Ibiza Sun - News from San Antonio

News from San Antonio

Policing
As from the beginning of June and until the end of September the temporary premises which house both the Local Police and the Guardia Civil in the old Town Hall building in the Fountains Square will extend its opening hours. In 2011 services were only available during the morning, but this year it will remain open throughout the day, from eight in the morning until nine in the evening, with at least one representative of the two law-enforcement bodies in attendance at any one moment to aid townspeople and tourists alike.
A further improvement will see around eleven more tourist police at work during the summer, whereas in 2011 there were only seven. The authorities agree that this is not sufficient, but is the best that can be expected with such limited resources.

Demolition
Musician Michael Cretú’s bid for 20 million euros’ compensation for damages following the demolition of his mansion constructed on a hillside in Santa Inés has been dismissed. It has been decided that he will not be paid anything as the villa was illegal in the first place. The Town Hall’s lawyer, Mabel Navarro, held a press conference last week and explained that, legally, anyone who has built a more extensive property without having revised licences is not entitled to compensation. Originally the musician was given permission to build 760 square metres, but in fact the premises eventually measured 2,500 square metres, three times more than the original planning permission. It was also decreed that the development company had acted with ‘malice aforethought’. The initial licence allowed for the property to be constructed nearer the bottom of the hill so that it did not present a blot on the horizon, but this was also ignored and it could be seen for miles around before being reduced to rubble in 2010.

Visitor
Moored half a mile away from the port, last Saturday the Seabourn Pride was the first cruise liner to have anchored in the bay in 29 years. Although the 134 metre vessel was small enough to tie up in the harbour, the decision was made to stay outside and to transfer the passengers by small ferries. There were 208 passengers on board, served by a crew of 160, all of whom had recently called at Mahon in Menorca and weighed anchor later in the evening on route to Malaga. The majority of the passengers were elderly Americans who are interested in visiting lesser known destinations.
The captain of the Seabourn Pride, Vagn Jensen, explained that the company only has six vessels, the largest of which has a capacity for 450 passengers, and they cater for a more discerning clientele than the larger ‘floating resorts’. He also mentioned that the passengers will have the opportunity to air their opinions on the ports of call and he does not discount the possibility of other liners calling at San Antonio in the future if the reports are favourable. While on the Island many of the travellers had the opportunity to visit the Medieval Fair which was held over the weekend in Dalt Vila.