This initiative is not only for the expats, there are also spanish people living at the fincas that they will be included in this list. The townhall is positive about the expats but sometimes is difficult because of the language and different costums. The firsts reaccions from the "maellanos" are very positive in general. Will see how it goes. Victor

Hi John. My name is Michael; I'm an Australian expat living on a finca in Maella for about two and half years now. The point of the petition is for expats like me to be able to pledge respect to the town and its people, environment and rules. Overall, I've found the locals friendly and welcoming. I've not been stopped once by the Guardia in my rigtht-hand-drive car with UK plates. Thanks for signing the petition. I hope it will make a difference.

That's great news, thanks and well done!

Hello Michael, A very good iniciative from your part. I had already a appointment in July with the major, municipal architect, and few more people from the townhall. I have to give you very good news! Everything its prepare. We have the list from the foreigner people is living at the fincas. The townhall is completely open to regulate the situation and in 2016 will send a letter to everybody to pay anual taxes for using the container (garbage), using not drinkable water, etc....It will be around 60 euros per year. Last week i had another appointment and in the next months they will prepare a place in Maella where you can go with your car and with a coin you would be able to take drinkable water also. Another point is the "empadronamiento". Finally the townhall is open to "empadronar", all our clients and of course the rest. It will be possible to be a citizen of Maella legally and we will start with this in October 2015. We are preparing with the townhall how to do it. At the begginings of September we will send an email to all our clients to inform about the situation and also we are recollecting the contacts from the rest of the people in this situation. If you can help us with this we are very thankful. Kind Regards. Victor Alvarez

Dear Michael, Who are you? You don't even live in the village of Maella? Who are the people that have complained about the expats? What is the point of this petition? Where is it going to get you? What difference does it make? You seem to be opening up a whole load of trouble here. It will only encourage others to start their own complants about the Spanish locals of Maella. They are not angels. what are you going to do with all the signatures? I don't think you will get 100 to sign but who knows. Jon

We entirely agree with the sentiments expressed, however, it is the Guardia, who needs to stop cars with UK plates, not us (we have Spanish plates), also respect is a two-way street, and we have been treated with great disrespect by many local people, despite trying to speak Spanish (and insulted in Catalan). We neither hunt, nor burn the leftovers in our fields, but the Spanish do. We are committed Europeans, are the Spanish? We feel very 'left out' by local people, who do not make us feel at all welcome, even after living peacefully here for many years. In particular, the Town Hall staff (very negative to us), should clamp down on ex-pats that avoid tax - they know who they are, and where they live. We find that local people are unable to accept or understand comments designed to improve their own customer service and businesses. They take great offence despite our good intentions

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