different) replacement, which is available to the following categories of people only:
-S1 holders who are pensioners
-S1 holders who are family members of a pensioner
-S1 holders who were frontier workers before 31 December 2020 and continue to be so.
-Family members of frontier workers
-Students studying in the EU by 31 December 2020
You apply for the replacement EHIC at https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/cra/start
.. and for non-resident Brits
British people living in the UK who currently have an EHIC can continue to use it in the EU until the card expires, even if that is years away. It will be replaced by the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Note, however, that while the EHIC covered the EU 27 countries plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the GHIC only covers you in the EU27 countries.
You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC. The NHS warns “Beware of unofficial websites, which may charge if you apply through them. An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge”
If you need further information, look at https://nhsbsa-live.powerappsportals.com/knowledgebase/article/KA-01269/en-us
Recent Question asked
Are there visas available for British Citizens?
By now everyone should know that the UK is no longer a member of the EU. Ignoring for the moment (if you can) COVID 19 restrictions, easy entry into and out of Spain is only available for residents. Freedom of movement has stopped. We have had a number of queries about visas, but quite a lot of these suggest that people assume that getting a visa gives you, as a non-resident, the same freedoms you had when we were EU citizens. In other words, it would get round the 90 days in 180 rule. This is not true.
For most people the situations are
(a) if you are officially temporarily resident in Spain you can leave the country for six months without losing your residence status, so you can return.
(b) if you are officially permanently resident in Spain you can leave the country for five years without losing your residence status, so you can return.
(c) if you are not resident in Spain you can be in the Schengen area (not just Spain) for 90 days in every 180 days.
Of course, if you are officially resident in another EU country then you still benefit from freedom of movement.
You can consider applying for a visa, but these are largely not appropriate. They include visas for work, students and business. There is also a retirement visa and a short-stay visa, but these are no more generous than what we are entitled to as British people covered by the Withdrawal Agreement! They also take a long time to process, are complicated, are expensive and give you no advantage. For more detailed information, start with A guide to getting a visa or permit for Spain | Expatica
Of course people can still move to Spain to live. However, the application procedure is now the system applicable to anyone in the world, not the simple system for citizens of countries within the EU.
Travel documents
There have been reports of people being refused travel to Spain because they could not prove they were residents to the satisfaction of the travel company. Most of the complaints seem to have centred on Heathrow and British Airways, but we can’t guarantee that. We have received from the British Embassy a bilingual document showing clearly what is valid documentation. This is attached (Residence rights document) and once you can travel again we suggest that you take a copy of this with you (printed and/or on your phone or tablet) in case of difficulty. However, do note that an NIE or a padrón certificate are not proof of residency.
Confusion over acronyms
Please note the names of very important documents here in Spain should not be confused. In addition, you must look after your official paperwork very carefully.
NIE Número de Identidad de Extrajenero
This is an identity number for foreigners, (the Spanish have a NIF) and is In accordance with Spanish Immigration Regulations. Foreigners who, due to their economic, professional or social interests, have an interest in Spain, must have, for identification purposes, a personal, unique and exclusive number, of a sequential nature. This is your identifier, which must appear on all the documents that are issued or processed. it is required to purchase property, vehicles, and boats.
Padrón Municipal register.
Anyone living in Spain is obliged to register on the Municipal Register (a list kept by the town hall of all the people who live in that town) of the municipality where they usually reside in Spain. If you live in Spain more than 3 months in the year you must register. You cannot be registered on the padrón (‘empadronado’) at more than one address. Children must also be registered.
You do not need to own a property to register, you can still register if you are renting or live with others. If you change address you must request the register also to be changed.
Registering on the padrón municipal where you live is not the same as registering as a resident in Spain, which is a separate national register called the Registro Central de Extranjeros. See below.
Registro central de extranjeros, TIE, Residencia and Residencia permanente
If you are from the EU, EEC or are Swiss or British you must complete a registration process if you are living in Spain. (NOTE you must register both on the central register of foreign nationals (‘registro central de extranjeros’) and with your local town hall (‘padrón municipal’)). Children must also be registered.
The registration certificate has changed over the years. You may have an A4 green piece of paper or a card or a card-like piece of paper. They all have the word residencia on them.
