Can Pastilla residents reject “buy-off”

RESIDENTS in Can Pastilla who stand to lose their homes and businesses under the present Playa de Palma reform plans, have repeated their response to project Managing Director Margarita Najera, saying they don't want any money, just the reassurance that their lives can continue as normal.

The residents association is also saying that apart from not wanting to lose their properties, the plans for the Playa de Palma reform will destroy the character of the island's last truly Mediterranean village and through official channels, have asked Nájera not to make such a “crass error” over the redesign of the area.

In response to Najera's announcement that 290 million euros was to be used to compensate the owners of 360 homes affected by the reconstruction programme, Can Pastilla's residents association lobby spokesman Antoni Martinez responded that such an enormous amount of public money should not be spent on such “planning stupidities.” Martinez also said that the owners of the 91 homes which are earmarked for demolition in Can Pastilla have still not been told why the public interest “justifies” their destruction. Residents are trusting that Palma City Council will “see sense” over the issue. If not, said Martinez, local people are prepared to go to the Council of Majorca for help or even to tribunal.