Jason Moore27/05/2016 00:00
TW
3

I do have some sympathy for bar and restaurant owners along the Born in Palma who have seen their terraces "invaded" by the book fair. They have been forced to remove their tables and chairs to make way for stands selling books. The current council appears to have a problem with the bars and restaurants on the Born. I don’t know why but they are making life difficult for them. Initially the council wanted to remove the terraces but their proposal was thwarted by a referendum which voted for the terraces. Now it is the book fair which lasts for about a week but obviously it takes a while to set up.

For many years this event has taken place on the Born but I am sure that there are other venues which would be equally suitable. The terraces on the Born have brought the area to life in style and I would say that they have become a popular "watering hole" for tourists and residents alike. The council should take this into account and also realise that the bar and restaurant owners have to make as much money as possible during the key summer months. Businesses are suffering because clients are going elsewhere. It is as simple as that. The book fair could be set up by the Cathedral or in the Plaza Mayor in central Palma. It seems a shame to me that tourists should miss the experience of enjoying a quiet drink on one of Palma’s top streets because the council believes that it is an ideal venue for a fair. Perhaps next year they will think again.