The Ibizan, Thursday 30th October 2014, Issue 758
www.theibizan.com
Page 2
Lucky Escape in Plunge
Credit Vicent Marí
“Town Without Laws” Demo 120 neighbours in San Antonio demonstrated at the weekend by banging kitchen pans and shouting slogans against the bad way in which the PP Conservatives are governing the town. The demonstration was called using social media by the ‘Platforma Renovadora Portmanyi’ (PROP). This pressure group want the town hall to improve the cleanliness of the town, reduce noise levels and make
everyone respect and adhere to the town bylaws. Having no official permission for the protest, the demonstrators used the footpaths and zebra crossings so that they were within the law. Those taking part are fed up of San Antonio being “a town without laws” in the summer. After reading a manifesto to this effect, the demonstration ended peacefully.
Football 1, Environment 0 The demonstration against oil exploration in Ibiza only managed to get an attendance of around 240 people last Saturday - this being a lot less than the thousand or so that demonstrated earlier in the year. The protest was intended to pressure the Government into de-
claring the proposed oil exploration will have a negative effect on the environment before the 3rd December. Some have speculated that the poor turnout could have been due to bad timing as the demonstration clashed with the big match Barcelona v Real Madrid.
Vicente Serra with Daniel Pruce from the British Embacy
Our Man in Ibiza
Vicent Serra, the Consell Island Government President met last week with Daniel Pruce, the Assistant British Ambassador for Spain. The talks were mainly centred on British tourists visiting Ibiza and in particular, how to advise them on a safe holiday experience. Taking heed of what happened after the British
Consulate and San Antonio Town Hall started their own information campaign this summer, it was announced that all publicity and information aimed at UK tourists would be agreed beforehand with the UK, local island authorities and tourist industry.
Port Of Ibiza Row. As the Port Authorities began the preliminary work on the changes planned for the inner port area of Ibiza Town, the Architects College came out with damming reviews of the project and even threatened to try to stop the work in the courts. The architects are claiming that the plans haven't been passed by the committees which oversee the historic planning protection given to the frontline buildings in 1969. They also believe the new inner port would be full of mega yachts blocking the post-card views of the old town in summer and become empty in winter when the season was over. They even went as far as to question if the Port Authorities had the correct permissions they needed to start the work this week. It appears to the architects that, though the Port Authority sold the local politicians the concept of a traffic-free inner port, with up to 300 mega yachts moored, there will be the need for a similar number of vehicles to park in the area. As the plans for underground parking within the port area, and a car park on the Santa Eulalia Avenue have been dropped, the Ibiza Town Hall has asked the Port Authority to modify their plan and build parking for 2-300 vehicles as well as taxis and buses in the inner port area. They also complained that the 10 metre street lights will be taller than many of the front line buildings. In addition, a vast number of pergolas will also be erected which will break the aesthetics of the historic area. The Island Consell Government have also become involved asking the Port Authority to suspend the initial work until they had a final positive report from the Central Government. The Port Authorities have responded saying that the timing of these declarations are possibly politically motivated and that all the relevant historic and planning committees on the island had reviewed the project in a positive way. They said that they were going to go ahead with the preliminary work but would wait to start the main work until they get the final go ahead from the Madrid Central Government Min-
Driver Survives Car Plunging Over Cala Conta Cliffs Sometime after dark between Sunday 26th and Monday 27th September, a silver coloured combi-van plunged approximately 35m over the cliffs of Cala Conta, coming to rest in the sea below. Guardia Civil on the scene were able to confirm that the 26 year old female driver had escaped with her life, but no further information regarding her condition was available. It is not known whether there were pas-
sengers in the vehicle. In what looks to be a very lucky escape the Ibiza plated car, possibly a Peugeot, appears to have driven directly off the cliff which is guarded by a simple rope fence. Speaking to local photographer Alec Bettney who took these photos at the scene, the Officers said there was no suggestion the driver had been drinking and that it looked to be an unfortunate accident with the driver clearly not appreciating the proximity of the cliff in the dark.
Photo Credits Alec Bettney istry of Culture. Thoughts are that the Ministry of Culture will find in favour of the project, declaring that the historic and artistic protection of the Ibiza inner port and old town will be maintained. The President of the Port Authority said that the renovation of the inner port was long overdue and would benefit the town immensely once it was finished. He also said that they needed to get on with the work to be ready for summer 2015. Local Businesses Look On “The Bright Side” Of Life. 49.82% of local businesses that participated in a survey organised by the PIMEEF small business association, said that 2014 had been a very good summer when compared to 2013. Only 11% said it had been bad. Over 51% reported up to 25% increases in turnover when compared to last summer whilst 28% said it had been the same. When asked, 65% of those businesses believe next summer will be the same as 2014 whilst 32% are hoping for an even better 2015.
Only 4% think it will be worse. Another survey has shown that the Baleares are the most autonomous region of Spain with the largest increase of selfemployed foreign residents. Since the beginning of the year there have been 3,826 applications for self-employment by foreign residents within the islands. Extra Teaching Support. Two extra teaching technicians are being sent to the island to assist children with special learning difficulties. They will be able to visit any school or college which identifies pupils needing specialist help.
59 Years & Still Going Strong! When Catalina Guasch Ferrer received a call from the Ministry of Social Security & Employment in Madrid saying that she was being awarded a silver medal for having worked 59yrs continuously, she thought it was a joke. It is however true, at 78 years old, Catalina has not been unemployed since she started work at 17 on the family farm. She registered with the Social Security at