Gran Alacant Advertiser October 2022

If you have any QUESTIONS or PROBLEMS you would like us to discuss, please email on info@granalacantadvertiser.com

Q: Allotments

Hi Lou & Ged

I would like to add more information about allotments after reading the September issue of GA Advertiser. I have an allotment, however since the police prevented access during the pandemic, I have not had the opportunity to get my patch fully up and running again.

The town hall in Santa Pola does not make it easy to get an allotment. I applied at the end of January many years ago, and was informed that there were 8 people on the list before me. After a while, I returned to the town hall to check on progress. I was advised that the allotments needed to be cleaned first.

I returned one month later and was told that the old accounts needed to be cleared before the new ones could be signed. A month or so later I was told that the council was going through a new election and they would not allocate new allotments until after this. This continued with repeated visits to the town hall and leaving with more excuses.

Finally, at the end of September I was allocated a patch. The town hall makes getting a patch frustrating and difficult. By the time the paperwork is processed, it is no surprise that many allotments remain barren.

In the almost 4 years that I have had the patch, the council has never emptied the rubbish bins nor have they cleaned the area. I have provided details to countless people wanting allotments but I have not had a single new neighbour and have instead lost the only other user in the allotment.

The growth of weeds from the other patches makes maintaining my area very difficult.

I would love more people to join me and keep the area beautiful. I believe that the council have no interest in promoting this area or even encouraging people to join.

I feel the 4-year restriction is good, if there are new users waiting to join. However, if there are no new users waiting, the old user should be given the opportunity to continue their contract for a further 4 years. While there is someone on a patch, it looks clean and tidy and surely, this is what we want for the area?

Regards, Dayne

GA Advertiser reply: Cllr Valenzuela does not have any information about allotments but agrees that the users should be given the opportunity to continue with their contract if no new users are on a waiting list. He will discuss this problem with the cleaning/gardening councillor and we will print an update as soon as we get it.

Q: Our First Impressions of GA

Hi all, we visited GA for our holiday this year and just wanted to share our first impressions. It was the first time that we had a chance to rent a villa for our big family and we all were very excited. The house and the community area was great BUT the outside of the area seems to be like a “forgotten world”. The attached photos are only examples of one of the dirtiest areas. There were many more of other areas.

We talked to owners of properties who explained that they ask the town hall for approval to maintain the trees but they never get an answer. For an area which gains a lot from tourism we do not understand how this is allowed to happen. We have been to other areas outwith GA and the streets/gardens are well maintained (see examples from Villajoyosa).

Gran Alacant Advertiser continues to bring you all the local NEWS including information from the local Town Hall representative. Working for the local community since May 2005.

As we do not have any chance to contact the local council, we thought we would contact you. We have also shared our views on social media and YouTube. GA looks like it has a lot to offer but looks like town officials are neglecting it.

We will be in touch with our Villa owner and if the situation does not improve, we will not visit GA again.

Oscar Valenzuela’s reply: We are sorry to hear about your disappointment but I assure you we are continuously working on improving cleanliness and gardening in Gran Alacant particularly during the tourist season, which is very important to us. The old cleaning/gardening contract was made based on 6,000 people and we have been working hard on preparing a new contract, which will be based on 16,000 people.

We have also received a 27% increase in budget for GA, which is great news. In the summer months when the vegetation is growing fast it is particularly challenging. It would have been helpful if we were able to employ temporary employees however, due to recent changes in law it is no longer possible to offer seasonal contracts.

We would need to employ extra employees on fixed contracts and this was not possible in our budget. We have been trying to find the best solution until the new cleaning/ gardening contract becomes effective. The new contract has been completed and is waiting for a final check by the council. Once checked it will be issued for tender

LARGE ITEMS COLLECTIONS

Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY.

Please Whatsapp only this number any day of the week to let them know the name of the street you are leaving your large items on.

This would help to make the service more efficient and keep our Gran Alacant nice and tidy.

process. We hope to see results next summer.

