An update from Graham Mee, on site.

As you will know from previous updates, Graham Sayers, with the assistance of his friend, Tony Garcia, was chasing the building license, through our architect, Francisco. The results of their efforts were excellent and within three or four weeks we gained entry to the senior people in the necessary departments. Shortly after this, the project was passed by the Junta Andalucia and returned to Cartama (our local council). At this time we expected the building license to be issued, but once again hopes were raised to soon.

We now understand, from the architect, that the building license can not be issued until the highways department issue a consent for a change of use, from the agricultural entrance to an entrance for caravans, as they call it (at this moment in time we don't want to cause any problems with the difference between motorhomes and caravans).

As soon as this situation arose Graham Mee went to see Manzanares (our solicitor) to discuss the matter. During this meeting Manzanares made it quite clear we would be better to let them deal with it, especially as they were already dealing with the Denouncia, which was issued by the the same department and contacts had already been made. Graham made it quite clear that the time had arrived when further waiting could not be tolerated and if it required anything special to see the paperwork to the top of the pile, this could be arranged.

The previous week Graham Mee and Chris Heath went to see Manzanares with a list of complaints about his practice, and as the matter of the entrance has reared its head since that meeting Manzanares has been dealing with it himself. Manzanares had a meeting with the highways department on Thursday the 4th and Graham Mee called for an update on the 5th. He was told that there should not be a problem with the change of use but the drawings, which we had submitted, would not meet their requirements and official drawings for the entrance would have to be submitted by a civil engineer. Manzanares has already appointed someone for this work and Graham Mee will be seeing them next Thursday. We do not know how long this is all going to take, but the drawings should be with the highways department within the next 10 to 14 days and we are being led to believe that the consent should be quite quick, so hold your breath!!!!!!!!!.

Based upon the information from the architect (prior to the latest problem with the highways), now seemed the right time to buy some plant and machinery for the site, so Graham Mee sought approval of the board to spend up to £25000, we are pleased to say that a combined effort with Billy Smith and Bob Handley meeting up with Jim Exon, in the UK, bought about an excellent result. We purchased a JCB, a roller, a dumper and a bowser complete with transport to Spain for close to our budget, they should be arriving in the next 7 days.

It is very wet and cold here at present, which is putting a strain on the temporary electric supply. So, if you are intending to make a visit to the site, in the next few months, please be sure you let us know first. We may have to point you in another direction until we can accommodate you, basically there is space etc. for 8 units and if you are the 9th you might have to camp somewhere else until someone leaves.

Logo competition - Only one submission received so far. Please make sure you have your entry in by 31 Dec.

More good news - "Graham Sayers has just phoned to say that our project has passed the public consultation stage and now been signed off by Cartama, that concludes the planning process.

The Chief Engineer (Cartama) has explained that the process has to go back to Junta Andalucia to countersign and issue the licence to us, as it is too big a project for Cartama to sign on their own. He states that this should be completed in the next four weeks."

Good news at last - Our planning application has been approved by the Junta Andalucia. It is now back with Cartama - for full details see letter in Members/ General section

The Members' Forum is back up and running.

Letter from Chris Heath, replying to some of the comments posted in the Members' Forum. Copy posted in Members/General section

Competition to design a logo for our club. The aim is to design a logo, which should look good when printed both as 25mm (letterhead) and 100mm (windscreen sticker) sizes. It can be round or square. Please email your entry to Tony Berry (tony.berry@riograndemc .com) by 31 December. Entries will be judged at the first Board meeting in 2004 and the winning entry will be adopted as our official logo.

First (of five) annual payments to Antonio successfully completed.

Members section launched - see index to left.

The Board of Directors has, as requested at the AGM, completed it's report on the situation and costs to date. The final details are being added to the expenditure statement, to bring it right up to date. It is expected that this will be posted out to all members this weekend. It will also be placed online, in the Members section.

The final testing of the Members only section is now taking place. This will be launched on Saturday, 2nd August.

This section will comprise three parts - a forum (for you to post your own comments for all to see and respond to - a page for AGM minutes, etc - and a page for other information that is not really appropriate for public veiwing.

A link, to this section, will appear on our Home page. You will need an ID and password to gain access to this section. This will be included in the posting above and emailed to all members that I have an email address for.

