Coastal cleaning in the Balearics has cost 2.4 million

THE Spanish Ministry for the Environment has invested 2.4 million euros in programmes for the conservation and maintenance of the coastline of the islands of Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera, as part of the coastal protection project which the General Direction for the Coast is carrying out on the Spanish coast. Sources from the Ministry said that the General Direction for the Coast, through the Balearic Coastal Demarcation department, is carrying out an intense project for the conservation and maintenance of the Balearic coastline, with the aim of keeping the beaches and coastal areas in the best possible condition. The programme, which started at the beginning of July 2005 and will be finished at the end of this month, included actions such as general cleaning and recovery of rubbish, putting rubbish containers in place, replacement of walkways and signs, installation of ramps for access by invalids, improvements to paths, and cleaning of the beaches and putting extra sand on them, among other measures. On Majorca the investment was 1.2 million euros, while on Minorca 600'000 euros was invested, and the same amount was directed to Ibiza and Formentera.
On Majorca demolition and cleaning work has been carried out in Cala Deya and in Cala Mesquida, in Capdepera; actions to protect and preserve the dunes in Cala Agulla, Cala Mesquida, Cala Torta, C'an Picafort and the Playa de Muro; and the installation of sand stabilising measures in Cala Mesquida. In the Costa de los Pinos, in Son Servera, the work carried out consisted of the demolition of a concrete solarium with illegally built access stairs. Among other measures, the gardens in the public spaces, obtained after the demolition of the Hotel Mar Blau in the Port of Soller, have been improved, signs have been replaced in Cala Estellencs, Valldemossa and S'Estaca and in Cala Agulla, a study has been carried out and samples have been taken to try to recover the image of the beach. In addition to this the area around Lago Esperanza has been cleaned and environmentally restored.