BINISSALEM
POLITICIANS and residents made more than 50 proposals for improvements at the second debate on the state of the town. The suggestions included door to door rubbish collection for recycling and a 24-hour police service. The suggestions were made after Mayor Miquel Nadal presented a report on the council's work in 2004.

Union support for Catalan

CALVIA
T HE General Workers' Union (UGT) and the Workers Commission (CCOO) have given their support to a programme launched by a pro-Catalan language group in Calvia. The Unions expressed a view at a debate held on Thursday that “Calvia is the municipality on the Island where least attention is paid establishing the Catalan language”, and added that “we would request that the same importance that is placed on Castillian Spanish is also placed on Catalan”.

Restoration approved

LLUCMAJOR
AT a special meeting of Llucmajor Town Council held on Thursday, two important projects received unanimous approval.
The first relates to the Balearic government strategy of promoting all-year-round tourism: the restoration of the cloisters of the Franciscan fathers and the Town Hall of Llucmajor. Regional government is to provide three million euros for the cloisters, another three for the Town Hall. Works are expected to take two years to complete.

The second major programme encompasses upgrading and embellishing the Playa de Palma which will be financed by the central government ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce to the tune of one million euros; by the regional Tourist ministry with one million; and by Llucmajor Town Council and Palma City Council with 300'000; and the Balearic government 60'000 euros.

Chapel demolition

ESPORLES
IN response to a request from the Parish Council, local authorities in Esporles have proceeded to demolish the unlisted chapel building which stood in the centre of Plaza Constitucion.

The chapel was built in 1950 and housed an image of the crucified Christ known as “El Sant Crist de sa Capelleta”, patron saint of the textile guild when Esporles was the centre of an important industry in this sector.

The building had run into a state of disrepair and according to rector Antoni Mercat, “the proposal to demolish the chapel arose out of the sense that it was not compatible with other leisure activities which are held in the square”.

The sacred image and other effects will be transferred to the cemetery chapel.
New Cooperative H.Q.

SINEU
THE Balearic Agricultural Cooperative (UCABAL) is to move its head offices to the historic building which used to house Sineu's old health centre.
The Cooperative's policy committee held a meeting earlier this week in Sineu which was attended by the regional government Agriculture minister, Margalida Moner and Town Council representatives. The aim was to reach an agreement whereby local authorities would cede part of the old building to the Cooperative.

According to UCABAL's president, Jeronia Bonafe, the reason for the move is that “as well as being a town of historic agricultural tradition, Sineu will be much more accessible to all UCABAL's affiliated associations. The present offices are located in calle Sindicat in Palma and are difficult to reach.