Bob Whitworth has decided to retire as a Director, to spend more time helping his wife, Sue, back to full health.

The Directors, on behalf of all the members, would like to thank Bob and Sue for the enormous efforts they have put in to date. Without their dedication it is doubtful that we would be as far as we are today.

AGM - Notes in Members section

The AGM is to be held on the 28th June at 11am in the "Sports Connexion", Ryton on Dunsmore, Coventry. Be there to get the latest developments and updates.

It is with regret that we learnt of the death of one of our members, Peter Breakwell. The Directors and Members offer their condolences to his family.

The water borehole has now been sunk and the well came in succesfully at the first attempt. The flow was tested over 24 hours and the rate is 3.4 litres per second - almost 300,000 litres every 24 hours. Far more than we should ever need. A sample was sent for analysis and the chemist has to today told me that, after the usual chlorination necessary for storage, the water will of a standard acceptable for human consumption.

As we already have an adequate supply for irrigation purposes, to which we intend to add the recycled output from the sewage plant, it would appear that we will have no water worries for the forseeable future.

Additionally, our 62 kva generator is now up and running. This is capable of meeting all our current needs and will provide adequate backup for the future.

Share Certificates have now been delivered. If you haven't received yours it may be that you haven't returned your Share Agreement. Contact Melvyn.

We have to report that since arriving at the Park towards the end of November things have become increasingly hectic. When we arrived the trees were laden with a mass of fruit, but this has since been picked and we hope that we have now seen the last of Antonio, the previous owner. As lemon trees flower and fruit all the year round a more or less constant supply will be available for lovers of pancakes (or G & T! )

We have full permissions for the creation of the new entrance for the Park and work is well in hand on this project. Before starting we had long discussions with the Cartama Technical Department, who outlined very clear parameters, working beyond which could have an adverse effect on our overall planning position. The temptation to push too far onto our land with earth moving machinery has to be strongly resisted.

We have been told that full planning is now probable at about mid-February and as we can almost depend on normal Spring conditions by then it would be an ideal time to make our major start. It is frustrating to have to wait but there is really much planning work to do and we will have lost no time at all. Patience has to be the keyword.

A photograph is appended showing the new entrance under construction. There is also a picture showing our working party enjoying a Christmas barbeque. The weather has been fantastic, currently chilly nights and 60 - 70 during the day. There have been about 40 visitors to the site, some by car and some in their motorhomes. This has mostly involved wild camping as our electric and water supplies are limited. Our Spanish neighbour, Pedro, has allowed us access to his private resources but these are only sufficient to supply the long term workers and to run the computors in our small office.

Communications have been a very difficult problem, the major national 'phone supplier Telefonica having proved to be useless. I first approached them in August, have chased them ever since, and have so far had no response ! However, it now appears that a very satisfactory arrangement has been reached with a private supplier and I hope to have telephone, fax and a high speed Internet connection very shortly. I apologise to anybody who has been waiting to hear from me and will be in contact as soon as possible. Meantime, our Spanish number, 616 109 372, is active but the old English mobile, 0788 432 8368, is too expensive for general use. There should be a new number next week.

Material sourcing is going well, most Spanish supplied items coming in slightly below UK prices. We are still in need of tools and equipment and I would welcome a call from any member who has suitable items standing unused. We are able to arrange transport of any items up to the size of a JCB ! We have the necessary skills to carry out the works now in hand, but it would be of great benefit to us if a bricklayer were to become available. I believe that the construction of Entrance Gates could reasonably be interpreted as being part of the new entrance and this is a job for a craftsman. The brick gate posts are to suupport a pair of electric sliding gates with an eight metre span and need to be built to a high standard. Anybody who feels able to undertake this work would be very welcome.

On a general note if has to be said that we have been made to feel most welcome in the area. Our neighbour has been most helpful, the staff at the Venta el Pozo have always made us comfortable and we have made a weekly practice of eating out, en masse, at local restaurants and have had some delightful meals. All in all, a good start to our venture.

Happy new year everyone.

Melvyn will shortly be issuing Share Certificates to those members that have returned their signed Agreements. Please get your agreement back as soon as possible.