Protests pour in over sale of Raixa

Protests are pouring in over the sale of the emblematic estate of Raixa in Bunyola to German designer Jill Sander. Sander signed an option to buy for 1'400 million pesetas last Friday. The central ministry of the environment offered 1'061 million pesetas, and the Council of Majorca was prepared to add a further 200 million pesetas. Most of the unions, business and cultural organisations say that the authorities should have made a greater effort to purchase the estate. Most of them also agreed that something should be done to ensure that the gardens at least remain open to the public.