A growing settlement of tents and improvised shelters in Ses Feixes d’es Pratet is prompting renewed concern among residents, who say the situation has become increasingly difficult to manage.

The settlement began expanding earlier this year following the dismantling of the Sa Joveria camp and has continued to grow in the protected wetland area. Ibiza Town Hall has previously confirmed that it identified the settlement and began the administrative process required to dismantle it.

Settlement Continues to Expand

The latest observations from the area show numerous tents and makeshift shelters around the Camí de Can Murtera, along with waste and other discarded items.

The route, which runs through the Ses Feixes area, was rehabilitated in 2022 as part of a project that also included the construction of a stormwater collector. The works were presented as a way of recovering the traditional route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Residents now say parts of the route are again difficult to use because of vegetation, rubbish and the presence of improvised structures.

Council Has Already Identified the Settlement

The issue first emerged publicly in June, when the Ibiza Town Hall confirmed that a new settlement had been detected in Ses Feixes.

The municipality said at the time that it had used drone images to determine the location of the tents and was preparing the necessary reports. The council also said it would notify the Seprona unit of the Guardia Civil because the settlement was located in a protected area and presented environmental and fire-related concerns.

Later that month, Local Police and municipal services identified around 40 makeshift dwellings in the area. Officers identified around ten people during one inspection and informed those present that they had to leave.

Dismantling Process Requires Legal Procedures

The Town Hall has previously said that dismantling informal settlements is not immediate because the process must follow legal safeguards.

Municipal authorities said that where vulnerable people are present, social services must also assess the situation and provide assistance where appropriate.

In June, Environment Councillor Jordi Grivé said the municipality was working toward dismantling the Ses Feixes settlement but had not set a specific deadline because of the complexity of the procedure.

Residents Report Growing Concern

The latest concerns come from the Es Pratet neighbourhood association.

Its president, Carmen Cárcel, says residents have reported increasingly tense encounters and are worried about using the Camí de Can Murtera.

She also alleges that one resident was threatened with a knife while walking dogs and that another incident involved people using a chainsaw while cutting vegetation and trees.

These accounts are statements from the neighbourhood association and have not been independently established in the available reporting.

Waste and Improvised Shelters

The latest report describes rubbish, furniture and other discarded items around the makeshift shelters.

The area includes tents and structures covered with plastic sheeting, while parts of the surrounding vegetation have also become overgrown.

Residents say the accumulation of waste is contributing to their concerns about the condition of the area. These observations relate to the site visited by the reporting team and should not automatically be attributed to every person living in the settlement.

Fire Risk Remains a Concern

Fire risk has been one of the municipality's stated concerns since the settlement was first identified.

The Town Hall previously said the location within the wetland and the presence of tents in the area increased environmental and fire-related concerns.

On August 19, a small fire was reported in Ses Feixes in an area in front of a settlement. Police and emergency services responded and no injuries were reported. The available information did not establish the cause of the fire.

Residents remain concerned about the possibility of further incidents, particularly during dry periods.

Camí de Can Murtera

The condition of the Camí de Can Murtera has become another part of the dispute.

The route was reopened in 2022 following rehabilitation works linked to a stormwater project. At the time, the municipal authorities described it as a route for pedestrians and bicycles and part of the wider recovery of traditional paths in the city.

Residents now say vegetation and accumulated waste have made parts of the route less accessible and have reduced its use.

Ses Feixes Is an Environmentally Important Area

Ses Feixes is one of Ibiza's historic wetland landscapes, with traditional irrigation channels and agricultural structures forming part of its heritage.

The Ibiza Town Hall has been involved in conservation and restoration initiatives in the wider Ses Feixes area, including agreements aimed at recovering agricultural land and traditional water systems.

The area therefore combines environmental, historical and public-access considerations alongside the current dispute over informal occupation.

What Happens Next

Ibiza Town Hall had already begun the administrative process to address the settlement earlier this year and said that the site would ultimately be dismantled.

The latest report suggests that the settlement remains active and that residents believe it is continuing to expand.

Further action will depend on the ongoing municipal and legal procedures, as well as any assessment of environmental, safety and social-service considerations.

For residents of Es Pratet, the priority is greater monitoring and a resolution of the situation. For the municipality, the challenge remains addressing the occupation while following the procedures required to carry out any eventual dismantling.