SOME sixty people representing different anti-highway development lobbies, tried unsuccessfully yesterday morning to halt the work of the earth moving machines laying the foundations of the Inca to Sa Pobla highway.
The protest group failed to achieve their main objective with their surprise demonstration, succeeding only in making clear their opposition to the works which have now been ongoing for a fortnight.
Some 20 people from Sineu, Inca, Costitx and Campanet were camping on the site of the gathering: the now ruined Teulera de sa Rotera, a building which was formerly part of Campanet's local heritage.
From 10 o'clock in the morning, about 40 more people from Campanet joined the campers with the intention of stopping the works, but yesterday, unlike other Saturdays, the machines weren't working.
Spokeswoman for the Yes to the road widening, but no to the dual carriageway lobby, Lucy Colier explained: Our aim is to bring the works to a halt because the politicians are simply ignoring us, but when they hear that we are planning a protest, they order the machines not to work that day.
The group paid little heed to the fact that they were thin on the ground that day in numbers of supporters, saying that the demonstration was only called at the last moment. Furthermore, they claimed, Campanet, which is the district which will be most altered by the works, is currently celebrating the festival of Sant Victoria.
As well as that, they continued, local residents have become disheartened. Maria Mir, one local resident who was obliged to sell her property to the regional government as it was on the path of the new highway, said: People who will have their lives changed by the new road, believe it is now a waste of time to try to stop it.
The lobbies severely criticised the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in the Balearics for doing nothing to halt the works.
Another protest is planned for 17 July.
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