Public Lift for the Port Mahon

The long-talked-about project to construct a public lift connecting the town of Mahon and the Port appears to be on the verge of becoming a reality. According to the town’s Mayor, Vicenc Tur, the lift should now be operating for the 2012 season.

The public lift scheme has already been agreed with municipal engineers will cost around 300,000 euros.

The lift will be installed on a 187 sq. m. plot adjacent to the Thai Country Café which was ceded to the Council five years ago by Bernand Fechner, owner of the Thai restaurant. He explained that 30% of any trade in that section of the port was dependent on the existence of nearby parking spaces and that the lift would make access to the port easier for customers who had parked on the cliff top. In return for the cession of land, valued at one million euros at the time, the Council will allow the businessman to construct and exploit a 6 sq. m. terrace on the first floor of the building projecting just in front of the lift. Fechner voiced his regret that a project of such importance to the port had been held in abeyance for so many years, although he was hopeful that it would now go ahead, following the promise recently given to him personally by the Mayor of Maó.

Demolition
The old house on the plot next to that to be used for the lift will be demolished and a block of small apartments built in its place. The consortium will take charge of making the cliff face behind this plot safe (at the same as on the neighbouring plot), although the landowner will be responsible for payment for the work.

Back to news and events