MAY 2020

Last Updated on Friday, 5 June 2020 05:17 Written by Paul Tassell Friday, 5 June 2020 05:17

May was a very quiet month again in Tenerife. We are still in lockdown, but we have had some de-escalation of the strict rules here and we go into phase 3 next Monday 8th June.

It feels very strange now when we are able to go out that the streets are so quiet, and of course there are no tourists.

Under Spanish law we so have to wear face masks when on public transport, in shops and in the streets, these measures are expected to carry on for some time yet.

We had our first committee meeting for nearly three months on  Thursday, obviously we had a lot to discuss but I can assure you we have still been liaising with Etalina  at Universal properties by phone to resolve problems when they have occurred.

Jose  and Matilda have been working as normal throughout lockdown for which I thank them.

We discussed the opening of our swimming pool, this is going to be complicated but it is possible with your co-operation, but everybody must respect the rules.

It is ONLY residents of the Heights who will be allowed in the pool area.

Only 6 people will be allowed in the large pool at any time and this will be done on an appointment system, there must be a 2 metre distance maintained at all times. People will only be allowed to stay in the pool area for 1 and a half hours at their appointed time they must then leave the pool area.

Only one person is allowed in the small pool unless in the case of a small child they need 1 parent with them for safety.

No inflatables or children’s toys of any kind will be allowed, if you take a drink into the pool area please take the empties away with you and dispose of responsibly.

Sunbeds will not be available at this stage nor will people be allowed to bring sunbeds or chairs into the pool area.

There will be red circles around the pool area at 4 metre intervals, at your allotted time you can place your towel on one of the circles, if there are no circles available you will not be able to go into the pool area.

We anticipate there will be about 12 red circles and it will be up to those people to make sure they do not exceed the six people in the pool at any time.

Children going to the bar area must stay with their parents in the bar area at all times and not run along and play in walkways, or around the toilet and benches. Under spanish law and to avoid transmission of the virus children are not allowed in the pool area without a parent, this law covers the whole complex and also means children must not play in community areas at any time.

We rely on you to respect these rules and if there is any breaking of the rules we will not hesitate to close the pool again, we have to take this very seriously because if the authorities find that the rules are being broken the complex will incur the very heavy fines.

I have been informed that these measures will very possibly be in for the summer months with the possibility of a bit of easing at intervals.

The pool bar is open again and as with the pool Scott has to abide by many rules and is restricted on the number of tables. I wish Scott and Haley all the best with their new venture under these difficult circumstances.

We endeavour to keep the Heights up to a good standard with maintenance and cleaning, but whatever we do we cannot please everybody. I know there have been some complaints about the cleaning, but if you do have an issue with anything regarding the Heights please let us know and we will try to address the problem.

The Corona virus figures in the Canaries are now very low and everybody works hard to keep it that way, we must all wash our hands regularly, stay 2 metres apart and wear masks in public to keep safe.

Our thanks go out again to all key workers all over the world who are proving so important in beating this disease.

Paul

APRIL 2020

Last Updated on Friday, 1 May 2020 03:49 Written by Paul Tassell Friday, 1 May 2020 03:49

APRIL was a very different month for all of us, wherever you happen to be in the world.

As you know because of the emergency decree in Spain the lockdown was immediate and very strict,  to begin with it seemed very strange but now after almost 8 weeks we are getting used to it. Most people are sticking to the rules and we are finally seeing results in the figures put out by the government each day on deaths due to the virus, which thankfully are now reducing every day and we are finally getting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

We are now going into phases to release us from the lockdown and as long as people keep to the rules hopefully life will get back to some normality in the next six to eight weeks, please be patient.

We have had some incidents on the complex and we have dealt with the offenders, at a time like this we must try to get along with our neighbours and not annoy them with loud music and foul language, and disobeying the social distancing rules. Please remember the advice from the government is only one person at a time in a lift,  if the lift is already occupied when it gets to your floor please respect the person in the lift and wait for it to return.

I hope all the residents on The Heights are keeping well , if any of you are encountering problems and cannot get to the shop or have any other issues please contact us and we will do our best to help you .

I would like to thank Jose and our cleaning staff for carrying on working through this difficult time.

I think we are getting through this period and we are seeing the results so please keep doing what you are doing,  wash your hands regularly,  keep social distancing and finally stay at home and we will beat this terrible virus.

Finally I know that a lot of our owners are key workers if not in Spain then in their own countries and I want to let you all know whatever country you are in we do appreciate what you are doing for us all and send you all our best wishes.

KEEP SAFE

Paul

MARCH 2020

Last Updated on Friday, 3 April 2020 05:37 Written by Paul Tassell Friday, 3 April 2020 11:34

MARCH started reasonably well and everything was running along quite smoothly, until the news from across the world that the corona virus was getting more and more serious.

Spain took the decision to close all schools on 12 March and then on the 14th announced a total lockdown for the whole of Spain and the Canary islands. This came into effect on the Sunday morning , that was a two week period but has now been extended to 14 April and we expect another extension until the end of this month.

Many owners and families who were at The Heights at the time did manage to get flights back home to their respective countries before the flights dried up and the airport here went into almost shutdown.

This has left the whole island deserted, tourism is now nil.

Apart from food shopping , medical and chemists, we must stay in our houses or apartments and we must not mix with anybody who doesn’t normally live with us.

We have to stay 2 metres away from people in walkways and only one person per lift.

If you do have to go out for any of the above reasons, you must be on your own.

We know of couples who have been stopped outside the Heights on their way to the shops and one has had to go back.

It is allowed for the owner of a dog (and you should have paperwork on you to prove you are the owner) to walk the dog but only 50 metres from your home/complex and they must be on a lead at all times and not allow any contact with other dogs. I have been stopped by the police myself and checked when walking my dog.

We  had an incident early on in the lockdown on the walkways of B4  where children from various apartments were out playing and the parents were chatting, somebody apparently called the police and they made everybody return to their apartments.

The community areas are covered by the decree and the police do have jurisdiction on our complex.

It has been reported that an owner on block D2 has been BBQing on the walk way/stair well, and allowing his children to play outside the apartment, this is not acceptable, when confronted by a committee member he threw his arms in the air as if to say so what !!, next time the police will be called to deal.  

It is  so important for everybody to stick to the rules, stay indoors and wash your hands and stay safe, that is the only way we will all come through this alive.

I wish to state my admiration for the emergency services and health workers worldwide who put there lives on the line for all of us every day.

I especially applaud all the emergency  services, health workers and key workers like supermarket staff who are doing such a good job keeping the island ticking over.

Hopefully in a few weeks time this situation will change and we can gradually get back to normal..

AGM  We took the decision to cancel the A.G.M in May.

Even if we are released from lockdown  flights are virtually non existent, its unlikely we will be allowed  to have mass gatherings so soon.

We will look at the situation later in the year.

All that’s left for me to say is PLEASE STAY AT HOME AND RESPECT THE RULES.

STAY SAFE      Paul