Views: 30
The agreement reached between PSIB, Més per Mallorca, and Més per Menorca with the PP bans the construction of new projects in flood-prone areas but continues to allow amnesty for illegal houses and activities on rural land without requiring compliance with the minimum standards of spatial planning regulations.
Views: 37
The season that starts in December and ends in March is often associated with a time when many things slow down, pause, or even fall into a kind of slumber. Yet, in today’s hectic world, winter might be one of the few times when external noise and distractions diminish, offering a chance to restore balance.
Views: 33
Rewarding illegal construction in rural areas or allowing building in high-risk zones represents a major setback in land-use policies. Such measures undermine the critical discussions needed to decide the Balearic Islands’ development model.
Views: 50
We have a dangerous government—both for people and land. For six months now, they have allowed construction and legalization of homes in high-risk areas.
Views: 24
Menorca is not known for rivers. The lack of significant mountain ridges makes it difficult for permanent surface watercourses to exist. Even though locals proudly refer to Monte Toro as “the mountain,” the island’s geography has its limitations.
Views: 54
Another case has been confirmed involving a rural tourism establishment that, in this instance, has built nine additional pools not included in its approved project. Similar to the well-known Torre Vella case, the authorization had been previously reviewed by the Environmental Commission.
Continue reading 9 extra pools at another rural tourism establishment in Alaior
Views: 47
When faced with several options, we often weigh the pros and cons of each. That is, we consider what we gain by choosing a certain option versus what we lose by rejecting another. Economists call this the opportunity cost.
Sometimes, this calculation is simple and obvious. But other times, it involves more complex factors—like when short-term benefits contradict long-term consequences or when personal gains come at the expense of others or the environment.
Views: 58
A case of illegal and recurrent tourist rental activity on rural land raises doubts about the effectiveness of current penalties for unauthorized activities of this kind.
This example highlights the need to reflect on the issue of excessive tourism pressure in Menorca. It is becoming clear that strengthening inspections alone will not suffice if the penalties imposed are not significant enough to deter offenders.
More rentals mean more tourism congestion
Views: 40
It seems like the Balearic Government is obsessed with rewarding environmental offenders. The draft law up for discussion in Parliament tomorrow includes new and alarming environmental rollbacks.
Some of the proposed changes from PP-Vox include putting the definition of “general interest” into the hands of each Island Council, making it easier to renovate buildings outside of zoning regulations, and allowing building violations on rural land to be left unpunished after a certain period.
Continue reading The government proposes further unacceptable environmental rollbacks
Views: 61
The Alaior Town Council has granted a license to legalize the pools at the Torre Vella agrotourism site, ignoring the warning from the former Environmental Commission, which argued that environmental violations cannot be retroactively legalized.
Decree Law 3/2024, introduced by the Council last May under the guise of “administrative simplification,” actually modifies over 50 regulations. Among the most controversial changes are the lifting of bans on construction in flood-prone areas and the dissolution of the Environmental Commission. We are now starting to see the results of these changes.
