Four wasted years: Manacor erupts against the Government over the new health center

PalmThe Manacor City Council on Tuesday criticized the Balearic Islands Government for taking almost four years to reject land ceded by the Council for the construction of a new health center. Mayor Miquel Oliver expressed the municipal government's "deep surprise and unease" at a decision that comes late and, he claims, contradicts the criteria and reports that had previously supported the project. The Government's rejection was communicated following an unfavorable report from the Directorate General of Water Resources, which concluded that the plot on Paseo del Ferrocarril – ceded in 2022 – is located in a preferential water flow zone, thus preventing the continuation of the process. However, the City Council points out that both the Ministry of Health and the Directorate General of Water Resources had previously issued favorable reports, in addition to the flood risk study included in the current General Plan.

"It's a surprising and unacceptable decision that comes after four years of negotiations and having raised real expectations among the public," stated Oliver, who emphasized that the project was initially promoted and approved by the Catalan Government itself. The mayor announced that the City Council will demand both technical and political explanations from those responsible for the Health Service.

A key facility, postponed without an alternative

The rejection of the proposed site comes at a particularly critical time for Manacor. The municipality has only one health center, opened in 1990, which has been operating at full capacity for some time. City Hall sources warn that the delay in decision-making seriously compromises the local healthcare system's ability to respond, especially in a growing city with significant seasonal pressure. According to municipal data, during the summer months the influx of visitors pushes the catchment area to over 200,000 inhabitants. "This isn't a new demand; it's an urgent need," insist sources from the governing team. Along the same lines, the City Council has also raised concerns about the progressive loss of services at Manacor Hospital, a demand supported by nearly forty social organizations and groups in the region. Meetings to clarify criteria

In response to the situation, the mayor has announced an imminent meeting with the Director General of Water Resources to try to clarify the criteria that motivated the change in position and explore possible alternatives to reactivate the project. However, the City Council warns that, until solid and transparent technical arguments are offered, it will maintain a critical stance toward a decision it considers unjustified and detrimental to Manacor. "Four years later, the municipality still lacks a new health center and a clear solution," concludes Oliver, who demands a swift and effective response from the Government to guarantee adequate healthcare for the city and its surrounding area.