Playa Flamenca - Online Directory Costa Blanca South

Playa Flamenca is a progressive new Town, located close to the beaches of Playa Flamenca, La Mosca, Punta Prima, La Zenia and Cabo Roig.

Please feel free to email us with any interesting articles or events that you would like to promote or have online to : flamencabeach@hotmail.com

C.L.A.R.O. The new Independent Political Party for Orihuela Costa. The majority of the Presidents of Orihuela Costa have formed a Political Party to act on behalf of the 20,000 Residents who are registered on the Padron at Orihuela Costa Town Hall. All these Residents are entitled to Vote and next May's local elections. C.L.A.R.O need your vote to be your voice at next May's local elections. You pay your taxes to the Town Hall, are you happy with the services the Town Hall provides?

The following is a very relevant article recently published regarding Disabled Parking.Parking: Disability Permits

Parking for disabled persons in and around Torrevieja. Many people seem to be unsure about how to obtain a permit and where they can use their permit. The following is a comprehensive guide which we hope will help readers find out what they want to know.

What exactly is a disabled parking permit?
A disability permit usually means that disabled drivers and passengers can avail of parking benefits when in their own vehicle and when travelling with others.                                        Do I qualify for a disability permit?
There are a number of specifications for the receipt of a disabled parking permit. You may qualify if you receive the higher rate of Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance in the UK. You may qualify if you are a registered blind person.
You may also apply for a permit if you have severe disability in both upper limbs and cannot turn the steering wheel.
You are eligible for a parking permit if you have an extensive disability which renders you unable to walk or if you have severe difficulty in walking. In many regions, you need to have a disability which prevents you from using public transport.
Here in Torrevieja, you must obtain a Doctor's report and on application for your parking permit, you will be called for a medical examination in Alicante (the examination centre is situated in Calle Teatro, No. 37, Alicante). This medical examination will determine the issuing of a 'disability recognition certificate'.                      How do I obtain a permit in Spain?
The first step is to solicit the 'recognition of disability' (Reconocimiento de Minusvalida) together with the 'Certificate of reduced mobility' (certificado de movilidad reducida). The application from is available from the Social Services department of your local authority where, at the same time, they will confirm the originality of your identity documents. You will need to submit:
- The completed application form
- Photocopy of current identity card, resident's card or passport.
- A report from your GP
These papers should be handed in to the main 'Registry' of the Ayuntamiento and, after about three months, an appointment for the medical examination in Alicante should arrive by post. The medical examination will determine the disability and the percentage of 'reduced mobility'. A certificate will then be issued to you. Bring this certificate (and a photocopy) along to the Town Hall along with your Certificate of Empadronamiento.
When this paperwork has been approved by the clerk in the Town Hall, you can collect your badge from the Policia Local.                                   What does this badge entitle me to?
The disabled parking badge allows you (as both a driver and passenger) to park your vehicle in specially designated parking bays. Generally, your vehicle can be parked in almost any location EXCEPT yellow kerbs. A yellow kerb means that some sort of restriction is in place in that particular area and any vehicle parked there will be towed. If you do park your car on a yellow kerb, you may be blocking an emergency exit, a garage, a loading bay or a bus or school bus stop. Some yellow kerb areas have specially designated parking spaces which can be recognized by the internationally recognized 'disabled' logo.
Can I use my UK badge here in Torrevieja?
Yes, if you are a visitor here and provided your badge has not expired. European law sets out the type of badge which is acceptable for use. The 'European' badge is issued to the person using it and not to the vehicle used. This badge is universal and can be used in ALL European states provided that the individual badge has been registered with regional government in the country in which you reside. If you reside in Torrevieja, your badge needs to be registered with the Generalitat Valenciana.
What about the badge itself?
The badge is non transferable from person to person. If can only be used when the holder of the badge is the actual driver or a passenger in the vehicle at the time of use. Your badge must be displayed prominently in the front windscreen. It must be clearly legible by Local Police.
Remember, if your badge is not displayed properly, your vehicle can be towed and in worst cases, your badge could be suspended.
Remember that laws and bye laws can be changed and amended, so if you are unsure about any procedure, contact the Oficina de Atención al Residente Internactional (office for international residents), situated at Calle Caballero de Rodas, 27 (next to the town hall and main church). Telephone: 96 570 6159. Fax: 96 670 3357.

Important Notice -

A Christmas Market is being held at the Restaurante Asturias on 30th November 11am to 6pm

Hand made Arts and Crafts will be on sale, including, Cakes, Mince Pies, biscuits, sweets, chocolates and liquors. Soft toys, gifts, high class jewellery, Pots and planters, Xmas cards, paper, gift tags plus Xmas decorations and much much more. If you would like to donate items for sale or have items to sell, please contact Christa Berghofen on 955 730 621.

