Three months after work started, Hotel Formentor protection is now ordered

The report is dated September 8. It states that "Formentor and its hotel are a substantial part of the recent social, cultural and economic history of the island". "For this reason, apart from strictly physical characteristics, this hotel establishment presents cultural and symbolic significance as an emblematic hotel establishment of the first order at an international level. This gives it a special singularity and makes it worthy of inclusion in the catalogue (the town hall's protected list)."

Pollensa's mayor, Tomeu Cifre, has expressed his surprise at the demand having been sent three months after he signed the licence himself and interior demolition began. "It is incomprehensible that nothing was said before. Protection is now being asked for, when there's nothing left inside."

The hotel's owners have so far declined to comment.