Q: Floods on Calle Monte de Santa Pola We live on Don Pueblo on Calle Monte De Santa Pola, the area that floods each year. I see pictures of our local councillor visiting new storm drains being installed in Ave Noruega in the GA and I have seen on Facebook that improvements of storm drains improvement on Ave Belgica, but since the Life Resort has been built there have been NO improvement on Calle Monte De Santa Pola.

Many years ago, I visited our previous Councillor Loreto as she had an office in the local Gran Alacant council office. To be honest she did nothing to improve the drainage issues, telling me about improvements in the area around the church (Ave Noruega). I pointed out good, but there was NO houses in the area. But cars floating away and houses being flooded needed to addressed. Please ask him if he is aware of issues of annual flooding on our street and what plans after all these years the local council or Water Company have to solve flooding in this area.

Kind Regards, Jim

GA Advertiser Reply: We spoke to Oscar Valenzuela about this and he asked for the president of your community to talk to him about this at their next meeting on 22nd of September (as per our email to you as it would have been too late to reply by the time this magazine goes

to print) to discuss the problem further and for possible solution to be found together with the road engineer.

Q: Antisocial Behaviour

There is a building at Solero Hills in front of Aguamarina and at the side of Nova Beach. This is a MASA project that has been left like this for a number of years.

you and this path in particular is disgusting. We have seen more and more dog owners picking up the mess after their dogs but we wish more dog owners would follow this good example!

Q: Petanca Court

We hope you are surviving the hot weather and would like to add how much we enjoy the magazine as residents of GA.

A crowd of us regularly play Petanca on the court by the Health Centre. The sand is rapidly disappearing and we would appreciate if you could approach Oscar to see if the Council can renew the sand or level it out.

All the participants would appreciate this. Many thanks, Margaret & Phil

Over the last 5 months, it has become a drug and drinking den for the local youth’s lots of anti-social behaviour. The police have been here a few times but the youths return the following night. We have made MASA aware of the situation and asked them to secure the site however, they never respond. I hope that our local councillor can put some pressure on them through the town hall to secure the site so that we can sleep soundly at night.

Thanks local resident

GA Advertiser Reply: We have made the councillor aware and he will discuss this problem with MASA and the local police.

Q: Dog Mess

Hi, we have just arrived GA and walked from Calle Malta to Aldi to Gaby market. The path between Aldi and Gaby market is disgusting as it is full of dog mess! On our return, we used the pavement on the roadside. Why are people who own dogs not clearing this up? It is disgraceful!

Regards, Liz

GA Advertiser reply: We totally agree with

GA Advertiser reply: We are very happy to hear you enjoy reading our magazine and we made the councillor aware about the lack of sand at Petanca courts. He will ask the gardening councillor to add more sand as soon as possible.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE GA COUNCILLOR OSCAR VALENZUELA

SOCIAL SERVICES IN SANTARA LIFE RESORT

Social Services will be moving to Santara Life Resort following an increase in staff and hours. This new location will provide more space for the service and greater privacy for the residents of GA.

Cllr of Social Welfare Gela Roche pictured visiting the new premises at Santara Life Resort.

NEW SCHOOL IN GA

Tenders to build the new school have been received from 14 companies. The public tender amounts to around 12.5 million euros. Once the tenders have been reviewed, the contract will be awarded and work can begin.

MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE

Works to the advertising poster, where the mobile phone antennas is located, left many users living in and around Centro

POLICÍA LOCAL DE SANTA POLA POLICE NEWS

Commercial without coverage at the start of last month. Many phone provider services were affected. Thankfully, the problem was resolved quickly.

POLICE NEWS

Did you know that Santa Pola Police are a global pioneer in the use of K9 Units (Police Dogs) for drug detection for Road Safety? Police from the United States and other European countries have been interested in learning the system they use.

If you are interested in learning about the method named “Fist”, contact the Santa Pola Local Police K9 Service. Help to clean our streets and roads from drugs.

