22/06/2013 00:00
TW
0

Palma.—All is not well in the Port of Pollensa.
After a string of problems leading up to the start of the tourist season, now the council has managed to anger the local bar and restaurant sector.
So much so, they will be taking protest action this Sunday, market day in the Port, and will not be opening until at least 4pm.
The dispute is over the council's intention to reduce the number of tables and chairs bars and cafes can have out on their terraces.
Seasonal staff
Yesterday, the President of the Pollensa Restaurant Association, Per Bota, just one of the associations participating in the protest action, complained that the new bylaws are being drawn up in the middle of June when many of the establishments have taken on their seasonal staff. “What are we supposed to do now if we have to reduce the number of people we are able to serve?” he asked. “What is more, it not only means less work but also less revenue,” he added.
The “over crowding” of the main square has apparently been a growing problem since the terrace bylaw was passed back in 2002, although it was actually not introduced until 2004.

And now, the PP-Liga coalition council has decided to revise the 2002 bylaw in order to ease the alleged congestion in the market square caused by the bar and cafe terraces.

The bars, cafes and restaurants in the square were first notified of the new bylaw on Wednesday and the council has warned them all that failure to comply with result in a fine.

What is more, not only does the council intend to reduce the number of tables and chairs bars and cafes can have on their terraces during the week, it also apparently intends to reduce the figure further on market days.

Peak season
Yesterday, a group of bar and restaurant owners in the square asked for an official meeting with the Mayor, Bartomeu Cifre, today to discuss the situation and try and reach an amicable solution before peak season kicks off. Cifre claims that the council has acted in accordance with the law and permitted the maximum amount of terrace space. However, the service sector disagrees.