SOLLER
RESIDENTS in the area of Santa Catarina in the Port of Soller took to the streets earlier this week to protest against a selection of nuisance factors which are “invading” their neighbourhood. A number of neighbours banded together on the jetties to paint wording on banners condemning the high level of noise in the district.

New “torrent”

MANACOR
PLANS are afoot in Manacor to excavate an alternative torrent (water course) alongside the present one. It will run for some 500 metres under the Avinguda del Torrent.

Improvement and enlargement works of the Torrent de sa Cabana, on its journey through the built-up area of Manacor, will mean that some main roads leading into the town will have to be cut off for two months this summer.

The excavation of a deep irrigation channel running along the base of the Avenida del Torrent, parallel to the current water coures, will result in many streets having to be dug up to duplicate the capacity, and increase the depth of the bed of the water course.

The construction work, to be carried out by the Melchor Mascaro company, will extend until April 2006 at a cost of 4'400'000 euros. Needs of local businesses will be taken into account during the course of the project.

Regional Environment ministry technician, Mariano Morey, reported that the works are due to begin in the first fortnight of January and will start in the area of the municipal abattoir on the Palma to Manacor road. The second phase will begin in July and will affect the Avinguda del Torrent.

Eco-outcry

SANTA MARGALIDA
THE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in Santa Margalida, has spoken out against the construction of an outsize light industrial building on the Corral Serra country estate.

PSOE spokesman, Miquel Cifre has called for checks on whether or not the building meets with municipal regulations.
The Socialists want a particular watch to be kept on developments bearing in mind that the Partido Popular had introduced a measure, approved by the Town Council, for the Balearic government to purchase and regenerate the land in question because of its special ecological value.

Church priority

SES SALINES
THE ruling government team on the Town Council of Ses Salines is to divert a major part of funding already allocated by the regional Tourist ministry for the construction of an ethnological park, to the reform of the Esglesia Vella (Old Church).

The Balearic ministry headed up by Joan Flaquer has earmarked a total of 88.6 million euros to the municipalities of the Islands to help with projects that will contribute towards all-year-round tourism.

Some 1'207'000 euros were set aside for Ses Salines for the construction of a large ethnological park in green areas within the municipal boundaries. The Council has now asked Flaquer to divert three quarters of the fund to support reform work on the Esglesia Vella, now in a serious state of disrepair and to use the remainder for improvements in local green areas.

T-shirt denials

CAMPANET
THE Majorcan Socialist mayor of Campanet, Francesc Aguilo, has denied accusations made by the Partido Popular, that he purchased tea-shirts displaying anti-highway building slogans with public money. He admitted however, to purchasing material to fabricate banners demonstrating against dual-carriageway construction for taking on local protest marches. The money, said the mayor, was no greater than spending by the Balearic government on pro-highway propaganda.