Going Swimmingly? Puerto Pollensa's pool

The first of March last year. I posed a question. Would there be another "fiesta" when Puerto Pollensa's swimming pool was closed? There was one back then to mark its opening (in fact its re-opening). It might have been more apposite had I asked whether there would be another fiasco.

They should have known that it was tempting fate. They should have known to have kept quiet about the whole thing. They should have known better than to inadvertently draw too much attention to the fact that the pool was a botched job with a roof on the wrong way round and a company that couldn't operate it. But no, they went ahead and had a fiesta, publicising the grand opening with a bizarre poster featuring kids in the open air in summertime. This was the start of March, don't forget. And there was, finally, a roof as a roof is meant to be - on the right way round.

It was tempting fate. No good could have come of it. The pool is closed. Again. This time it's because someone's forgotten to pay the electricity bill. Well, we know who hasn't paid the bill. The company that has the concession to run the pool, Algaillasport. The electricity supplier has cut them off, and won't be uncutting them until the company has handed over 20 grands worth of unpaid bills, which equate to nearly seven months of non-payment. Endesa seems to have been uncommonly patient.

When the agreement was drawn up with the town hall, the company had bargained on forking out 1,500 euros a month. They underestimated to the tune of a mere 100%. Hardly a drop in the deep end. And now they're treading water with the town hall but hoping they can come to another agreement which will enable the pool to re-open - again.

It might be easy to suggest that this is all another example of how any project that comes anywhere near the town hall drowns under the weight of incompetence. But this wouldn't be fair to the town hall, if only because it is not the only administration with a dodgy swimming pool. Santa Margalida's was shut for two years and still manages to leak water. Alcúdia's simply never met the spec, which has resulted in changes to the agreement with its operating company. In Inca, the pool went over budget by 600 grand.

Having a local pool that happens to be closed isn't so bad when there is the sea. The town hall can't cock that up, though they can of course cock up the arrangements for the maintenance of the beach and the provision of sunbeds, which they managed to do so well this year. And then there is next year and doubtless a further round of failing to come to an adequate agreement. But the pool should be open. There again, it might not be.

* Acknowledgement to the report in "Ultima Hora" for some of the above.


Any comments to andrew@thealcudiaguide.com please.