Playa de Palma residents to mount massive protest in Palma

THE resident and business movements along the Playa de Palma and Lluchmajor are to hold a massive demonstration outside the Consolat de Mar Balearic government headquarters in Palma in protest over losing their homes and businesses to the ambitious Playa de Palma renovation project.

There has been widespread outrage from residents and business people all along the Playa de Palma since the project plans were put up for public scrutiny last week.

Between 250 and 300 houses and over 100 business premises face the threat of compulsory purchase and demolition but the vast majority of the home owners and business people are determined to protect their properties.

The September 14 protest in Palma at 8pm is expected to attract hundreds, if not over a thousand people, opposed to the multi-million euro plan.
The issue has now become a political hot potato.
Yesterday, the spokesperson for the opposition Partido Popular on the Council of Majorca, Jaume Font, said that the demolitions could be avoided and he said that his party is prepared to work with Palma and Lluchmajor Councils in order to make sure the Playa de Palma renovation project goes ahead but without knocking down hundreds of houses and forcing scores of families to relocate. “This is supposed to be a renovation project, not elimination,” Font said yesterday.
The Balearic President, Francesc Antich, has also hinted that he does not entirely approve of so many properties and homes coming down and has organised a meeting with the Playa de Palma and Lluchmajor resident and business associations next week to discuss the heated situation and try to find a solution.

Antich has suggested that the plans for the project, which will not be completed until 2015, should perhaps be redesigned with the view of reducing the number of compulsory purchases and property demolitions to a minimum. Enrique Salva, spokesperson for the two associations accused the Playa de Palma consortium which is headed by the former Socialist Mayor of Calvia, Margarita Najera of having completely ignored the interest and best wishes of the local population when drawing up the plans.