The environmentalists GOB have denounced prices being charged to hire sunloungers on Cala Major beach in Palma, maintaining that these prices violate authorisation given to the town hall.
GOB are drawing particular attention to prices for 'premium' sunloungers. For a set of two plus a parasol, the daily rate is €70. GOB maintain that this rate is getting on for 300% more than the authorised rate. This authorisation is from the regional government's coasts department. For sunloungers on all beaches, it sets a supposed maximum that town halls (or their contractors) can charge.
The complaint has therefore been lodged with the coasts directorate, GOB noting that there are 100 of these premium loungers.
This is not a new complaint, as it arose last summer when the premium loungers first appeared. The difference now is that GOB have taken up the case; last year residents complained without formally denouncing the pricing.
There is a similarity between the situation in Cala Major and that on Formentor beach, where there have also been complaints about excessive pricing. In Formentor, the day rate for a premium set is more than double that in Cala Major - 157.50 euros.
The Formentor case has, however, raised a doubt about the maximum prices that the coasts department authorises. While expert opinion argues that the authorised maximum means just that, the contract that the hotel has with Pollensa Town Hall doesn't stipulate a maximum.