Gob raises the alarm

Warning of increase in illegal construction in "green" areas

Concerned. Miquel Camps and Sergi Marí, president, at the group´s headquarters in Maó

Within two weeks, the ecological group has received eight reports of illegal works from residents and believes that this is "only the tip of the iceberg"

C.W..Maó

The ecological group, GOB, has raised the alarm regarding the increase in numbers of illegal buildings on land classified as rustic and in areas of natural interest (ANEI´s).

Within a period of two weeks, the group has received eight reports from residents drawing attention to the existence of illegal works in the municipal districts of Maó, Alaior, Es Mercadal and Ferreries, six of which are in ANEI´s.

Of the latter six cases, four refer to residential contructions, one to a clearance and the other to the opening of roads; actions which, according to the PTI (the overall plan for the island) are clearly prohibited.

Although they have not yet made official complaints against the works, the ecologists have sent letters, accompanied by photographs and plans, to the respective Councils (with copies to the Island Council). To date they have only received one response, which deals with three of the cases, and in which the Council confirms the lack of the necessary licences and has halted the work.

Miquel Camps, a member of GOB, says that now that the territorial plan has come into effect, it must be applied by all the Councils. The group believes that these cases are "only the tip of the iceberg" and calls on the Town Councils to take action without waiting for citizens or GOB to raise the alarm. The environmentalists have recommended that the Councils arrange for regular flights to be made over the island in order to pinpoint buildings which may possibly be illegal.