Mallorca bid to curb rural building fails in 28-22 vote

On Mallorca, a bid to curb building on rural land fails: the Balearic Parliament votes 28 to 22 against a Socialist motion in Palma on Tuesday, 27 October. PSIB MP Malena Riudavents wanted the draft farm law to lose provisions allowing new construction. PP, Vox and some members of the Mixed Group voted against her motion; PSIB, MÉS per Mallorca and other Mixed Group members backed it.

New buildings and farm stays

The Socialists wanted farmers to repair and reuse existing buildings rather than put up new ones. They also sought safeguards to stop buildings used for farming from later becoming homes or tourist accommodation.

The motion called for rules on farm stays to be removed from the draft law, including reserved tourist places and discounts for acquiring them. It proposed more support for processing and selling food instead.

Idle fields and irrigation

Riudavents also wanted an inventory of unused farmland and a voluntary scheme to bring it back into use through land banks. Professional farmers and people entering farming would have priority.

Another proposal would have put at least five per cent of annual sustainable tourism tax revenue towards reclaimed water for farming and the irrigation networks to deliver it. That plan, too, fell with the motion.

Topics: Agriculture · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com