Earlier this week, Palma Town Hall announced its latest crackdown on motorhomes and caravans parked on the city's streets. For residents of Ciudad Jardín, the measures can't come soon enough. The residents association has written to the town hall, demanding action to tackle the smells from greywater dumped into the local sewer system and the "insecurity and antisocial behaviour of caravan owners".
The president of the Coll d’en Rabassa residents association, Joan Forteza, says there are suspicions that some of the motorhomes in the area are being used for business purposes, as they aren't occupied by people with housing problems. There are between 15 and 20 vehicles which are high-end and very modern; "they are unoccupied for many days." "They take up the space of three cars and are worth up to 50,000 euros." The most plausible explanation is that "these vehicles are in the area to be rented out to tourists".
Motorhome users are said to be playing the victim card, but residents insist they are the victims. "It's unbelievable that people can be so filthy. You can't imagine what it's like to have people who park right in front of your house, vandalise it with graffiti, or whatever, and then just leave. The ones who suffer are the residents of Palma. It has degraded the area and devalued our homes."
Adrián Alonso says he and his girlfriend have been living in a motorhome for four years out of choice, not out of necessity. "I prefer it to being in an apartment." He's been in Ciudad Jardín for three weeks. "We’re moving around a bit; I’ll keep changing depending on how busy this place is. I’ll look for a spot further inland."
But there are those who have been forced to live this way out of need, and not all residents are unsympathetic. Luisa Tomás says: "People can't afford rent and they deserve a place. It would be worthwhile to develop a plot of land so they could have their own facilities." Musima Sarayba adds: "It doesn't bother me that people without homes are here. Rents are very high."
For the town hall, the issues surrounding motorhome and caravan living have been a priority since 2023, which was when Jaime Martínez of the Partido Popular became mayor. The town hall now says it will "restore order" to Ciudad Jardín.