PRESS RELEASE

CONFIDENT C.L.A.R.O. CELEBRATES 2^ND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

C.L.A.R.O, Orihuela Costa’s independent political party, held its 2^nd Annual General Meeting on 8 November, 2007.

The night before the meeting, C.L.A.R.O’s new HELP AND INFORMATION OFFICE was broken into. The office computer, hard disc drive and mobile telephone were stolen. These items would be relevant to obtaining information on C.L.A.RO’s activities. Other easily transportable items of greater commercial value which were in the office were untouched. C.L.A.R.O. is therefore suspicious of the motives for this robbery.

ORIHUELA COSTA-GATE?!

The Annual General Meeting was well attended. Members present were united, enthusiastic and optimistic in reaffirming C.L.A.R.O’S political role and objective to bring about major reforms and improvements in the quality of life of those living in Orihuela Costa.

The assembly heard a report on the activities of the party since its Extraordinary General Meeting on 26 March, 2007. The election result in May, which confirmed C.L.A.R.O. as the strongest political party in Orihuela Costa, with 40% of the vote and more votes than the Popular Party and Socialist Party together, was considered a magnificent achievement. The report deplored the fact that a party which won 40% of the votes in Orihuela Costa, whose population is equal to 30% of the total population of Orihuela, did not win a single seat. This was due to the massive, 75% failure, of thousands of eligible non-Spanish residents to receive their voting application forms. C.L.A.R.O’s lawyer considers this as ELECTORAL FRAUD on the part of the ruling party which is responsible for the chaotic state of padron addresses and the impossibility for the post office to deliver official mail.

C.L.A.R.O’s success in the election confirmed the need for a permanent, independent local political party, dedicated exclusively to improving the quality of life in Orihuela Costa. C.L.A.R.O. is therefore resolved to continue its struggle and since the election has shown its active commitment by championing a series of causes such as safety on the beaches, opposing the new building project, PAU 7 in Villamartin, deploring the resumption of work on building 1,700 new houses on Cala Mosca, gross under-spending on Orihuela Costa by the Town Hall (4-5% of the budget for 30% of the population), sewage on the streets and most recently the shortage of doctors and diminishing quality of medical services in the Cabo Roig Health Centre.

The report concluded by committing C.L.A.R.O. to remain active, close to the people and reformist, to continue to set the political agenda for Orihuela Costa and to be ready for a constructive dialogue with the Town Hall if they are willing to bring about improvements but to be outspokenly critical if they are not. With three more years to work for the benefit of those living in Orihuela Costa, C.L.A.R.O. could look forward earning a permanent place in local political life and to participate in the future government of Orihuela. The report was approved unanimously by the AGM.

The Executive Committee presented a proposal for a solid, comprehensive political strategy to accompany the detailed programme C.L.A.RO. had put forward in its election manifesto. It proposed that this strategy should be built on the priority of active militancy for improvements in Orihuela Costa, being at the service of citizens of Orihuela Costa in helping and informing them on how to deal with problems with the Administration (a role in which C.L.A.R.O’ s new office would be a major asset), guaranteeing the voting rights of non-Spanish citizens of Orihuela Costa by legal action and by pursuing C.L.A.R.O’s Petition with the European Parliament and, finally, by consolidating and building on its open, strong, broad, paid membership base (currently over 300) which makes C.L.A.R.O. the only party in Orihuela Costa which is governed directly by a local general assembly, compared to the other parties which are part of national or Orihuela-based organisations. The political strategy proposals were approved unanimously by a resolution of the AGM.

A resolution on party organisation was also approved unanimously. It recognised that the success of the party at the elections in May was due to the active role and commitment of a growing number of volunteers. It agreed that their role should be recognised by the creation of an Extended Committee, incorporating C.L.A.R.O’s legal executive committee, in which future decisions would be discussed and decided. The resolution also approved further structural and organisational changes, in particular the creation of an Office Management Organisation, a Membership Committee and a Communications Committee which would be responsible for press releases and media contacts, the webpage and publications, including the planned publication of a monthly C.L.A.R.O. newsletter. The resolution also acknowledged the need to strengthen the party’s administrative capacity and its social and fund-raising activities and appealed for volunteers to help with these tasks.

Finally, the AGM unanimously approved the election of the following members and office holders of the Executive Committee:

Bob Houliston – President Manfred Schwarting – Secretary General Modesto Veloso – Vice President
Jimmy Badal, Norah Bond,
Antonio Cerdan,
Karl Failoni

In keeping with C.L.A.R.O’s vocation to be a European party, the three office holders are British, German and Spanish while the Executive Committee is composed of 3 British members, 2 Spanish, 1 German and 1 Austrian.