Council to expand network of mountain refuges

Staff Reporter THE Council of Majorca plans to extend its network of mountain refuges in the Tramuntana range by converting old houses in the municipalities which form part of its Dry Stone Route. This project is aimed at linking Andraitx and Pollensa through a network of old paths and refuges. Miquel Angel Borràs, the head of the environment department, said that the purpose was to revitalise the towns and villages in the mountains by encouraging tourists to make excursions there. This, he said, was part of a policy to seek sustainability and to reuse existing resources, “not living on capital but on interest.” He added that “there are many old buildings which can be restored,” claiming it was a new approach. Over the past few years, thanks to agreements, cessions from town councils and purchases, the Council now has several estates which, once refurbished, will act as mountain refuges. They include La Trapa in Andraitx, Can Boi in Deya, Muleta in Soller, Alaro Castle and Son Amer in Escorca. Only Can Boi is within town limits. During the last legislature, the Balearic government used tourist tax money to purchase Sa Coma d'en Vidal in Estellencs, which will be incorporated into the Dry Stone Route. The initial agreement was that the government would refurbish the building and then cede it to the Council, but plans have been delayed. It seems that the estate is in a poor state of repair and can only be reached by vehicles. Plans have been drawn up and will be offered for tender shortly. The task of repairing the old roads which link the towns and villages in the mountains is a slow one. At the moment, Council brigades are working on Ses Voltes del Galileu, a road which had virtually disappeared. Work is also in progress on a stretch of the road from Andraitx to Pollensa and Lluc to Pollensa. Work is done by the dry stone wall workshops set up by the Council to combat unemployment.