Last night we had a stunning sunset here. As you can see from the photos above. I took the first two. My friend Mary B took the two photos in the marina.

Thanks to two readers, Patricia and Paul W for prompting me to investigate this subject again.....

UPDATED - 19 September 2019 - see suggested description of the situation from a reader

Almost a year ago I linked to an article on the Almería 360 site about future improvements to the 409 and 411 motorway turn offs. In the article I mentioned that work was to commence in 2019.

I have now done a bit more research and re-read a separate article here on the Ideal site about the proposed work. I had read the Ideal story at the time but linked to the Almería 360 one. As it had an image of the proposed work. I picked up the 2019 date from the Ideal story.

It appears that perhaps only work on the 411 turn off was scheduled for 2019.

I remember a small piece of work being carried out there earlier this year. With part of the 411 turn off being shut off for a while.

So at the moment all I know is that the design contract for the work on the 409 junction was allocated to a company called Betancourt in October 2018. With the design contract being just under 100,000 euros (for the two junctions I think). The estimated total cost for the two pieces of work is just under 4 1/2 million euros.

So who knows when the work on the 409 junction will start.

Here is an update from a reader.....(19 September 2019) "I believe (but I am not 100% sure) that everything in the 2019 “presupuesto” (budget) was rejected. So then the government had to stand down and there had to be an election in April 2019. As no government has been formed since then there will be no presupuesto. Now there is going to be another election in November. A new presupuesto won’t be agreed until a new government is in place. Consequently, there is no approved budget for the road works."

Comment from me (19 September 2019): The Spanish have a system of devolved government. With budgets being set at various levels For example centrally by the main government (in Madrid). In the regions (ours is Andalucia). Then in the provinces (ours is Almería). Then in local town halls (ours is El Ejido). Finally in the Spanish version of a parish council (ours is Almerimar). So an example here is that the proposed senior school in Almerimar will paid for from the Andalucia budget. On land gifted to the project by El Ejido town hall. I think that in some cases money for a project can come from the budgets of more than one level of government. So my guess is that the reader is correct. That the lack of a central budget for Spain is probably having an impact on this road improvement project.

Read More for a Google translation of the article from October 2018 on the Ideal site.

The article here on the (new) town hall website has the latest information about the proposal for a senior school to be built in Almerimar.

I think that the possible setting up of this school is driving property development in Almerimar. Particularly the building of new houses.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

UPDATED 17:32 6/9/19 - added a link to where you can download the application form.

The recent article here about paying traffic fines online prompted a reader to ask about the digital signatures from the town hall (as you need one to be able to be able to pay traffic fines online).

Firstly I asked a contact associated with the Junta Local for Almerimar, Christine G, about digital signatures. Here was the response about who can get them and how to go about it:

"Anyone with an NIE number can get a digital signature, it doesn't matter if you are resident or non resident. You have to download the form to Solicitar Firma digital, you will then be issued with a code which you have to take to the town Hall in El Ejido with your passport and original NIE number and they will activate it for you. You have to do this either the same or next day after getting the code, otherwise the code will be invalidated. You can do this in the town hall between 8 and 13.00 . You need to get a ticket at the main desk to do this."

I have asked Christina for a link to where you can download the form. Rather than me search for it myself. In case I get it wrong. I will update this article once I have the link recommended by the council. Updated: here is the link.

Secondly, the reader provided a link to the article here in Spanish about digital signatures. My thanks to the reader who provided this link.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

The article here on the town hall website has details of a smarter way to pay any traffic fines you incur.

I know quite a few people who might find this information useful.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

The article here on the town hall website says that they are going to spend 2.3M euros to improve public lighting in the municipality. I guess this includes Almerimar.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

While at golf today I was chatting to a few people about parking in the marina area of town. Apparently the yellow lines in various parts of town have been repainted. Also, cars are being given parking fines if you park on the yellow line areas. Apparently they are pretty strict about it. Even if only a small part of you car is over the yellow lines they are still handing out parking tickets.

So be careful where you park. You have been warned.

PS If you do get a parking fine be sure to pay it off quickly. One of the people I was chatting to got a 200 euro fine recently. She then only had to pay 40 euros as she paid quickly. She also said that you can pay in the town hall office in Almerimar. I think it is only certain days. If I remember rightly I think she said on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Jacqui and I have been away for a few days. So I am only just catching up on the local news.

