Don´t go overboard

By Jason Moore AT last the local government has seen the light and has decided to lift the ban on the construction and extension of yacht clubs. While I support this move I do believe that local government planners have to be slightly careful and not transform the coast of the Balearics into one giant yacht club. There is a fine balance between development and the need to protect the environment and preserving the coastline. Too many yacht clubs will mean far too many boats eating up limited resources. It could even spoil this lucrative industry if the waters around the Balearics become overcrowded. Plans to extended Puerto Adriano should be welcomed especially as it will mean that the larger super-yachts can moor there. In years to come it could even rival Puerto Portals. But I am more concerned at the development plans for the smaller yacht clubs. In their case small is beautiful. More yacht clubs more yachts and if the environmentalists are to be believed more rubbish. The mistake that some parts of the mainland have made is they have gone overboard. I am told that Murcia has become one giant golf course. This local government doesn't do things by half, just look at their ambitious road building programme. To keep the local nautical industry afloat then a careful course needs to be mapped out taking all views into account.