Angry protests from bar owners yesterday in council.

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PALMA city council's motion to bring in new legislation making bars in the popular night spot area of the city, La Lonja, close earlier was approved yesterday in council, despite angry protests from bar owners. From Thursday to Saturday, bars can stay open until 2am, for the rest of the week they will have to close at 1am. The results of the vote were met with a barrage of abuse from some bar owners who accused the council of being “incapable of making fair decisions.” The President of the La Lonja Bar and Restaurant association, Valeriano Herrero, said this latest ruling is “the end” of La Lonja and will “ruin some 80 businesses and leave 300 employees out on the streets.” While the “minority” of local residents who have been campaigning for the council to reduce noise contamination in the area will be claiming a victory, tension in the area, which has already started losing clients to the Paseo Maritimo which has been enjoying a revival over the past two years, has increased as the divide between residents and bar owners widens.