Madrid firm pulls out of project for equine centre

The constructor would have erected 11,200 sq.m. of building on a 23,200 sq.m. site in the Bintaufa sports zone opposite the Guardia Civil headquarters and hippodrome on the Maó to Sant Lluís road. The ambitious project included two buildings: one with a show ground for horse shows and for classes in Menorcan dressage and equine therapy plus a museum dedicated to horses; and the other with teaching classrooms, offices, a veterinary clinic, two delivery rooms and 40 stables. Two outdoor grounds were also planned, one covered and one semi-covered, plus various storerooms.

The project for the equine centre, promoted by the Escola de Doma Menorquina (Menorcan Dressage School) was presented in Maó in June 2008 to promote Menorcan dressage in order to attract equine tourism to the island and to help out-of-season tourism.

However, the project was dependent upon Maó Council finalising a special plan for the Bintaufa sports zone, defining the uses for the 152,000 sq.m. site, which was only completed this May.

The Maó Councillor for Sport, Antoni Ferrer, has stated that the project will still go ahead, adding that another company had also expressed an interest in constructing the equine centre.