The article here on the town hall website is from last Friday. It is about the services on the beaches this year.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

Christina G has been in touch with the following information....

There has been a change in the use of some of the council owned facilities on the ground floor of Porto Fino.

The town hall office that used to be in the back of the building near the pensioners centre has moved. The town hall office is now located inside the tourist office at the front of the building.

I understand that the old town hall office is to be used as a study area.

Just spotted the article here on the Euro Weekly News site.

Further to the article here from November last year about changes to two motorway junctions close to Almerimar. The article explained that work would take place on the 409 (Almerimar/Copo) junction and the 411 (Las Norias) junction in 2019.

Work has now started on the 411 junction. There are signs on the motorway saying that the Las Norias exit is closed and to use other exits to get to Las Norias. I was driving that way this morning. It is OK to take this exit then head north towards the eastern end of El Ejido. However the turning south towards Las Norias is now closed. While the improvement work takes place.

As yet, there is no disruption at the 409 (Almerimar) junction. Mind you, a friend told me a week or two ago he saw a machine perhaps drilling some holes in the ground near the junction. So perhaps work has started on the foundations for the new bridge that is going to be built. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

In the last few weeks I have been speaking to various people about new property being built in Almerimar. It appears that the vast majority of the new builds are houses rather than apartments. As I believe that there are quite a lot of apartments already for sale in Almerimar. I am not sure but I think part of the desire for more houses is that Almerimar is slowly becoming more of a dormitory town for El Ejido.

The photo above that I took a few days ago got me thinking about this subject. When I get some spare time I will probably go around town and take some photos of the various development sites.

On the far right of the photo above close to the top you can see an urbanisation with I guess more than 70+ new houses close to completion. To the right of those white buildings I think you can just see two cranes. This is one of the few developments where some apartments are being built. The builders look to be finishing off a half-built development that has not been touched for a long time. As well as the apartments I think there are 5-6 houses being finished in that area as well.

Just over half way up on the left hand side of the photo you see the fairway and green of the 2nd hole on the Master 3 (Classic) course. Just out of shot, close to the tee of this hole the first of a number of houses is currently under construction. I have been told that some more houses are also under construction between the golf course and the sea in this area.

Closer to the original part of town there are developments going on as well. For some time there have been houses under construction on the right hand side half way down on the road into Almerimar.

Another new complex of houses is being built on the land between the D´Bar towers and the cliff.

Plus, some time ago I saw an advertising hoarding near Mercadona promoting the development of some new property on a now vacant part of the Velas Blancas urbanisation.

From the above it appears that there is an increase in demand for new property in Almerimar. Particularly houses.

Earlier today Jacqui and I popped over to Playa Serena to sort out some plans for playing some summer golf there. On the way back I decided to take a few photos from the cliff.

Two things to notice:

- You can see that the greens on the Master course are being replaced

-  If you look carefully you can see that there is a lot of new property being built at the moment (I will write a little more about this sometime soon. When I have a bit more free time.)

If you click on each photo you can zoom in and see the image in a bit more detail.

Jacqui and I wandered out for a spot of early evening tea in town after Friday golf yesterday. On the way down into town we spotted a couple of new businesses due to open soon.

The top two photos are from a couple of doors down from Mercadona. Looks like a music and dance studio is opening soon. The third photo is from behind "the square". Looks like there is a cheap ladies clothes shop opening soon.

Please see the attached message from Christina G.....

"Hi, just a reminder about the municipal and european elections this Sunday. The polling stations are situated in the municipal office, the hall at the rear of the pensioner’s club and the state school, situated near the puerto marina golf complex. Anyone registered on the padron, or municipal register has a right to vote. The polling stations open at 9 am and close at 8 pm. I will continue to represent the foreign owners on the junta local for the PP party if the party gains sufficient votes!"

The article here on the Ideal site has some details of sports facilities being promised by the various parties in the upcoming local elections.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

Thanks to Ilyas S for sharing these photos of a dead turtle on the nature reserve beach to our Facebook page earlier today.

The finding of the dead turtle has been reported to the appropriate authorities.

As you can see from the image above there was an earthquake in the area early this morning. I have to admit that the earth did not move for me.

Just spotted the article here on the town hall website about the local bus services. It was published a couple of weeks ago.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

Further to the earlier article here. As you can see from the photo above from the Spanish petanca association work is underway building the pavilion for a round of  the upcoming world championships. They are being held here from 2-5 May 2019.