PIMECO, the small to medium-size business association has held its first meeting with the new president of the Balearic Ports Authority, Joan Gual de Torella, and has come away "relaxed and full of confidence".
The small retail sector in Palma had been worried by talk of plans to develop a new commercial complex in the Moll Vell, the old port where the boat show is held and where the new building, housing restaurants, a few shops and offices, has been built. PIMECO maintained that any such a development would pose a threat to traditional small businesses in the city centre and therefore damage their interests.
However, Gual de Torrella explained that the new plan for the port is focused on improving and covering port services for the merchant shipping and cruise sectors, not the creation of a commercial centre anywhere within the port. Plans to also build a hotel near the old port have also been shelved for the time being.
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If you want 24hr 7 day shopping...........go and live in the UK. The 'people' (we call them residents) are very happy with the way things are.
All fine, but the people from PIMECO also need to make sure their shops and other businesses are open when people really want them. Palma definitely needs to preserve its independent retailers, it's part of the charm - but not so charming when you want something and they're shut!
I would hate to see Mallorca go down the same route as many areas in the UK. Huge out-of-town shopping area have been built and have been quite successful. Unfortunately, after a while, they have become places for "undesirables" to hang out. Also, the move has meant that town centres have become run down with many shop premises being left empty and only charity shops taking over properties.