TALA NEWSLETTER - June 2016

Tala newsletter         June 2016   

TALA SQUARE

The agreement with the contractor responsible for the works has now been signed and work is scheduled to start the week commencing 20 June.    The first phase [the actual square itself] will take approximately 8 months to complete.   The second phase will relate to the roads around the core of the village and the square.

A 3D presentation will shortly be available to show how the finished square will look.   Further information follows when available.

WATER – Supplies from Monastery and Armonia [ Leptos]

Both the Monastery and Armonia have promised the District Office and the Water Department that they will hand over the water supplies to Tala Council at the end of June.   Any question of compensation will be the subject of discussion between the Monastery and Armonia and the appropriate Government Department.   In the meantime,  you should please continue to settle your accounts direct with the appropriate supplier.

From 1 July the charges for water will be the same for everyone, ie as outlined under the Tala column below.   You may notice a slight increase in the cost as the Water Board have now stopped subsidising the energy cost of piping water and have passed this cost on to the Communities.

                                                                           Tala               Monastery                          Armonia

Fixed charge                                                     7.00                         11.96                                     5.39

1-20 units                                                          0.85                           0.85                                     0.85

21-50 units                                                        1.00                           1.00                                     1.00

51-60 units                                                        1.70                           2.00                                     1.70

61-70 units                                                        1.70                           2.50                                     1.70

71 units and over                                               2.00                          3.00                                      2.00

Tala invoice out every 3 months, as opposed to the 2-monthly billing previously carried out by the Monastery and Armonia.   Those previously on Monastery and Armonia water should therefore receive their final bill for payment in July and thereafter invoices will be issued by Tala from the end of September onwards [to cover the period from 1 July] .   Please do not cancel any direct debits/standing orders until your final payment has been made to the Monastery/Armonia.   Tala Council office will be contacting all those Monastery/Armonia customers paying their water by direct debit/standing order where new forms are required.

IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TAX

The Government are proposing to scrap the local Immovable Property Tax paid to local councils and municipalities and charge one Immovable Property Tax based on the 2013 property valuation and at a rate of 0.05 per mille.

It is likely that a generous discount will be given for early payment of the tax.  

This is a proposal at this stage and once further information is available details will be posted on www.talanews.blogspot.com.

NEW BRIDGE

Following a visit to site, the plans for this area by the Government have changed.   The area where there is the bend in the main road is to be widened, with a wall built, and pavement installed.  This was felt to be more beneficial for residents as it is very dangerous for pedestrians on that stretch of road.    Work started on Monday 13 June.     The project is being carried out by Government contractors.

SCHOOL

As the planned local authorities restructuring has yet again been put on hold, plans for a new hall will be shelved.

However, we have a commitment from the Government to:
- paint the Elementary school, inside and out

- convert two adjoining classrooms into one [there is already a stage in place in one of these rooms] so that at least there is a large enough space for indoor games, sports, plays and the like.

STREET LIGHTING

Just a reminder – if you notice that street lighting is either not functioning at all, or has an intermittent fault, please phone the Electricity Board direct on 1800. 

You can also phone the Electricity Board if you have concerns regarding tree growth encroaching on electricity cables.

PEDESTRIAN PATH FROM AY GEORGIOS

The pedestrian path leading from the end of Ay Georgios up to St John Prodromos has been cleaned and cleared.   Dog walkers are please reminded to pick up after their dogs when using this path.

MULTI-CULTURAL CENTRE

I am delighted to say that the building permit for the Multi-cultural centre has finally been released so we have a ‘mature project’.   We will now explore funding options for the centre which will be built on the area beyond the car park behind the square, and after the childrens play area.

COMMUNITY WATCH

Following on from the Police presentation, security information and any security updates can be found by going to the right hand corner ‘Categories’ and clicking on Security on www.talanews.blogspot.com.

Everyone is encouraged to sign up for the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.   This does not commit you to forming committees or patrols, but is an agreement to be the eyes and ears of the Police and report any suspicious activity or vehicles to them.   We have an undertaking from the Police to carry out regular vehicular patrols of the Tala area.   To maintain this service, as a community we need to show support to the Police and this can be done by signing up to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

To sign up you can either email your name, address, mobile number and email address to Cathi on toffee@primehome.com or call into the council office and provide this information to the staff there.

For the time being any security alerts will be by email.

On www.talanews.blogspot.com under Security there is a Get to Know Your Neighbour form.  This is available in English, Greek, Russian and Chinese.  If you are unable to print the form[s] from the blog, please email Cathi and she will send you the documents.   It is felt that by getting to know your neighbour, this will help make more people aware of the neighbourhood watch scheme, enable people to notice strangers in the area, or suspicious activity and thus reduce the number of thefts.   

There are also A5 stickers available for those who have signed up to the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.  These can be obtained at Tala Council office at a cost of €1 for two stickers.   Proceeds will go to charity.

Suspicious activity should please be reported to the Police on 122.   Thereafter, it would be helpful if you could  let Cathi know what has happened by sending her a short email so she can liaise with the Police and/or alert the community if needed.

