Mallorca beach kiosk plan puts public space at risk

At Cala del Toro beach in Calvià, Mallorca, a planned Port Adriano beach kiosk could spread tables and chairs onto space meant for public use. Environmental group GOB warned of the risk on Wednesday, 30 September, as it lodged objections to a project being considered by the Balearic port authority PortsIB.

The plans include a 209.80-square-metre wooden walkway running alongside the beach, as well as new steps, a cover over an existing channel and changes to the outdoor areas. The project documents describe the walkway as a route along the beach, but also say it could extend the kiosk’s space. They allow for more tables and chairs, and for the area used to grow according to demand.

The kiosk plan initially provides for 19 people. GOB wants the maximum number allowed and the exact outdoor area available for commercial use fixed before any approval. It says keeping a route to the beach open would not be enough if people could no longer use the surrounding space freely. Access to Cala del Toro has been contested before: in 2014, Calvià council and the company Ocibar agreed to create a new route to the cove that would be open and free to use.

GOB has also asked for two points to be cleared up before the project is approved. It says a December 2024 explanation for why no environmental assessment is needed relies on a law that had already been replaced. It also wants PortsIB to clarify the legal basis for the proposed work on public coastal land within Port Adriano’s service area, and what work the concession holder is permitted to carry out there.

Topics: Sea & coast · Politics · Calvià

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com