British citizens, who also used to be European Union Citizens have, because of Brexit, had a further change and should apply for a TIE. This Tarjeta Identidad de Extranjeros looks like any other TIE (for example for immigrants from Morocco), but it has on it reference to the Withdrawal Agreement. Our original instructions of the process of getting a TIE are included as attachments to this newsletter (Instructions for getting aTIE and Examples and maps.)
NOTE a TIE is not the same as NIE. A TIE allows you to move between the UK and Spain (for the Brits) and to travel, live and work across Europe for other Europeans.
Changes to driving laws
The Council of Ministers has approved a bundle of legal reforms to create a new model of road safety that will reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent over the next decade, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
They include raising the points that will be subtracted for the use of a mobile phone at the wheel from 3 to 6, limits the speed of one-way single lane urban roads to 30 kilometres per hour and regulates scooters, which may not exceed kilometres per hour.
Traffic regulations
Mobile phones: Demerits increase from 3 to 6 points for using mobile phones when driving. Fine remains at 200€.
Not wearing seatbelt, child restraint or helmet: up from 3 to 4 points.
Speed radar detectors: 3 points and 500€ fine even if the device is deactivated.
Speed limit revisions: Speed on single lane urban roads reduced to 30km/h. Scooter speed restricted to between 6 and 25km/h
Overtaking speed: Limited to 20 km/h above speed limit on conventional roads.
Urban road speed revisions:
20 km/h on single carriageway roads that have a pavement platform NOTE!
30 km/h limit on roads with single carriageway in each direction.
50 km/h where there are two or more lanes in each direction.
You will find more detail in the attached file “Changes to traffic laws“
Lights and triangles
Some while ago it was also decided by Trafico to stop the use of emergency triangles and introduce a flashing light instead. The new mandatory emergency light is a luminous device called the V-16 emergency light and you use it in a breakdown on the road or when forced to stop on the shoulder.
It works in the same way as triangles: signal to others – emergency situation -and without getting out of the car. NOTE you must still use the safety vest. The Light works just like flashing lights on undercover police cars…open the window and place it on the roof of the car.
Although it is mandatory now, Spring 2021, the emergency light will coexist with the triangles until 2024, by which time it is expected that triangles will have disappeared. You can buy the lights almost anywhere, including Leroy Merlin, Carrefour and Amazon.es as well as many Hardware shops. Search the internet for “Luz V-16”. Cost is around 25-30€.
From AVIB one of our organisations on Cumbre del Sol
Dear AVIB members and friends of our association!
We hope that you – albeit in a small group – spent Christmas well and
that you were able to use the holidays to relax.
We would like to draw your attention to our Galicia trip in May and send you a short version of the travel description (see attachment). Further details can
be found on our homepage www.avib.org
14 people have currently registered and two people are optional. The
minimum number of participants for our trip is 20 people.
In addition, we placed an advertisement for this trip in our showcase at
the supermarket on the Cumbre del Sol. We have therefore extended the
registration deadline for the initially non-binding registration to
January 10, 2021.
We would be delighted that you are interested in participating in this
trip. If this is the case, we ask that you first send your non-binding
registration to Stefan Quel by January 10, 2021 as a response to this
email to ops@avib.org with the names and number of people traveling in
the double or single room.
We will inform all interested people on Monday, January 11th, 2021
whether we have reached the minimum number of participants for this
trip. You can then make a binding booking of the trip by making a
deposit of 20 percent of the travel price by January 31, 2021. We will
then provide you with further details on January 11, 2021.
We wish you a happy and healthy transition into the New Year.
Saludos cordiales
Yours Anita Lutz Yours Stefan Quel
Customs duty and post Brexit exports and imports.
We have been asked about this. This area is not within our competence, but it is becoming evident that the Deal signed just before Christmas will have implications for trade and so may involve those of us who order things from the UK. Here is [clicknewsletters.ft.com] a useful article sent to us by a neighbour. It takes an interesting look at ‘how this [deal] will pan out because no one knows how to reverse the well tried EU trade agreement’!
Where are the lights? Where are the road repairs and street cleaning? And Fibre Optics We have been asked about street lights and street cleaning and also the progress of the spread out of Fibre Optics. Understandably all has been quiet from the Town Hall of Benitachell over the Christmas/New Year/Three Kings period. But we have written to the mayor asking this question