24/08/2004 00:00
TW
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by Staff Reporter
THE environmental group GOB has called on the Council of Majorca to post its Territorial Plan for public inspection again, because it claims that “substantial changes” have been introduced which will increase the amount of land available for construction and the capacity of accommodation.

A spokesman said that the Plan now frees a larger area for development.
This was originally 1'150 hectares in 2002, rising to 1'223 in 2003, but according to figures released by the Council, it now stands at 1'454 hectares (more than 14 square kilometres).

The environmentalists claim that the new area freed for construction hits mainly natural spaces and rural areas, and that new developments approved under the Plan threaten “unspoiled beauty spots” such as Son Duri and Sa Vinyola in Campos, Ses Planes and Son Massot in Calvia and L'Ullal in Pollensa, which now become “reconversion areas.” The construction of housing in tourist resorts, will “lead to an even greater loss of quality in the tourist offer,” a spokesman said yesterday.
The group says that the municipalities where most growth will be allowed are Palma, Calvia and Llucmajor, followed by Campos.
At the same time, GOB says that now that the moratorium on building has been lifted, more than 50 development schemes must be added. It claims that the increase in capacity of accommodation (residential and tourist) will rise from the current 1.4 million places to as many as three million.

GOB has also criticised the reconversion of obsolete hotel beds into flats or residences, as well as allowing beds to be built in other areas, once an obsolete establishment is closed. A spokesman claimed “by closing 15'000 tourist beds it will be possible to open another 30'000, which will probably be defined as all inclusive, so that an area outside the traditional tourist resorts can be chosen.” The spokesman also said that the Council has still not given a public explanation as to whether or not 15 natural spaces proposed by the environmentalists as needing protection have been included in the Plan.

Finally, he said that the model proposed by the Plan “puts an end to all hope for sustainable development in Majorca,” as it will allow the construction of an industrial estate in every town, and new golf courses, as well as leaving the countryside without protection.

And the Plan, he added, promotes the unregulated tourist offer and the all inclusive offer.