If you would like to supply news or info for our next edition, or have a question for Gran Alacant Councillor Oscar Pedro Valenzuela, please email: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

Book of the month by Beth

This is an interesting read. I found it emotional and thought provoking

My Recommended Book of the Month

Matt Haig

The Midnight Library

Beth worked as a Qualified Librarian in Aberdeen for 20 years. She loves reading and delights in finding exciting new authors as well as reverting back to favourite writers of all genres. Beth has lived in Gran Alacant for the last 15 years.

Nora’s life has been going from bad to worse. She feels she has let everyone in her life down, including herself. Her life is full of misery and regret.

Then on the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to the Midnight Library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived.

As she finds out she has a chance to make things right, there comes the realization that no life is completely perfect. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?

This book could be described as fantasy but not in an ‘otherworld’ sense. It is a way of looking at a life and wondering about ‘what if ‘ and perhaps realizing your life is not so bad after all!

The Skipper Bar quiz continues to be popular with both locals and visitors. Attendance numbers have reached new heights recently. A big thank you for all your support. Due to the reduction of daylight hours the quiz times will be from:

MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Pub, Gran Alacant Insurances, Dialprix, The Belfry & Sunrise Builders

CHICKEN RUN

Sunday 28th August

Twenty two players took part in the monthly chicken run. As it was another very hot day we only played sixteen ends. The chickens were won by Cindy Bedford and Phil Goble the eggs by Sheila Roberts and Chris Harding.

Thank you to Jack Burrell and Tanya Oliver who donated the chickens, Ian and Julia Hamilton who donated the eggs and of course the chickens.The football card was won by Les Bounds with Swansea.

Thank you to all who attended and Joan Harding, Sue Bounds and Howie Williams for organising another successful club day.

WEEKEND COMPETITION

On the weekend of 10/11th September we held a two day club competition, the ladies of the social committee organised a cake stall and a raffle. It was well supported with thirty six members taking part, plus two reserves.

Twelve teams of trips played four games of eight ends over the two days. The runners up were Jim Searing, Sue Bounds and skip Steve Leatherland and the winning team Rita Towle, Les Bounds and skip Ian Hamilton, well done to you all. The football cards were won by Chris with Chelsea and Joan with Coventry.

After the presentation by Cindy and the raffle by Sue we all enjoyed a lovely lunch and drinks at the Belfry. Thank you Cindy for organising a most enjoyable competition and to the ladies of the social club for organising the raffle and the cake stall.

For further information about Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club check out our website www.montemarbowls.com or email us at info@montemarbowls.com

We are also on Facebook

Out & About ...

Birthday Ruth & Trish

Alacant

Celebrating Birthdays & Anniversaries in GA

Share your special moments with us & email info@granalacantadvertiser.com

The Lowedown with Lynne

INTERVIEW with Anthony Edwards

Hi, my name is Lynne and I have been lucky to call Gran Alacant home for the last 6 years. People fascinate me and I love to hear about their adventures and life stories. Over the next few months, I will be sharing some interviews with GA’s very own Superstars!

This month’s interview is with Antony Edwards. Antony is a father, doting grandfather, intrepid explorer and thespian. He has an impressive list of over 200 leading roles in a professional, semi professional and amateur capacity, under his belt.

Antony lived in Worcestershire in the West Midlands for most of his life. He has an MBA in Business from London and Bath University and is Managing Director/Owner at International Umbrella Ltd.

ANTONY, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY

“I married my life partner Alison in 1977; we met when I was 19 and were together for 50 happy years. We have 3 adopted children ( 2 boys, 1 girl and the youngest 2 are half-brother and sister). We have 5 grandchildren, 4 of which currently live in Australia. When our children came along, my wife was working as a nurse and I was Head of Customer Services at Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society so we ticked a lot of the boxes for adoption.”

Tom, Antony's eldest, directs for ABC TV in Albany Australia.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO GA?

“We were looking to buy a second home in the sun. We have a time-share in Marbella, which was part of the Marriott Hotels chain, so we already enjoyed family time in Spain. During an organised bus tour we were shown around potential locations for our new house. When we arrived in GA, I stood on the spot where my house is now built and I knew straight away that I wanted to live there. The location is ideal as it is so easy to fly to Alicante.”

