Post by pigeonpie on Jan 15, 2011 21:33:22 GMT
Maó port and town centre to have 1.6 million euro facelift
In an attempt to make the port and town centre more appealing to tourists, Maó Council has planned thirteen different projects, ranging from improvements to 6 kilometres of the harbourside between Cala Figuera and the landward end of the port to improvements to the interior of historic structures such as the Pont de Sant Roc and Claustre del Carme. The ambitious project will cost 1.6 million euros which the Council will borrow, at 0.5% interest, from the Fund for the Modernisation of Tourist Infrastructure (FOMIT) and will have to repay in four years.
Work will start on the various schemes at the beginning of February and it is envisaged that “the great majority” of them will be completed by the start of the tourist season, the rest by the end of the year.
Presenting the project on Saturday, the Mayor of Maó, Vicenç Tur, stressed that the schemes are in addition to others planned for the port and valued at 2.2 million euros. He made special reference to the long-awaited project to construct a lift between the town centre and the port, work on which is due to start this week and will cost a total of 800,000 euros.
Also speaking at the presentation, the Balearic Councillor for Tourism and Labour, Joana Barceló, drew particular attention to the dual purpose of the FOMIT loans in times of crisis such as the present; to encourage the economy and support tourism as the driving force of the Balearic economy with benefits to other sectors.
Projected schemes
A sum of 353,000 euros has been set aside for remodelling the six roads giving access to the port and the thirteen slopes. Work will include improvements to road surfaces, lighting, security and appearance (gardening and urban fixtures), removing architectural obstacles and renewing the public infrastructure.
Improvements to the 6 kilometres of harbourside between Cala Figuera and the landward end of the port will account for 354,000 euros.
Renewing the public infrastructure and improving safety at the viewing points in Maó and Cala Llonga will cost 144,000 euros in total.
A further 96,000 euros will be spent on changing the street lights in Calle Miquel de Veri for a more efficient form of lighting and improvements to the pavements in Calle Vasallo where a 100-vehicle car park is planned at a cost of 58,000 euros.
Alterations planned for the Plaza Explanada will cost 97,000 euros and work on the public toilets in the Claustre del Carme will require over 194,000 euros.
Tourists are to be provided with more information via panels in buildings of special interest and the main viewing points and architectural obstacles are to be removed from the town centre where the public infrastructure will be renovated; the two schemes requiring 371,000 euros.
Restoration work and repairs to the interior of the Pont de Sant Roc (stairs, doors and windows and stonework) will cost 82,000 euros.
Finally, the Club Hípico (Equestrian Club) at Bintaufa will benefit from 85,000 euros of work which will include the installation of stands and toilets for the disabled.
