Mallorca: 200 demand a public square in Son Sardina

Around 200 people took to the streets in Son Sardina, Palma, on Sunday to demand that the city buys the Can Pesquet plot. They want a public square and a public community centre on the site.

The Assemblea Popular de Son Sardina y Sa Garriga, which called the protest, accused Palma mayor Jaime Martínez of disregarding local people. It said the city had allowed the plot to be sold to a new speculator.

People linked to local associations joined the demonstration, including families from the school community, older people, cultural groups and neighbourhood organisations.

The group says Son Sardina has neither an open square nor a publicly owned facility. That shortage affects everyone in the area and makes it much harder to organise the annual festivities, according to its manifesto.

Organisers said Martínez had promised the immediate purchase of Can Pesquet in front of cameras. They accused him of giving residents no explanation afterwards while making them believe negotiations were under way.

They said Solvia's sale of the land to a third party showed how little real effort had gone into buying it. The group is now demanding that Palma City Council acquire Can Pesquet immediately and begin plans for a square and a publicly owned community centre run with local involvement.

Topics: Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com