Antony bought the house in 2003 and came to live here permanently 2 years ago.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE WITH INTERNATIONAL UMBRELLA LTD

“I work 5 half days a week from home running an Accountancy Umbrella Company. I have been doing this for the past 15 years. We help companies, consultants and employers manage contracts across Europe and Internationally. It is a very complex niche market and we are specialists in the Engineering and IT Industries.”

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?

“I love to act. I have always been interested in acting. My father encouraged me to enter singing and acting competitions when I was younger and I usually won.”

Antony and I chatted about his extensive and impressive acting and singing career spanning 5 decades on stage and on BBC TV. Roles in My Fair Lady, Carousel, Calamity Jane, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on The Roof to name only a few. The list goes on! Antony retired from singing roles when he was 42 and went out with a bang playing Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.

His favourite role on stage was playing the tragic jester Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard, which includes the lament "I have a song to sing oh!"

Antony pictured with “treasured” granddaughter Alexia-May.

His TV appearances includes Poldark, Traveller in Time, Dr Who and David Hare's Licking Hitler.

Antony played on stage in Spain for the first time in the ACTS production Murdered to Death earlier this year. Murdered to Death is an Agatha Christie style play and Antony has been offered a part in the sequel Secondary Cause of Death coming out in March next year.

Antony said, “When I read the script I loved it immediately”. Antony visibly lights up when he talks about acting and when he talks about his granddaughter Alexia-May who he has recently been spending quality family time with.

ANTONY, TELL ME MORE ABOUT ACTS “ACTS is a company based in Rojales consisting of approximately 40 people coming together to produce good quality plays. ACTS came at a perfect time in my life. It has been a welcome distraction and has given me a new lease of life.”

TRAVEL

Antony recently enjoyed his first holiday on his own, a river cruise starting in Hungary going to Oberammergau (Bavaria, Germany) to see the Passion Play.

The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634. According to local legend, the play is performed every ten years because of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared

them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region, they would perform a passion play every ten years. The play is now performed in years ending with a zero. The 2020 play was postponed to 2022 due to the outbreak of COVID-19. It involves over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, all residents of the village. Antony said he would like to add South America on his list of countries he would like to visit.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT LIVING IN GA?

“The people. I have met and formed friendships with some very nice people. There is a great community feel and people genuinely help each other. I enjoy being part of the Book Club, ACTS and I love it when my family come to visit.”

Thank you for your time and for sharing your story with us.

Home Turf

More adventures in Murcia - A river runs through it!

In August last year we visited the historic Archena spa hotel on the River Segura in Murcia for Juan’s birthday. We were very impressed by the river and countryside surrounding it. This year we organised a return trip to the River Segura, also for Juan’s birthday, but with a very different feel - water rafting!

The River Segura in Murcia is the base for some of the most extensive river rafting opportunities in southern Spain. In the city of Blanca there are several businesses offering guided expeditions down the course of the river. We assembled a group of family, friends and neighbours from Juan’s hometown and met on a Thursday morning at MurciAventuras to take to the river.

Dressed in bathing costumes with life jackets and helmets provided by the rafting company we were driven 14 kms upstream and gently launched in a flotilla of inflatable expedition boats, each one steered by an experienced guide. Taking it in turns to paddle we then explored the lush river valley of the Rio Segura. The river varies in width and flow with places to stop and swim followed by faster sections including a couple of weirs. Jumping the weirs in an inflatable boat was quite an experience - even accompanied by our highly experienced guides it is an adrenaline rush not normally experienced in everyday life!

However, the greatest pleasure was to be had gently paddling or just drifting along the waters, ducking under overhanging branches and looking up at the riverside towns and villages as we passed by. The guides showed their mischievous side by

encouraging battles of splashing between the boats and soon we were all soaked through, actually a very effective way to cool off in the heat of late August!

Half way through we stopped to pull the boats onto the river bank and have a snack lunch provided by the rafting company whose vehicles had followed us along the route.

