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The Editor,
Endesa has defined its environmental policy (encl), but has so far shown no inclination to implement it at its Es Murterar power station.
Here the power station is located beside S'Albufera Parc Natural, one of the largest and most important wetlands in the Western Mediterranean. Within the park many bird species breed, some of them internationally threatened.

Thousands more use it as a winter refuge or as a resting place during annual migrations between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Hundreds of local residents and thousands of visitors to Majorca regularly walk into the park to study its flora and fauna and to enjoy its peaceful tranquility.

Or did until Endesa took over the running of the power station. Now, on a daily basis, loud, intrusive broadcasts made on the power station's public address system, reverberate across the park often quite clearly audible more than a kilometre away on the park's southern fringes. Such broadcast announcements startle birds and irk beyond measure those who visit the park.

They also blatantly infringe Endesa's own declared environmental policies.
For many years the power station has operated without such a degree of noise pollution, so why now? In this modern technological age, communication in high noise work areas should not rely on broadcasts made on an extremely intrusive, environmentally unfriendly public address system.

Key personnel can more efficiently and effectively be contacted using pagers fitted with vibrators to alert the user when a message is passed. They are cheap, efficient and readily available.

Clearly Endesa's environmental policy is currently a sham at Es Murterar, but then the noise pollution generated there can not be heard in the Madrid boardroom by the company, can it?

Arthur Stagg. Sa Pobla

There is always room for healthy competition

Dear Editor,
My husband and I have just returned from yet another holiday at the Hotel Uyal. We have had many wonderful holidays at this lovely hotel, and have seen Pollensa grow over the years.

While we were there we read your paper every day as we always do and we were engrossed by the interest being shown to Puerto Pollensa every day. We felt some of the criticism about the cleanliness was justified, but I think the debate on Burger King a little unfair, there is always room for healthy competition, and the young really do like the fast food chains, as long as they don't spread like a bad rash.

No amount of bad publicity would ever keep me away from my second home, and I have already rebooked for our return next year. I shall read your paper on the website everyday until it's time for me to catch the next plane back home!

Sheila Chadwick. Kingstanding. Birmingham

Alcúdia taxi service

Dear Sir,
I have had to call a taxi from several different hotels over the last 10 days. On each occasion I have had to wait between 15 minutes and one hour 20 minutes.

Can the taxi controller give an estimated time of arrival?
As a charge of about 2.60 Euros was on the meter, in each case, when the taxi arrived I do not consider that it is an unreasonable request to be met.
I have been told that if I wish to make a complaint I must go in person to the taxi control office at the Council Office in Alcudia.
I have only three days left on my holiday and do not wish to waste time on this relatively minor complaint.
Any organisation that shuts itself off from customer comment, complaints or complements cannot perform effectively for the customer.
As per your editorial on Sunday this is my pimple on the low profile of Taxpaying UK (EU) citizens on holiday.

Regards

Philip D. Byrnes

Mercedes Trujols hits the nail on the head

Dear Sir,
The statement by Señora Mercedes Trujols, published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin on August 4, was an excellent counter to the blatherings of prominent Majorcan politicians. She hits the nail on the head, satisfied visitors are the answer to Majorca's problems, not more golf courses and more marinas. Satisfaction will come from “Blue Flag” bathing, good accommodation and an insight, by travel and by food, into Majorcan heritage. Simplicity, common sense and good values.

If I was a restaurateur or bar owner, I would press for the end to “all inclusive holidays.” They spell death to private enterprise and deny variety for the tourist.

Yours faithfully

Leslie Watson