New Year in Ibiza town has been celebrated with a massive party in the big 'Recinto Ferial' exhibition hall since 1999, until last year that is! This year the free bash thrown by Ibiza council with live bands, DJs, free Cava and grapes, and a reasonably priced bar will again NOT take place in that venue.
So what's the story? Well, the Recinto Ferial is administered by the Island Council, the Consell, and not Ibiza town council. In the good old days when the Consell and the town council were all the same political persuasion everything went like clockwork.
Then in the last election the Consell changed and things became more difficult to organise. Last May the council requested to use the Recinto Ferial for the party, but have just been told, some FOUR months later, that the building is being used for a Consell organised kids' play/entertainment area.
Ibiza council are now looking into other possibilities to stage the popular party but are uncertain whether they will go ahead as the cost of hiring a marquee big enough for it runs at €60,000.
Isn't politics wonderful?