This direct contact with one of our local rivers (the Rio Segura meets the sea at Guardamar) reminds one of the crucial importance of these precious rivers in our region of Spain. The Segura valley is a ribbon of green snaking through the otherwise parched landscape of Murcia. People have always treasured it for the life it brings. The previous inhabitants of Jaén, Albacete, Murcia and Alicante provinces carefully utilised its waters through schemes of irrigation channels, water wheels and storage tanks. In the 19th and 20th centuries came the building of dams and industrial pumping to spread its water more widely

Follow us on Instagram: juanruano.oficial & archiemaddan

whilst also generating electricity. Now our generation of inhabitants is entering a new age of potential scarcity of water, with disputes already arising in parts of Spain about water rights and priorities of usage. Spain is a world leader in the usage of “drip” systems of agricultural irrigation but other areas of life still have a thirsty consumption of water; how many of us have looked at Spanish golf courses and wondered at the lunacy of a Scottish sport played under Iberian sun!

The decade long crisis currently being experienced in California where entire

towns and counties are now deprived of drinking water should be a warning of how fragile life here in our own “Alifornia” may prove to be if we don’t start to consider how we use and abuse our water in this time of climate emergency. A day spent messing about in boats on our local river may become a forgotten pleasure in years to come if we are not careful.

For the time being however the Rio Segura offers a watery paradise for those brave enough to strap on a life jacket and clamber aboard an inflatable boat. We massively enjoyed our day on the river. Swimming, splashing one another and rushing down river weirs may seem an odd way for adults to spend a day out however it unlocked the simple pleasures first experienced as a child that one never really grows out of! We recommend a day river rafting to anyone wanting to explore our local area or who simply wants to unlock their inner juvenile!

Take a set of bathing costumes and swimming shoes as well as a change of dry clothes, there are changing rooms, showers and lockers at the company bases in the town. The firms offer a range of different expeditions and day packages of different durations and price levels. Don’t forget sunscreen!

The Queen of England passed away today, surrounded by family at Balmoral, she quietly slipped away.

Philip came down, kissed her hand, and they travelled together, to the promised land.

Her beautiful spirit and eyes so blue, captured the hearts of people, the world through.

Serving us, your people, your whole life long, with dignity, protocol, and doing nothing wrong!

It’s time to close the diary and let your duties finish, as the example you have set, will never be diminished.

Bon Voyage beauty Queen Elizabeth II

by Wendy, Gran Alacant

It is with deepest sorrow that the Royal British Legion marks the passing of our Sovereign and Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Gran Alacant and La Marina branch of the Royal British Legion held a prayer of Thanksgiving on Sunday, September 11th, in honour of the Queen.

The Queen served as Patron of the Royal British Legion since 1952 and we are immensely thankful for her faithful service and unwavering commitment. She was herself a veteran, having served in WW2 as a driver and mechanic with the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Upon her ascension to the throne, she became Commander-in-Chief and Head of the British Armed Forces and those of the Commonwealth Realm. The Gran Alacant and La Marina Branch join the entire armed forces community in mourning her loss. Our sincere condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.

In addition to the prayer of Thanksgiving followed by God Save the King performed by Gran Alacant Choir in MASA Square, the RBL made available a book of condolences for any who wish to sign. The book was signed by our local councillor Oscar Valenzuela and hosted by local businesses in Gran Alacant and La Marina during the week preceding Her Majesty’s state funeral. Stops were made at The Pub, London Tavern, Gran Alacant Properties and Dick Turpin’s in Gran Alacant and Hillside restaurant in La Marina Urbanization.

MONTH AT

THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH AT www.GRANALACANTADVERTISER.com

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SÁBADOS

SANTA POLA GRAN ALACANT ARENALES ALTET ALICANTE

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DOMINGOS Y FESTIVOS

SANTA POLA GRAN ALACANT ARENALES ALTET ALICANTE 7:00 7:05 7:15 7:20

LABORABLES

ALICANTE ALTET ARENALES GRAN ALACANT SANTA POLA 6:45 7:00 7:10 7:20 7:55

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SÁBADOS

ALICANTE ALTET ARENALES GRAN ALACANT SANTA POLA 8:00 8:15 8:20 8:30 8:40

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DOMINGOS

GRAN ALACANT GOLF SOCIETY

Where: El Plantio Golf Resort. The official address is A-79, Km3, 03114, Alicante.

