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The town hall has announced the launch of their new website here.

You can see the front page of the site here.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

I recently received the poster above advertising an upcoming charity golf day at Almerimar.

If you are interested in taking part in this event please get in touch. I will pass the contact email addresses for Lawrence & Chris to you privately if you want to enter the competition.

Until now I have made a point of trying to make this site a Brexit free zone.

However the person who contacted me about digital signatures has suggested that I publish links to the following Brexit related information:

Brexit driving permits (In particular about expats living in Spain "You can exchange a valid UK driving licence without taking a test within 9 months of the date that the UK leaves the EU. After this 9 month period you will need to take a test in order to exchange your licence.")

Brexit and healthcare

The information may be of use to both UK visitors and residents here.

One thing I spotted myself recently was that it looks like future UK state pension increases for expats living in the EU are not guaranteed.

I read an article about this recently. Coincidentally the article here on the healthcare site linked above suggests the same thing.

It tries to add a positive spin saying that the proposal is to increase the UK state pension for EU expats over the next 3 years. However what is implied is that pension aged expats in Europe may have their pension frozen after 3 years (like expats in some other countries around the world).

I guess that this is something UK Spanish residents who are thinking about topping up their number of UK pensionable years NI payments need to consider.

The site will probably now go back to being a Brexit free zone.

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.

Apologies for not posting much here recently. I have been a bit busy.

Here is a bit of golf course info....

I understand that the entry list for the competition to re-open the 18 holes closed in the summer (Master 1 & 2) on Saturday 14 September 2019 is full. With 120 people on this list plus a reasonable size reserve list already in place.

Also, I believe that the course with switch to the winter layout (Red, White and Blue 9 hole courses) from Monday 16 September 2019. However I think it will revert back to the Master (1 & 2) plus Classic (Master 3) layout for official competitions on Sunday 22 September and Saturday 28 September for official competitions.

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.

The article here from 10 days ago on Diario de Almería is an interesting one. About a project to make Almería the world capital of medical marijuana.

I wonder if they will make a hash of it (I will get my coat.....).

Read More for a Google translation of the article.