Repair Work On Palma Escalators Begins

Repair work began in early May on the escalators in Plaça Major in Palma, Spain, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported on May 12. The lift that connects the square and the top story of the car park is problematic because there is no short-term solution. The town hall’s spokesperson, councilor Alberto Jarabo, says the problems with the lift and escalators are regrettable and that the lift that connects to the car park is prone to breaking down because it is in an area of the city where vandalism is more common. Because of the regular breakdowns, he suggests the lift may have to be dispensed with. Palma’s ombudsman, Anna Moilanen, insists that “mobility is a right” and argues that there has to be an alternative project to ensure accessibility for residents and tourists. As for the underground units, Jarabo says a competition to gather ideas is about to end and that “we hope that there will be a more rapid process for awarding the project.”