Cost: usually €50 per round at peak times to include a buggy plus €1.50 mandatory insurance charge. It can sometimes be cheaper during less busy, off peak seasons.

In addition the Society requires €5 sweep money which is all paid out at the end of the round.

We look forward to seeing you. For more information please contact: Michael (966 698 925) Tony (966 183 004)

GRAN ALACANT WALKING FOOTBALL

Booking remain a frustrating experience and we hope to get a meeting with our local councillor and the Santa Pola Sports Department to see if we can get a more satisfactory booking arrangement. We have found a printing company to produce club T-shirts and hope to have them available for 5€ in October.

In September, we have resumed our normal 11am Wednesday sessions at Av. D’Escandinavia,78. We now adjourn to Tommys Bar for drinks after each session.

Our Annual AGM will be held this year at 1pm on Tuesday 1st November outside The Pub in Masa Square. On the Agenda will be finding a replacement “kit man” as Michael Curtin will be relocating to La Marina. John Fraser 0034/630 582322

TENNIS CLUB - EURO TENIS

TENNIS CLUB EURO TENIS

For players of all standards near Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, La Marina & Elche Playing: Tuesday and Friday mornings, 10.00 - 12.00 at Club de tenis Elche

For more details email: eurotenis2@gmail.com

BICI GRAN ALACANT

We are a small group who spend most of the time here in Gran Alacant. If you are interested in joining one of our rides look us up on Facebook Gran Alacant Road Cyclist (Bici Gran Alacant) where ride details are posted.

GA RUNNING GROUP

THE (CONTINUING) ADVENTURES OF THE GRAN ALACANT RUNNERS

As the temperature cools somewhat there is an increase in activity both here in GA and at home with runners arriving from their homes and looking for partners to run with.

Jeanne looks like she is improving from her injuries and has started her slow journey back to fitness and is looking forward to the arrival of Claudia and Brigitte for some joint run outs.

Andy, in amongst his herculean efforts organising supporter arrangements for the Elche CF games in La Liga, has started his training which should see him compete in the Santa Pola 21k in January, which coincides with a home game for Elche, so expect a PB from Andy so he can get to the game in time.

John is contemplating entering the Santa Pola 21k but is already well ahead with his preparations and it shouldn’t be too much for him to extend his training.

Claudia and Brigitte have yet again entered an endurance run, The Mad Chicken Run, which was held in Germany. They ran an astonishing 75km in 12 hours (actual running time) starting at 10:00 on Saturday and finishing at 03:00 on Sunday.

Julie will be returning in October, so if anyone is around she would welcome some company on a run.

This month has seen some PBs: Staffan ran 1k in 3 min 51 and has now passed the 200 day mark for his run streak. John ran a PB at the 5k Park Run, and Mike ran a PB at the 5k “Not” Park Run.

Geoff celebrated his birthday during the month and this year went for his customary 4 miles birthday run along the beach in Jersey.

DIARY DATES:

1st October Rojales 5k and 10k (https://www.chiplevante.com/?)

1st October Altet 5k and 10k (https://www.chiplevante.com/?)

The conditions were wet and windy resulting in muddy paths that were under water for large parts making it difficult to run. In spite of the conditions they finished 45th and 46th overall and 12th and 13th in the womens’ race. This is running in the extreme and having done this last year one would think that was enough, but not Claudia and Brigitte. However, well done both on a fantastic achievement!!!

13 November Alicante – Santa Pola 21k via Arenales (https://worldsmarathons.com/ marathon/costa-blanca-half-marathon)

22nd January 2023 Santa Pola 21k (https://www.chiplevante.com/?)

If you see us join us for a run or say hello. No matter your ability, If you are visiting the area andwant to run with someone, please get in touch on 0044/747 685 1356