GOVERNMENT RESTRUCTURING OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES – VOTING IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

Regrettably, the planned restructuring of local authorities has been put on hold.   This means that local elections will take place in December 2016.

If you already have a voting book no action is required.  If you do not yet have a vote and would like one, please contact Cathi on toffee@primehome.com for the appropriate form.   The cut off date for applying for a vote will probably be 31 October so if you are going to be away over the summer months, it is advisable to submit your application before you go!

  

ALPHA MEGA STAMPS

Thanks to the efforts of the congregation at the Anglican Church and various Tala residents, Alpha Mega stamps have been donated recently allowing for the acquisition of towels and bedding for needy families in the area.

There is currently a promotion for cookware and donations of stamps would again be much appreciated.   These can either be left in the Council Office [there is a container on the counter for these] or at the Welfare Centre in an envelope for Cathi.  Alternatively,  the stamps can be handed to members of the Anglican Church congregation.

DISPOSAL OF GARDEN WASTE

There has been a great improvement regarding the responsible disposal of garden waste .   As a reminder, however, the following options are available for the disposal of garden waste:

The Government operated site for garden waste recycling  [Green Point] is  now open at    Akoursos, in an old quarry on the left hand side of the road to Akoursos village.   No charge is made for using the site.  However, it is only open on the following days:

Monday                                              0800-1800

Wednesday                                         0800-1800

Friday                                                  0800-1800

Saturday                                              0900-1500

Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday CLOSED

Options for garden waste:

1                     Branches, palm leaves and tree cuttings - Taken by the householder to the free site above

2                     Collection of up to 2 bags of garden waste [excluding branches, palm leaves and tree cuttings] by the refuse collectors.   Note, however, that priority will be given to household rubbish and garden waste may not always be taken if refuse levels are higher than usual.

3                     Purchase orange Tala Council bags at the Council office if heavy duty bags are needed.   They should then be left out for the refuse collectors who will remove up to 2 bags at a time, or taken to one of the private sites, or collection arranged by Andreas.  Any blue Tala Council bags which you already have should be disposed of in the same way.

4                     Take any bags to the private garden waste centre in Tala [Andreas] – a charge will be made of  €1 for the first bag, and €0.50 for each additional bag.  The site is open Tuesday 0900-1200, and Saturday 0900-1200 and 1400-1600].  However, if you phone Andreas beforehand, arrangements can be made to open up outside of these times, if required.

5                     Arrange for collection by the above private garden waste collector – the charge will depend on the volume/vehicle required.   

Please also bear in mind that the private garden waste collector will pick up domestic appliances free of charge.  There is a drop off fee for wooden furniture items, and home pick-up is offered for a supplementary charge.  

6  A new garden waste site has opened on the site of the former Tala Council site on the Kissonerga road, operated by NIPA Enterprises Ltd.  This is a processing and collection site for garden waste only and no home collection service is available.   This site will be open:

Monday – Friday                                              0800 to 1600

Saturday                                                              0800 to 1200 and 1400 to 1600

Charges:

Large trucks over 7.5 gross tons                                                                 €25

Vans and trucks up to 7.5 gross tons and skips                                    €15

Small trucks or single cabin pick up trucks up to 3.5 gross tons     €10

Double cabin pick up trucks                                                                         €5

Saloon cars                                                                                                         €3

Private garden waste collector offering home collection – Andreas 99 327262

New garden waste site – NIPA Enterprises – Panayiotis 99 647883

FIRE WARNINGS

Following the very dry winter, please be on the look out for fires in the area.   Small fires should please be reported to Daniel on  99 699125, or Nikos on 99 630613 in the first instance.

Larger fires should be reported to the Emergency Services on 122 or 199.

WHAT’S ON LOCALLY

June

18/19     Il Divo tribute from Spain – Tala Amphitheatre

July

3              Shirley Bassey tribute from the UK – Tala Amphitheatre

16/17     Jersey Boys from the UK – Tala Amphitheatre

22           Twistin Round the Pool  – Kamares Club

September

9              Polis Charalambous – Evagora of Cyprus[the history of Cyprus from 410BC to 1960 - in Greek      with English translation] – Tala           Amphitheatre

9              Starlight Soiree for the Cyprus  Kidney Association – Kamares Club*

10/11     Abba Revival from the UK – Tala Amphitheatre

17/18     John Coghlan’s Quo from the UK – Tala Amphitheatre

24/25     Re-Take That from the UK – Tala Amphitheatre

30           Papageorgio String Quartet –  Dance 2 Tango & Latin Music -Tala Amphitheatre

October

1              Droushia Dixie 7 Jazz Band – Kamares Club – details available in due course

               

Details of the above can be found on www.talanews.blogspot.com as information is released.

Events at Kamares Club must be booked direct with the Club. 

* Tickets available from Computer SOS,  Hearns in Peyia and Kamares Club

For Amphitheatre events, tickets can be purchased online on www.kendallandmorrelli.com.  Tickets are also available locally at Visteria Kiosk and the Amphitheatre Cafe.  Tickets can also be reserved for payment and collection on the night via Cathi at toffee@primehome.com.

Next issue 20 September 2016

Areti Pieridou