Protest against motorhomes regulations in Palma, Mallorca

The protest on Saturday morning. | Francisco Ubilla

Andrew EdePalma11/05/2024 15:49
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On Saturday morning, around a hundred people staged a demonstration in Plaça Cort to protest against Palma town hall's motorhomes bylaw. The new regulations, yet to come into force, prohibit the parking of motorhomes, caravans and camper vans in the same place for more than days.

One of the protesters, Pep de las Heras, is a retired truck driver. He has lived in a caravan on the Son Güells industrial estate for the past two years. "Either they let me live in my caravan or I will come and sleep under the town hall's olive tree. With the pension I get, I can't afford to rent a room. It's not just that we are being ignored by the town hall. They also want to fine us between 700 and 1,500 euros. They are taking away our right to live."

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The demonstration wasn't only attended by motorhome dwellers; there were also those who have motorhomes for leisure. One of the organisers of the protest, Javier González, said: "It was 100% positive but unfortunately there were those who use caravans as tourists rather than just those who live in them.

"They don't understand people who live in the vehicles. They only took part because it concerns them having to move 250 metres every ten days from one place to another. Our intention was to explain that there is a problem with housing." He demanded "a solution for people who use their vehicle as a home".